Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio: Recent Episodes
Delta College Public Radio
Mike Murray from the Delta College Planetarium takes a look at what's up in the night sky. Things are happening all the time in the backyard universe, and many of them don't require a telescope to see and enjoy.
For all you early risers, there’s a feast of morning planets to enjoy with Saturn, Mars, and even Mercury making appearances.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Why do people see faces in the Moon? And what actually causes these lunar features?Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Often called a half moon, the first quarter moon is a great time to look for some prominent features on the lunar surface. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
After dusk, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for a moderately bright star. It’s flanked by two fainter stars above and below it. This is Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Now that summer has arrived, the famous “Summer Triangle” of stars has returned to guide us around the evening sky. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
As twilight ends around 10:30 pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star. This is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Have you noticed, especially when you're riding in a car, that the moon seems to follow you? Why is this?Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Are there any green stars? Astronomers say no, but observers insist that the brightest star in the constellation Libra the Scales, does look green.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
On closer inspection, they're actually the planets Venus and Jupiter!Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
The moon will get brighter this week as the sunlit shape grows from gibbous to full. On May 31 we'll see the second full moon in the calendar month, something known as a Blue Moon.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Observe the night sky long enough and you’re bound to see something strange that’s hard to identify, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s an alien spaceship.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, the second brightest star in the summer sky. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Spring is when the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
With the warmer nights of spring, a great outdoor activity is to do some binocular viewing. And now is a good time to use them on the moon!Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
After three months of what people call the meteor drought, the annual Lyrid meteor shower comes to a peak this week.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Spring is the time of year when the Big Dipper climbs higher into the northern sky. But the Big Dipper is not itself a constellation. It’s only part of a much larger group called Ursa Major, the Great Bear. And it makes for an excellent guidepost to the North Star and Little Dipper.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
After more than a year, the planet Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies, but you’ll have to look low in the west during dusk to see it. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
As the phase of the moon grows steadily from first quarter to full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
No matter the time of year, under a clear dark sky you can expect to see four or five little streaks of light each hour. Sometimes called shooting stars or falling stars, these are meteors that burn up in our atmosphere.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
This year, the March equinox arrives on the 20th which marks the first day of spring for the northern hemisphere.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
It’s often said that the best conditions for stargazing are under dark skies with minimal light pollution. But in this modern age of excessive LED lighting, it can be hard to find such places.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Before Saturn disappears in the sun’s glare altogether, you’ll have a rare chance to see it meet up with the brighter planet Venus, a close pass known as a conjunction.
The March full moon is known as the “Sap Moon” because March marks the tapping of the maple trees. It also coincides with a total lunar eclipse. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Under a clear dark sky, this is the best time of year to look for a lesser known constellation called Lepus the Hare. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
What’s the brightest star in the entire nighttime sky? It’s called Sirius – seriously. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
As the moon wanes and rises later each night, the early evening skies are dark again, allowing us to see the faint deep sky marvels of the winter sky. The Great Orion Nebula is perfectly positioned to view this month.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
As the Gibbous Moon grows larger, you can see new details coming into view as the day-night line progresses across the lunar surface each night.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Betelgeuse, a star in Orion the Hunter, will eventually collapse into a supernova, which would bright enough to see in the daylight for weeks or even months.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Low in the east, soon after dark, you’ll find a star so bright that it looks like a fiery beacon in the sky. It’s actually the planet Jupiter, and it’s making its closest approach to Earth this week. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Ushering in the new year is one of the best-known winter constellations, Orion the Hunter. Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Soon after dark, look about halfway up the southern sky for a moderately bright star that doesn’t twinkle. This is the planet Saturn, and it’s in the best position for observing through a telescope.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
The week of December 22 offers a perfect opportunity to follow the waxing crescent moon and the emergence of several impact basins.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Soon after dark, look for a bright yellowish star in the northeast. Capella is the 6th brightest star in the sky and sometimes called The Goat Star.Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
One of the best meteor showers of the year is already active and comes to a peak on the evening of December 13 and 14.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So, what's the best one to look for?Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Look low to the east after dark and you should see a cluster of stars known as the Pleiades, or The Seven Sisters.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Cool, dry, autumn air and a moonless night mean it’s the best time of the year to look for the Great Andromeda Galaxy.Support this podcast:https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/
Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.Support this podcast:https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/
At the beginning of the week of October 27, the moon displays a crescent shape low in the southwest after sunset. But each night, the moon will appear to slip a little further back or eastward among the stars.Support this podcast and others like it:https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/
The media buzz is growing about what could be a bright comet gracing our skies this month. It’s called Comet Lemmon, for the observatory in Arizona that discovered it, and astronomers have been eagerly anticipating its approach for many weeks.Support this podcast and others like it:https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/
Each year in late October, our planet crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, sweeping up millions of little bits of ice and dust to create the Orionid Meteor Shower.Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/
After the Full Hunter's Moon of October 7, the sunlit portion of the Moon will begin to shrink. This is because the Moon rises about thirty minutes later each night, putting it at a closer angle to the sun as it gradually passes into the morning sky. Support this podcast:https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/
Friday, Oct. 3 is when the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will celebrate this year’s International Observe the Moon Night.
This year, the September equinox arrives on the 22nd which marks the first day of fall for the northern hemisphere. For everyone north of the equator, the days will become shorter as we move into autumn.
The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many constellations. A popular little pattern among stargazers is Delphinus the Dolphin.
Away from city lights and bright moonlight, this is the time of year to see the faint band of the Milky Way stretching right over the top of the sky. The Summer Milky Way is brighter and wider than its winter counterpart because this is when we're looking more toward the center of our galaxy.
All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it advances from first quarter toward full. This is a good time to see the dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.”
By now you may have heard the buzz about an object entering our solar system from interstellar space. The newly discovered object 3I/ATLAS – found on July 1st – is likely the oldest comet we’ve ever seen.
