Saturn sets in twilight for the first week of November and is lost in the sun’s glare the rest of the month.  Venus, Mars and Jupiter are still close together in the morning sky this month. Right now, Venus is close to Mars, with Jupiter above them. Venus and Mars are 0.68 degrees apart the morning […]

Saturn is now in the south-southwestern sky at dusk. It outshines the stars around it, so it’s also easy to see. Mars emerges into the morning sky this month. Look for it low in the east at dawn.  Mars remains dimmer then average, though, and won’t rival the brighter stars until next spring. Venus and […]

On Feb. 15, 2013, with no warning, an asteroid 20 meters in diameter and weighing more than the Eiffel Tower plunged into the Earth’s atmosphere over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk at speeds in excess of 19 kilometers per second. At such a high speed, the 14,000-ton object exploded at altitude, creating a flash 30 […]

Venus is in the west at dusk. At dusk, look high over the point of sunset for the brightest thing there; it outshines everything but the Sun and the Moon.  Jupiter is also in the west as soon as night falls. Jupiter outshines all stars we ever see at night, so it will be obvious […]

Mercury is low in the west-northwest, below and slightly to the right. It remains visible for the first half of May before returning towards the Sun. Venus is in the west at dusk. Look high over the point of sunset for the brightest thing there.  Jupiter is now high in the west as soon as […]

This month, Mars is in the southwest at dusk this month. Mars continues to fade a little each night as Earth continues to leave it farther behind. Still, Mars rivals the brightest stars we see at night. Saturn is also in the southwest at dusk. This month and next, Mars approaches Saturn more and more.  Venus remains in […]