Longtime observers of meteors are familiar with the annual Perseids in August and the Geminids in December. These showers reliably produce hundreds of “shooting stars” per hour every year. Beginning in 2014, however, we might add another annual treat — the May Camelopardalids, peaking on May 24! What are meteors?Meteors are streaks of light in the […]
Jupiter remains well placed for evening observing all spring. Look for it in the west at dusk, outshining all the stars we ever see at night. Mercury appears in the evening sky this month. Too close to the Sun to observe on May 1, Mercury gradually comes from behind the Sun and by mid-month, it […]
This month, Jupiter remains well placed for evening observing all spring. Look for it high in the west at dusk. Mars is up virtually all night long this month. On April 8, Earth passes between the Sun and Mars. This places Mars at opposition, an alignment where we see Mars rise at dusk and set […]
This month, Jupiter remains well placed for evening observing all winter and spring. Look for it almost overhead at dusk and high in the west later in the evening. Mars remains in the morning sky. It continues to brighten a bit in the south at dawn. Later in March, it also begins rising in late […]
This month, Venus has entered the morning sky. Look southeast at dawn for the brightest point of light there; only the Sun and Moon outshine Venus. Venus remains a morning star for almost all of 2014. Jupiter, up literally all night long last month, remains well placed for evening observing all winter and spring. Look […]
This month, Venus shifts from the evening to the morning sky. For the next few days, look for it low in the southwest at dusk. If no buildings or trees block the view, you can still make out Venus in the twilight; it outshines everything in the sky but the Sun and the Moon. Notice […]
This is it. The final stargazing report of 2013. So let’s get to it, shall we? Venus remains in the west at dusk for one more month. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. Shortly after the new year begins, Venus shifts from the evening to […]
Only one more month left in the year! In November, Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. Jupiter is high in the morning sky this month. Look for it high in the west at dawn. You can also […]
The night sky in October is full of comings … and goings. Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. Saturn leaves the evening sky this month. For the first few days of October, you can look for it […]
Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. On September 18, Venus passes Saturn (they are just over three degrees apart). Saturn is now shining in the south/southwest at dusk. Although not as bright as Venus, it does outshine […]