From late August through September, Sagittarius the Archer will appear low in the south at evening twilight as a "teapot" shape of stars.
From late July to late August, the zodiacal constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion scrapes the southern horizon at the end of dusk.
About 90 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east-northeast for two brilliant stars above the horizon. But they're not stars at all. They're Venus and Jupiter!
This week is a good time to watch the dark round plains called “maria” become lit with sunlight in the eastern section of the moon.
Of all the things that move among the stars, earth orbiting satellites can be quite common to see. During the few hours after sunset or before sunrise, literally dozens of satellites can be seen as faint, slowly-moving dots.
The northernmost star in the Summer Triangle is Deneb, which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan.
About 90 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east for the brightest point in the pre-dawn sky. It’s the planet Venus, and there’s a feast of celestial wonders nearby to look for this week!
There’s a whole spectrum of star colors glittering up there, from cool red stars to middle-range yellow stars to hot blue-white stars.
During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east, almost overhead for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
The June full moon or "Strawberry Moon" marks the lowest path the full moon takes across the sky during the year.
Since one side of the moon always faces the earth, it's often assumed that means the moon doesn't rotate. But that's not really the case.
If you follow the arc to Arcturus and keep the curve going even farther down into the south, you’ll come to the faint bluish star, Spica.
Now that we’re past full moon, the early evening sky remains dark for longer periods as the moon rises later each night. This reveals a really nice target for binoculars called the Coma star cluster.
In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion as a signpost to the sky.
All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from first quarter toward full. We call this period the “waxing gibbous moon” as the oval shape becomes wider and more rounded.
Twice each year the Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet. Each time we do, a meteor shower is created from the tiny flecks of ice and dust the comet leaves behind in its orbit.
During mid-spring, a trio of wide-spread stars covers a huge swath of the eastern sky after dark. It’s the Spring Triangle signaling the move into longer days and warmer weather for the Northern Hemisphere.
Each season has that one constellation that serves as a signpost to the sky. In spring, many stargazers use the constellation of Leo the Lion.
Spring is the time of year when the Big Dipper climbs higher into the northern sky, but the Big Dipper is not itself a constellation. It’s only part of a much larger group called Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It also makes for a great guidepost to other stars and constellations!
During the week of March 31, the waxing crescent Moon makes its appearance in the west after sunset. When the moon looks like a thin crescent, there's a feature to look for called earthshine.
With the moon out of the way, the early evening sky remains dark and full of stars, and that gives us some fine objects to explore with binoculars.
This year, the March equinox arrives on the 20th which marks the first day of spring for the northern hemisphere.
This month, the full moon on March 14 is also known as the "Sap Moon" because March marks the tapping of the maple trees. It also coincides with a total lunar eclipse.
Over the last few months, we’ve been treated to the brilliant planet Venus piercing the western sky after sunset. During the first part of March, you’ll have a rare opportunity to watch the elusive planet Mercury join the show!
Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse form a giant triangle in the southern sky known as the Winter Triangle. And like Orion’s Belt, it can make for an excellent pointer and guidepost to the winter night sky.
As the moon wanes and rises later each night, the early evening skies are dark again, allowing us to see the Great Orion Nebula.
From now through mid-March, you’ll have an opportunity to see the crescent phase of Venus when viewed through a telescope.
At the beginning of the week of February 3, the moon shows a crescent shape in the southwest after sunset. But each night, the moon will appear to slip a little further back or eastward among the stars, allowing more of the sunlight side to face the earth.
The parade of four planets visible across the sky will soon reduce to three as Saturn drops lower in the west each night, fading into the glare of twilight by the end of February.
About two hours after sunset, look high in the east for the brilliant planet Jupiter. A little to the lower right of Jupiter is the orange star Aldebaran, the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull.
During the week of January 13, a magnificent parade of planets will arch across the early evening sky. It's also when Mars comes closest to Earth and will be at its brightest.
The moon grows from its first quarter phase this week, before its reaches full on the 13th. The January full moon is called the "Wolf Moon" because of the increased howling wolves make at this time. The Full Moon will also seem to blot out the planet Mars for about an hour, called an occultation.
One of the best known winter constellations, Orion the Hunter, returns to the evening sky.
The dating of our holidays have their roots in the solstice traditions of long ago, and that includes the dating of Christmas.
During the second half of December, you’ll have a rare opportunity to spot all the other major planets in our solar system over the course of one night.
As the phase of the moon grows steadily from first quarter to full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface.
Low in the east, soon after dark, you’ll find a star so bright that it looks like a fiery beacon in the sky. It’s actually the planet Jupiter, and it’s making its closest approach to Earth this week.
The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So, what's the best one to look for?
Two hours after sunset you can’t help but notice several bright stars low in the east and northeast. The brightest one isn’t a star at all, but the planet Jupiter!
The phase of the moon grows this week. By November 15 it becomes full, rising a little north of east soon after sunset. The November Full Moon was called the Beaver Moon by many Native American tribes.
Look low to the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature Little Dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades Star Cluster.
Each season has a notable constellation or group of stars that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use the Summer Triangle and in autumn we have the Great Square of Pegasus.
The Moon will take on an oval shape this week as the visible portion starts to wane, or become smaller. This allows the Moon to be seen in the morning sky after sunrise.
The media buzz is growing about what could be a bright comet gracing our skies this month. It’s called Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or “A3” for short, and astronomers have been eagerly anticipating its approach for many weeks.
Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.
If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright star that doesn’t twinkle as much as the others. This is the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it recently made its closest approach to Earth.
By September 13, the Moon will look a little more than half illuminated in the south. This is when the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will celebrate this year’s International Observe the Moon Night!
From late August through September, Sagittarius the Archer will appear low in the south at evening twilight. With the Milky Way running through it, Sagittarius is a treasure trove of deep sky wonders for binoculars.
Away from city lights and bright moonlight, this is the time of year to see the faint band of the Milky Way stretching right over the top of the sky.
