September Partial Eclipse | 2024 Sky Happenings
Look for a small ‘bite’ taken out of the Moon.
James
Summer Meteor Shower | August 2024 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: The month of August brings the Perseid meteor shower. HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains what to expect with upcoming sky happenings. Saturn is now a late evening object! It rises in the east-southeast by 10:11 pm on August 1 and by 8:15 (during twilight) on August 31. Saturn is up literally all night […]
Sweltering Summer Heat of July
Editor’s Note: The July summer heat is not cooling off any time soon and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is here to explain why that is. Saturn is in the south-southwest at dawn. Mars is also in the morning sky, in the east at dawn. Mars brightens each morning this month as it approaches Jupiter. […]
Summer is Near | May 2024 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: Summer is on the horizon and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is explaining the signs in the stars above Houston’s skyline. Mars and Saturn are low to the east-southeast horizon at dawn. Having overtaken Saturn, Mars pulls away from it each morning in May. During May, Mars and Saturn appear slightly father from the […]
Eclipse Mania | April 2024 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: The Total Solar Eclipse is emerging over Texas and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is giving us the details down to the minute. Jupiter is low in the west at nightfall. No star at night is as bright. Watch as Jupiter appears slightly lower in the sky each April evening until it sets in […]
The Great Texas Eclipse–April 8, 2024
The New Moon of Monday, April 8, 2024, aligns with the Sun and the Earth well enough to cast its shadow onto Earth, causing an eclipse. Since the Moon is at perigee (closest approach to Earth) on April 7, its shadow does reach the Earth. Anyone in that shadow sees the Moon block all of […]
Spring Forward | March 2024 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: Spring is upon us! HMNS Astronomer James Wooten reminds us to adjust our clocks and explains why we observe Daylight Savings Time. Jupiter is prominent high in the sky, high in the west at nightfall. No star at night is as bright. Mercury also enters the evening sky this month. Start looking west […]
Year of the Dragon | February 2024 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: It is the Year of the Dragon and we continue to look up at the star-filled night skies with HMNS Astronomer James Wooten as he discusses the New Moon and the Earth’s rotation. Saturn is about to leave the evening sky. Face southwest at dusk to observe it as February begins. Each evening, […]
New Year, Clear Skies | January Sky Happenings 2024
Editor’s Note: We are looking up as HMNS Astronomer James Wooten jumps into the new year with January sky happenings, including perihelion. Saturn is well placed for observing in early evening. Face south-southwest at dusk to observe it. Jupiter is prominent high in the sky, almost overhead at nightfall. No star at night is as […]
Gazing into the New Year | December 2023 Sky Happenings
Editor’s Note: We are looking up as HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains the sky happenings for December before we jump into the new year. Saturn is now well placed for observing in early evening. Face south-southwest at dusk to observe it. Jupiter was opposite the Sun, and up precisely all night long, a month ago. […]