For decades now, amateur astronomy continues to be one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world. Why is that? What gets people so hooked on space and the night sky?
On August 19, the moon will be full, but this won’t be just any ordinary full moon. It’s the first "super moon" of 2024.
One of the best meteor showers of the year comes to a maximum on the evening of August 11th and morning of the 12th.
After a long hiatus, the planets Jupiter and Mars are making their way back into the pre-dawn sky.
After dusk, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for Altair, the brightest star in Aquila the Eagle and part of the Summer Triangle.
Now is a good time to see the dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.” The southern maria offer some interesting sights in a small telescope.
Hercules, the strong man of ancient mythology, rides high overhead in early summer. While its stars are not particularly bright, its most distinctive shape are the four stars in its center known as the Keystone.
As twilight ends around 10:30 pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star – this is Antares, the heart of the Scorpion.
Now that summer has arrived, the famous “Summer Triangle” of stars has returned to guide us around the evening sky.
Even to the unaided eye, the moon reveals round dark regions called "maria." Before the age of telescopes, people imagined these dark stretches as oceans of water. In reality, they are vast lava plains left behind by asteroid impacts.
At the beginning of the week of June 10, the moon appears as a crescent in the west after sunset. But each night, the moon will appear to slip a little farther back or eastward among the stars.
If you follow the arc to Arcturus and keep the curve going even farther down into the south, you’ll come to a fainter bluish star, Spica.
Observe the night sky long enough and you’re bound to see something strange that’s hard to identify. It’s easy to think of a UFO, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s an alien spaceship.
In binoculars, look near the very center of the lunar disk for a large crater that seems to have a dark, smooth floor. This is Ptolemaeus, named for Claudius Ptolemy, an astronomer of ancient Greece. Two more large craters in a line below Ptolemaeus, Aphonsus and Arzachel, complete the chain.
The moon is "new" this week, which keeps the night sky dark enough to see more stars and deep sky wonders. One distinctive little springtime constellation to look for in the south is called Corvus, the Crow.
Each season has that one constellation that serves as a signpost to the sky. In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion.
Mid-April to mid-May is a good time to see a collection of bright stars in the west called "The Arch of Spring."
As the phase of the moon grows steadily from Crescent to First Quarter to Full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface.
This is the time of year when the Big Dipper climbs to its highest point in the north, appearing almost directly overhead by month’s end.
There's a fuzzy glow in the constellation of Cancer the Crab that's barely visible to the naked eye, but binoculars will reveal a pretty little star cluster called the Beehive.
One of the most amazing spectacles in nature is coming on Monday, April 8 – a total eclipse of the sun! Here's how you can make the most of it.
Mercury is rarely visible because it never wanders far from the sun in the sky, but we're approaching the opportunity to see it now. As a bonus, Comet Pons-Brooks is visible in binoculars in the west at dusk!
Whenever the crescent moon is thin, the nighttime side of the moon can look faintly illuminated. This effect is called Earthshine.
If you’ve heard reports of increased Aurora activity, there’s a good reason for it! The sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year sunspot cycle, and that can trigger solar storms that effect the Earth.
Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse form a giant triangle in the southern sky known as the Winter Triangle. And like Orion’s Belt, it can make for an excellent pointer and guidepost to the winter night sky.
All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from First Quarter toward Full. It’s also a good time to look for the 'Man in the Moon'.
No matter the time of year, under a clear dark sky you can expect to see four or five little streaks of light each hour. Sometimes called shooting stars or falling stars, these are meteors that burn up in our atmosphere.
About two hours after sunset, the distinctive constellation of Orion the Hunter is almost due south. You can use the three stars in Orion's belt as a guidepost to the sky.
About two hours after sunset, look halfway up the eastern sky for two bright stars that are relatively close to one another. These are Pollux and Castor, the heads of Gemini the Twins.
After the Full Moon of January 25 the shape of the lunar disc will decrease into a thinner oval each night called the Waning Gibbous.
The orange star Aldebaran – the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull – is a great target for the January sky. It also lies within a beautiful star cluster called the Hyades.
Venus is the second planet from the sun, but during the week of January 8th you’ll have a rare opportunity to glimpse the elusive planet Mercury, hugging the eastern horizon at morning twilight.
Ushering in the new year is one of the best-known constellations of all, Orion the Hunter.
December's full moon, called the Cold Moon, falls on the 26th and will be placed among the season's brightest constellations as it says goodbye to 2023.
Many of our modern holiday traditions have their roots in the winter festivals of long ago, and that includes the dating of Christmas Day.
One of the best meteor showers of the year is already active and comes to a peak on the evenings of December 13 and 14.
About 90 minutes after sunset, look low in the south for the medium bright star, Fomalhaut. At only 25 light years away, astronomers have found a disk of material that could be new planets forming.
The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So, what's the best one to look for?
Right now is the best time to see the seventh planet from the sun. Uranus is at its closest approach to earth right now, which makes it barely visible as a faint star to the naked eye if you know exactly where to look under dark skies.
Look low the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature little dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades Star Cluster.
Also called the “sister spiral” to our own Milky Way Galaxy, Andromeda is the most distant object you can see in the entire night sky without a telescope.
Low in the east, soon after dark, you’ll find a star so bright that it looks like a fiery beacon in the sky. It’s actually the planet Jupiter, and it’s making its closest approach to Earth this week.
Even though the nights are cooling down, throw on that coat and grab your binoculars for a look at the Moon! There are many special features to look for.
Each year in late October, our planet crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, sweeping up millions of little bits of ice and dust to create the Orionid Meteor Shower.
The first of two Great American Solar Eclipses happens on Saturday, October 14 with an "annular" (ring of fire) eclipse of the sun visible along a narrow path from Oregon to Texas. Michigan will experience a partial eclipse of about 35% coverage.
When evening twilight ends, look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.
The Harvest Full Moon might seem a little extra bright this year when it rises in the east just after sunset on September 28. That's because it coincides with a Supermoon!
The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many interesting deep sky objects, but it’s also a way to find other constellations nearby, such as Delphinus the Dolphin.
If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright "star" that doesn’t twinkle like the others. It’s the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it recently made its closest approach to Earth.
About 45 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east and you’ll find the brightest planet in the sky, Venus.
For decades now, amateur astronomy continues to be one of the fastest growing hobbies in the world. Why is that? What gets people so “hooked” on space and the night sky?
August 30 will be the first time a Blue Moon and Supermoon have intersected since 2009.
Away from city lights and bright moonlight, this is the time of year to see the faint band of the Milky Way stretching right over the top of the sky.
Conditions this year will be nearly ideal for watching the annual Perseid meteor shower when it reaches peak activity on the nights of August 12 and 13.
When you look into the night sky, you’re seeing across vast distances. But what’s the most distant object you can see with the unaided eye?
As the phase of the moon grows steadily from crescent to first quarter to full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface.
While the stars of Hercules are not particularly bright, its most distinctive shape are the four stars in its center known as the Keystone.
As evening twilight fades into night, look for three bright stars high in the east that form a giant triangle in the sky and the triangle shape is a great way to “star hop” to areas of interest.
Every year on or about July 6, the Earth reaches aphelion, its farthest point from the sun in that elliptical orbit. How can we be at our farthest from the sun in summer?
Earth is at its farthest point from the Sun on July 6th, called Aphelion. Does our distance from the Sun have any effect on the weather?
Keep watching the upper left portion of the Moon all this week for one of its largest "seas."
As the planets drift very slowly among the stars, sometimes they appear close to each other in the sky – a meetup called a conjunction.
Are there any green stars? Astronomers say no, but observers insist that the brightest star in the constellation Libra the Scales, does look green.
During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east, almost overhead for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, and it’s another sign that summer is on its way.
The week of May 22 offers a perfect opportunity to follow the waxing crescent moon. In this case, “waxing” refers to the crescent shape growing larger each night. It's also a good time to identify some of the dark lava basins called Maria.
The early evening sky remains dark for longer periods as the moon rises later each night. This reveals a really nice target for binoculars called the Coma Star Cluster.
Look for the three stars in the handle of the Big Dipper and you’ll notice they form a curve or arc in the sky that you can use to find the star Arcturus.
This week you can see what’s called the Moon Illusion, that time when the full moon seems so much larger near the horizon than when it’s overhead.
Mid-April to mid-May is a good time to see a collection of bright stars in the west called "The Arch of Spring." Even though they’ve been around all winter, we notice these stars more when they get lower in the sky because they’re closer to the horizon.
After three months of what people call the meteor drought, the annual Lyrid meteor shower comes to a peak this week.
For weeks we’ve been treated to the brilliant planet Venus piercing the western sky after sunset, but during the week of April 10, you’ll have a rare opportunity to glimpse the elusive planet Mercury.
If you look high into the northeast after dark, you can find the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper. This is the time of year when the dipper climbs to its highest point in the north, appearing almost directly overhead by month’s end.
The waxing of quarter to gibbous to full is a good time to see details on the lunar surface. With nothing more than a pair of binoculars, you can make out craters, mountains, and the dark colored plains called "maria," or "seas."
While you may know Cancer the Crab as one of the constellations of the zodiac, chances are you’ve never seen it because it’s the faintest of the twelve. But Cancer contains one of the best star clusters for binoculars and small telescopes - The Beehive!
This month offers a unique opportunity to see an asteroid with your own eyes - the largest asteroid in the solar system, Ceres!
The sun is headed toward its peak storm activity and that is why there are more reports of Northern Lights right now. Get some tips on how to watch for the "Aurora Borealis"!
All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from First Quarter toward Full. We call this period the “waxing gibbous moon” as the oval shape becomes wider and more rounded.
Look low in the west near the end of evening twilight and you should see two exceptionally bright stars. On closer inspection, you might notice that they don't twinkle very much. That's because you're looking at the planets Venus and Jupiter!
Three bright stars form a giant triangle in the southern sky known as the Winter Triangle. And like Orion’s Belt, it can make for an excellent pointer and guidepost to the winter night sky.
As the moon wanes and rises later each night, the early evening skies are dark again, allowing us to see the faint deep sky marvels of winter. One of the most famous is actually visible to the naked eye – the Great Orion Nebula.
The February Full Moon is often times called the Snow Moon because of the heavy snowfall typical in this month. But it’s also been referred to as the Hunger Moon or Bone Moon by Native Americans because of the lack of food.
You might have heard that there's a big green comet coming our way. But how bright is it really going to get?
As the planets slowly move among the stars, sometimes they appear close to each other in the sky – a meetup called a conjunction.
About two hours after sunset, look halfway up the eastern sky for two bright stars that are relatively close to one another. These are Pollux and Castor, the heads of Gemini the Twins.
Every year on or about January 4, the Earth reaches perihelion, its closest point to the sun in that elliptical orbit.
Ushering in the new year is one of the best known constellations of all, Orion the Hunter.
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been prominent targets for months, but now Venus and Mercury will join them as they reappear low in the southwest shortly after sunset during twilight.
One of the best meteor showers of the year comes to a peak on the evening of December 13 and 14. Known as the Geminid Meteor Shower, it rivals the famous Perseids in August in numbers and brightness.
A full moon might be the worst time to see details on the lunar surface due to the lack of shadows, but it’s the best time to see what are called “ray structures.”
Most of the time, Mars is just a faint star that looks like an unremarkable orange dot in a telescope. But every 26 months, the Red Planet swings in for a close approach to Earth, making it ideal for observing.
The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So what's the best one to look for?
Look low the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature Little Dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades star cluster.
The Autumn nights give us cooler, drier air which is ideal for observing the deep sky. Combine that with a moonless night, and it’s the best time of year to look for the Great Andromeda Galaxy.
This month, the Full Frost Moon on November 8 coincides with a Total Lunar Eclipse. This is when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, giving it an eerie reddish glow because of the colors that pass through the Earth’s atmosphere. This is why a total lunar eclipse is also sometimes called “The Blood Moon.”
Each season has a notable constellation or group of stars that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use The Summer Triangle, but in autumn we have “The Great Square of Pegasus.”
Each year in late October, our planet crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, sweeping up millions of little bits of ice and dust to create the Orionid Meteor Shower.
At twilight, look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.
Even though the nights are cooling down, throw on that coat and grab your binoculars for a look at the Moon! This is a good time to see the dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.”
Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will celebrate this year’s International Observe the Moon Night Saturday, October 1. Sponsored by NASA, over 3000 sites around the world will be participating with special shows and telescope viewing!
The planet Jupiter makes its return into the evening sky shining like a brilliant beacon low in the east after dark!
The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many interesting deep sky objects, but it’s also a way to find other constellations nearby. For example, a popular little pattern among stargazers is Delphinus the Dolphin.
The Harvest Moon takes place on September 10 this year. It's the Full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox and is popular with farmers because they can continue harvesting by the light of the moon after sunset.
If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright star that doesn’t twinkle as much as the other stars. This is the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it recently made its closest approach to Earth.
Under a clear sky with no moon or light pollution, you should see it as a faint band of light that stretches overhead from roughly north to south. This band represents the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy, a huge spiral of some 200 billion stars.
As the moon advances past full and moves further into the eastern sky, we’ll have a chance to see it greet the planet Mars on the morning of August 19.
Since one side of the moon always faces the earth, it's often assumed that means the moon doesn't rotate. But that's not really the case.
As the phase of the moon grows steadily from crescent to first quarter to full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface.
After dusk, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for a moderately bright star. It’s flanked by two fainter stars above and below it. This is Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle.
Hercules, the strong man of ancient mythology, rides high overhead in early summer. While its stars are not particularly bright, its most distinctive shape are the four stars in its center known as the Keystone.
Cygnus the Swan is now visible in the northeast after twilight. Its brightest star Deneb marks the tail of Cygnus, and turns out to be one of the most luminous stars in the galaxy.
Each night, the moon appears to slip a little further back or eastward among the stars, reaching Full on July 13th. The July Full Moon is known as the Buck Moon but will also be a "Super Moon".
As evening twilight fades into night, look for three bright stars high in the east that form a giant triangle in the sky. Each belongs to its own constellation, but the triangle is a great way to “star hop” to areas of interest.
As twilight ends around 10:30pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star – this is Antares, the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion.
From now through the rest of June, you’ll have a unique opportunity to see a lineup of all five naked eye planets during morning twilight.
This week, the phase of the moon grows, reaching First Quarter on June 7. An ordinary pair of binoculars is all you’ll need to see some of the moon's larger craters.
At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, the second brightest star in the summer sky.
Set your clocks for the late evening and early morning of May 30 and 31 because we might just get a rare meteor display!
Now that we’re past Full Moon, the early evening sky remains dark for longer periods as the moon rises later each night. This reveals a really nice target for binoculars called the Coma star cluster.
This year, the Full Flower Moon takes place late on May 15, and coincides with a Total Lunar Eclipse, also called a Blood Moon.
Spring is when the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky. Look for the three stars in the handle of the Big Dipper and you’ll notice they form a curve or arc in the sky, the "Arc to Arcturus."
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, is notoriously difficult to see. We only have a chance to see it three or four times a year and one of those opportunities is right now.
This year, International Dark Sky Week begins on Earth Day, April 22, and runs through April 30. It’s a chance to celebrate, learn, and experience the beauty of dark skies and the need to preserve it.
Mid-April to mid-May is a good time to see a collection of bright stars in the west called “The Arch of Spring.” Even though they’ve been around all winter, we notice these stars more when they get lower in the sky because they’re closer to the horizon.
The week of April 4 offers a perfect opportunity to follow the waxing crescent moon. In this case, “waxing” refers to the crescent shape growing larger each night.
All this week, the early evening sky is clear of moonlight, which allows us time to explore some of the fainter deep sky objects with binoculars and telescopes. One of the best is the Beehive Star Cluster in Cancer the Crab.
This year, the March equinox arrives on the 20th which marks the first day of spring for the northern hemisphere. What does that mean in astronomical terms?
With binoculars, look for the large, almost perfectly round maria a little to the upper right of the center of the moon. This is the Sea of Serenity, measuring in at over 400 miles across.
About 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the south for the three stars in a line that make up Orion’s Belt. Underneath Orion is a faint trapezoid of stars that make up the body of Lepus the Hare.
About two hours after sunset, look high in the south for the constellation of Orion the Hunter. Orion’s Belt can help you find the three bright stars of the Winter Triangle.
The brightest star in the entire sky is... The Sun! So what’s the brightest star in the entire nighttime sky?
We won’t have any notable planets to see in the evening sky for many months, but Venus has returned to the morning sky!
About two hours after sunset, look halfway up the eastern sky for two bright stars that are relatively close to one another. These are Pollux and Castor, the heads of Gemini the Twins.
With the bright moon now out of the sky, it’s a perfect time to look for one of the season’s best deep sky objects – The Great Orion Nebula. About two hours after sunset, look about a third of the way up the southeast sky for Orion’s Belt, a line of three bright stars.
Of all the things that move among the stars, earth orbiting satellites can be quite common to see. During the few hours after sunset or before sunrise, literally dozens of satellites can be seen as faint slow moving dots.
All this week, the sunlit side of the moon will seem to grow as the moon rises later each night. This period between First Quarter and Full is called the Waxing Gibbous Moon.
Ushering in the new year is one of the best known constellations of all, Orion the Hunter.
About two hours after sunset, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for the orange star Aldebaran. To the Greeks, Aldebaran was the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull.
Many of our modern holiday traditions have their roots in the winter festivals of long ago, and that includes the date we now call "Christmas."
During the week of December 13, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from First Quarter toward Full. We call this period the “waxing moon” as if we were “waxing” on more surface to the illuminated side.
For the next two weeks, you’ll get to enjoy a beautiful alignment of three planets in the southwest during evening twilight.
About 90 minutes after sunset, look low in the south for a medium bright star called Fomalhaut. It should be relatively easy to spot because it’s in an area devoid of other bright stars. Fomalhaut has a system of planets of its own.
Look low the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature little dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades Star Cluster.
In the predawn hours of Friday, November 19, expect to be treated to a nearly-total eclipse of the moon. In this case, we’re talking over 97 percent eclipsed, which means the Earth’s shadow will cover all but a tiny sliver of the full moon.
The planet Venus is so bright that it appears low in the southwest just 30 minutes after sunset, long before any of the brightest stars. This is what sometimes gives Venus its nickname of “The Evening Star.”
As we approach mid-autumn, there is a bright yellowish star rising out of the northeast after dusk. This is Capella, the brightest star in the constellation of Auriga the Charioteer.
The autumn nights give us cooler, drier air which is ideal for observing the deep sky. Combine that with a moonless night, and it’s the best time of year to look for the Great Andromeda Galaxy.
Each season has that one notable constellation that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use the Summer Triangle, which is still visible high in the west, but in Autumn we have the Great Square of Pegasus.
This year's NASA-sponsored International Observe the Moon Night takes place on Saturday, October 16.
Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big "W" sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.
As we head into Fall, and with solar activity on the upswing, the chances of catching a display of Northern Lights increases.
This year, the September equinox arrives on the 22nd which marks the first day of Fall for the northern hemisphere. The term “equinox” means “equal day equal night” because the length of day and night are about the same on this date.
We begin the week of September 13 with the moon at First Quarter, which looks half illuminated in the south after sunset. That sets the stage for an excellent week of lunar observing.
About halfway up the southern sky in September is the prominent white star, Altair, marking the eye of Aquila the Eagle.
Late summer is the best time to observe the Milky Way. Under a clear sky with no moon or light pollution, you should see it as a faint band of light that stretches overhead from roughly north to south.
After more than a year, the planet Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies, but you’ll have to look low in the west during dusk to see it.
We say the Moon “waxes” this week because its oval shape grows to become Full on August 22. As it slips further eastward among the stars each night, watch for it to pass below the planet Saturn on August 20 and underneath the brighter Jupiter on the 21st.
The famous annual Perseid Meteor shower reaches its maximum this week. While peak activity occurs on the evening of August 11 and morning of the 12th, the shower will remain active for the entire week.
If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright star that doesn’t seem to twinkle very much. It’s the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it's currently at its closest approach to Earth.
The northernmost star in the Summer Triangle marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross.
The waxing gibbous moon will end on Friday, July 23, when it becomes the Full Buck Moon. On that same night, you can see Saturn to its left. Look again on July 26 and the moon will be just below Jupiter.
Early in the week of July 12, the Waxing Crescent Moon makes its appearance in the west after sunset. But when the moon looks like a thin crescent, there’s another feature to look for called Earthshine.
The three bright stars of the Summer Triangle are one of the best ways to star hop around the summer sky.
During early summer, the Full Moon will rise far to the south of east and take its lowest path across the southern sky. The thicker atmosphere there sometimes gives the Moon an orangish or even rose color.
June is when the constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion begins to emerge in the southeast. As twilight ends around 10:30pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star – this is Antares, the heart of the Scorpion.
During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east, almost overhead for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, and it’s another sign that summer is on its way.
This year, the Full Flower Moon takes place on May 26 and coincides with several other lunar events on the same day.
As the moon becomes more illuminated, several dark round features will come into view. These are known as the Lunar Maria, the Latin word for "seas."
Spring is when the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky.
Twice each year the Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet. Each time we do, a meteor shower is created from the tiny flecks of ice and dust the comet leaves behind in its orbit.
The week of April 26 begins with the Super Pink Moon. This is also the best time to look for the splashes of material emanating from craters called "rays".
After three months of what people call the meteor drought, the annual Lyrid meteor shower comes to a peak this week.
If you look high into the northeast after dark, you can find the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper. One of the most famous double stars in the sky is there, too.
The giant planets Jupiter and Saturn are making their return into the morning sky this month.
Each season has that one constellation that serves as a signpost to the sky. In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion.
All this week, the phase of the moon grows as the nearside becomes more illuminated by the sun. Look for the large impact basin in the upper left portion of the moon called the Sea of Rains.
While many sky wonders can be observed in suburban skies with binoculars and telescopes, there are several things you can do to improve the view.
The Beehive is one of the best examples of an open star cluster, a loose gathering of young stars that all formed about the same time and move together through space.
All during the first week of March, the red planet Mars makes a close pass by the Pleiades Star Cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters.
Under a clear dark sky, look for Lepus the Hare just underneath the knees of Orion the Hunter.
The Red Planet, Mars, has dimmed considerably since its close approach to Earth last fall, but it’s still visible high in the west after dark. Three space probes arrive there this month, including NASA's Perseverance rover.
Near Orion are his hunting dogs, Canis Major and Minor, anchored by the bright stars Sirius and Procyon.
About 90 minutes after sunset, the legendary constellation of Orion the Hunter shines about halfway up the southern sky. Underneath the three stars of his belt shines the Orion Nebula, one of the closest stellar nurseries to Earth.
This year, the January Full Moon occurs on the 28th. Look for it to rise slightly north of east soon after sunset. There are many different names for the January Full Moon, especially by the Native Americans.
The week of January 18 offers a perfect opportunity to follow what’s called “the waxing moon.” It's also a good time to look for the Sea of Tranquility, where the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in 1969.
This is a good week to start looking for the close approach of Mars and Uranus in the sky.
The orange star Aldebaran – the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull – is a great target for the January sky.
The heads of Gemini the Twins, Pollux and Castor, lie low in the east-northeast after dusk at the end of December. They will start higher in east as we get into January.
This year, the week of December 21st offers a variety of celestial happenings to help celebrate the season.
If you look low in the southwest at dusk, you can’t help but notice two bright stars that appear close to one other. These are actually the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and they’ll get so close on December 21 that it’ll seem like they're touching.
The peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower is Dec 13-14 and there is no moon to interfere this year!
We call the next two weeks the period of the “waning moon,” as its illumination decreases from our vantage point on Earth.
The Algonquin People called the November Full Moon the "Beaver Moon" but it had many other names as well.
Look low the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars that looks like a miniature Little Dipper - it's actually the Pleiades star cluster!
This week offers up a morning rendezvous of planets, bright stars, and the crescent moon.
Also called the “sister spiral” to our own Milky Way Galaxy, Andromeda is the most distant object you can see in the entire night sky without a telescope.
A second Full Moon falls on Halloween this year, maybe inspiring thoughts of werewolves and other "lunacy." How often does this happen?
The Orionid Meteor Shower peaks in the post-midnight hours this week, and there won't be any moonlight to interfere this year.
When twilight ends around 8:30 pm, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a group of bright stars that look like a big "W" tipped on its end.
The Red Planet Mars is at its closest approach to Earth this month, shining like a bright orange beacon in the east after dusk.
The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the September Equinox and its meaning goes back thousands of years.
The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many interesting deep sky objects, but it’s also a way to find other constellations nearby. For example, a popular little pattern is Delphinus the Dolphin.
As we head into fall, and with solar activity on the upswing, the chances of catching a display of Northern Lights increases.
Look to the east an hour or two before sunrise and you’ll be rewarded with “the morning star,” actually the planet Venus, visible well into the dawn.
Away from city lights and bright moonlight, this is the time of year to see the faint band of the Milky Way stretching right over the top of the sky.
As we move farther into August, one of the most notable summer constellations comes into its prime.
The famous annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its maximum this week. While peak activity occurs on the evenings of August 11 and 12, the shower will remain active for the entire week.
Jupiter and Saturn both recently made close approaches to Earth, which makes them prime for observing.
We begin the week of July 27 with the moon at First Quarter, which looks half illuminated in the south after sunset. That sets the stage for an excellent week of lunar observing.
Even though NEOWISE is fading after its close approach to the sun on July 3, it makes its closest approach to earth on July 23 which should keep it near naked eye visibility this week.
After dusk, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle.
This year, from the end of June through mid-July, you can see a perfect example of the Waxing Moon changing into a Waning Moon. There is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on July 5 which is extraordinarily challenging to see.
About 30 minutes after sunset, the sky is still quite bright, but this is a good time to start watching for the brightest stars to appear first.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of summer officially begins on June 20 at 5:44 pm Eastern Time.
After dusk, look about a third of the way up the southern sky for a bluish star. This is Spica, a Blue Supergiant that could go Supernova in about 15 million years.
The June Full Moon was often referred to as the Strawberry Moon by the Algonquin tribe, but these same peoples had other names for this Full Moon.
Only three or four times a year, you have a chance to find Mercury close to the western horizon at dusk or near the eastern horizon at dawn.
This week provides a rare opportunity to see the two planets closest to the sun – Venus and Mercury.
As the week progresses, the moon rises later each night, giving us a dark sky full of stars to enjoy.
During the few hours after sunset or before sunrise, literally dozens of satellites will look like slowly moving dots across the sky, especially if the skies are dark.
If you're getting tired of Zoom meetings and binging on Netflix, take a break and look to the sky for the annual Lyrid meteor shower!
For four mornings beginning Tuesday, April 14, the waning moon will pass by three bright planets – Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.
This week, the moon grows to become full on April 7. On that evening, the moon will rise in the east almost immediately after the sun sets in the west.
Venus will meet up with the famous Pleiades Star Cluster in early April. You can also see Venus go through phases in a telescope as it gets closer to Earth.
Later this week, the Waxing Crescent Moon makes its appearance in the west after sunset.
About 90 minutes after sunset, you can find Sirius and a cluster of stars called the Little Beehive.
This week, the sunlit side of the Moon will seem to grow as the Moon itself slips backward among the stars.
In the early evening skies after sunset, Venus continues to steal the show as a super bright "star" in the west.
The three bright stars that make up Orion's belt make for one of the best guideposts in the sky.
With the Moon past full and moving into the post-midnight sky, now is the perfect opportunity to observe the Great Orion Nebula.
The planet Venus is drawing spectacular attention in the west as it outshines all the other star-like objects in the west after sunset.
The Moon appears low in the west at the beginning of this week, but will move further eastward each night.
One of the best-known constellations of the winter sky is approaching its prime in the southern sky and one of its stars is due to explode someday.
At the beginning of the week, Mars will be above a slightly brighter star called “Antares.”
This month, the full moon occurs Friday the 10th, when you can expect to see it slightly north of east after sunset.
Many of our modern holiday traditions have their roots in the winter festivals of long ago, including the date we now call Christmas.
About 90 minutes after sunset, look south for "The Lonely One" in an area devoid of other bright stars.
With the Winter Solstice fast approaching, it's no surprise that December's full moon is called the Cold Moon.
With little or no moon in the sky this week, it's a good time to look for one of the most famous deep sky objects.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the planet Mercury will pass in front of the Sun in a rare event known as a transit.
Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that looks like a big "W" in the sky and you'll see the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.
You might have noticed an increase in the number of "shooting stars" in the morning sky before sunrise. This is due to the Orionid meteor shower, which is peaking right now.
Each season has a notable group of stars to serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In autumn, we have the Great Square of Pegasus.
The dark plains on the Moon are called maria or seas because early observers mistook them for bodies of water.
The Delta College Planetarium will join schools, museums, and planetariums around the globe to celebrate the Moon Friday, Oct 4.
This year, the September equinox arrives September 23, marking the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere.
If you're up before sunrise, which is easier now that we're heading into fall, you can look for the return of Orion the Hunter.
September's Full Moon is often called the Harvest Moon, and this year it occurs after midnight on September 14.
If you're out on a clear dark evening in September, you can look low in the south for Sagittarius the Archer.
The early evening sky will fill with more stars this week and, among them, a pair of bright planets.
The Algonquin People often referred to the August Full Moon as the Sturgeon Moon because the Lake Sturgeon were most often caught at this time of year.
The Perseids are famous for their high number of meteors and also because they can display fireballs brighter than the planet Venus.
For many of us in the north country, the Northern Lights can be a beautiful addition to the night sky experience. But when can we expect to see them?
July and August are a great time to use three bright stars to "star hop" to areas of interest.
The planet Jupiter shines brightly in the south after dusk, but now the next gas giant planet is rising out of the southeast.
The Moon grows steadily larger this week, greeting two planets in its journey among the stars.
Many movies depict the Moon as full when Apollo 11 landed, but if you want to see what the Moon really looked like during that epic moment, you'll have a chance this week.
About 90 minutes after sunset, look about halfway up the eastern sky for a beautifully bright blue-white star.
The planet Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth this month, and that means it will shine a little brighter than usual.
During the month of June, one of the most distinctive constellations is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, because it lies high in the sky early in the evening.
This period in May is a good time to see some bright stars close to the western horizon.
The waxing crescent and first quarter phases are a great time to see details on the Moon.
In spring, the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky.
The Moon is now making its way through the morning sky, slipping farther east relative to the stars each night.
One of the most recognizable groups of stars in the night sky isn't actually a constellation, but a part of the larger group Ursa Major.
The stars of Cancer the Crab are quite dim, but point your binoculars this way and you'll see a cluster of stars called the Beehive.
During the couple of hours after sunset or before sunrise, dozens of satellites can be seen as slowly moving dots across the sky.
This week, the Gibbous Moon grows into a Full Moon on March 20. Some Native Americans referred to it as The Worm Moon.
The Moon is back in the early evening skies this week, reaching first quarter in the south on March 14.
This week, the early evening skies will be dark and full of stars. A beautiful star cluster called "The Little Beehive" is among many of the fine objects you can find in binoculars.
Under a clear, dark sky, you can see one of the lesser known constellations, Lepus the Hare, being chased by Orion the Hunter.
With no Moon in the sky, you can see one of the most famous deep sky objects this week.
When the conditions are right, you can see the Northern Lights. But when is the best time to see them?
Venus is now visible in the morning sky before sunrise and it’ll be meeting up with Jupiter this week.
Late on the night of January 20 going into January 21 is the first total eclipse of the Moon seen in the eastern U.S. since 2015.
The Moon appears as a thin crescent low in the west as the week begins, but it will slip a little further eastward each night.
You can see one of the most famous star clusters in the sky this week - the Seven Sisters (also known as the Pleiades).
Friday, December 21 marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the moon.
Comet Wirtanen makes a close approach to Earth December 16th. Learn how to find it with ordinary binoculars!
The planet Venus has reclaimed its place as the "Morning Star" in the eastern sky before dawn.
The brightest star of the fall sky is low in the northeast after twilight. This is Capella, in the constellation of Auriga the Charioteer.
Early in the week, the Moon appears as a thin crescent in the southwest at dusk. With each passing night, you can see it slip eastward, which will also change its phase.
Our sister galaxy, Andromeda, is the most distant object you can see in the night sky without a telescope, and cool, dry autumn nights are a great time to look for it.
Each season has a prominent constellation or group of stars that serves as an excellent pointer to that part of the sky. In autumn, it's the Great Square of Pegasus.
The "W" of Cassiopeia is visible in the northeast after dusk. Learn about this famous constellation and why you can see it in the north all year round.
Museums, schools and planetariums host this annual event to observe our nearest celestial neighbor. It's also a chance to see the latest discoveries from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The changing of the seasons will put Jupiter in the Sun's glare by the end of the month.
Not all objects in the night sky are made by nature. You can also spot the International Space Station and other Earth-orbiting satellites at night.
The Harvest Moon, the closest full moon to the Autumn Equinox, takes place on Sept. 25 this year.
Now is a good time to observe the Summer Milky Way, especially under a dark sky with no Moon.
The early evening sky will speckle with more stars. Among them, a long panorama of bright planets can be seen in the south.
All this week, the sunlit side of the Moon will seem to grow as it gradually slips eastward among the stars.
This week, the Crescent Moon makes its appearance and passes by both Venus and Jupiter.
One of the most well-known meteor showers of the year reaches peak activity on the night of August 12 and morning of August 13.
Every 26 months, Mars and Earth line up on one side of the sun in an opposition. This is also when the two planets reach their closest approach.
On Friday, July 27, the Moon will become full and you can see it get close to the planet Mars.
As evening twilight fades into night, look for three bright stars high in the east that are great for starhopping to areas of interest.
The ringed planet, Saturn, is at its closest approach to Earth. How much magnifying power does it take to see the rings?
About 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the eastern sky for a beautiful blue-white star. Its name is Vega, and no it’s not in honor of a 1970s Chevrolet.
With the bright Moon drowning out faint nebula and galaxies, this is a good week to look for planets.
By June 20, the moon will appear in the south soon after sunset and look half illuminated. Many call this a half moon, but it's really a first quarter moon.
During the month of June, one of the most distinctive constellations is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, because it lies high in the sky early in the evening.
Look to the south this week to see a "star" with a steady light and a reddish hue, a dead giveaway that you're actually looking at the planet Mars.