James

James is the Planetarium Astronomer at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He teaches students every school morning in the planetarium, and also answers astronomy questions from the public.

Comet Leonard | December 2021 Sky Happenings

Venus remains in the evening sky one more month. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakable low in the southwest at dusk. Late in the month, Venus returns towards the Sun’s glare, where it will become invisible right after New Year’s Day. Jupiter and Saturn remain well placed for evening […]

Full Moon | November 2021 Sky Happenings

Venus remains in the evening sky this month. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakable low in the southwest at dusk. Jupiter and Saturn remain well placed for evening observing this fall. Look for Jupiter and Saturn in the south as night falls. Jupiter is brighter than all the stars we ever […]

Autumn Intermission | October 2021 Sky Happenings

Venus remains in the evening sky this month. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakably low in the southwest at dusk. Jupiter and  Saturn remain well placed for evening observing this fall. Look for Jupiter and Saturn in the south as night falls. Jupiter is brighter than all the stars we […]

Harvest Moon | September 2021 Sky Happenings

Venus remains in the evening sky this month. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakable low in the west southwest at dusk. Jupiter and Saturn were up all night long last month, leaving them well placed for evening observing this fall. Look for Jupiter and Saturn rising in the east […]

Perseid Meteor Shower | August 2021 Sky Happenings

Venus remains in the evening sky this month.  Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakable low in the west at dusk. Jupiter and  Saturn are up all night long this month.  Saturn is at opposition on August 2, while Jupiter is at opposition on August 19.  A planet comes to […]

Saturn Rises | July 2021 Sky Happenings

Mars is still low in the west—visible right as night falls.  Venus remains in the evening sky this month. It overtakes Mars on July 12; the two planets appear about one half degree (the size of the Full Moon) apart that night. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so it is unmistakable low in […]

Summer Arrives | June 2021 Sky Happenings

Map of constellations in the night sky of the month of June

Mars remains almost as bright as the stars around it in May 2021. And Mars is low in the west—still visible right as night falls.  Jupiter and  Saturn are the morning sky this month, low in the south. Venus also slowly emerges into the evening sky this month. Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so […]

Evenings with Mercury | May 2021 Sky Happenings

Map of the stars and planets during the month of May

Mars continues to fade a little bit each night now that Earth has overtaken it and is pulling away. However, it fades out gradually; Mars remains almost as bright as the stars around it in May 2021. And Mars is high in the west–well placed for observing right as night falls.  Jupiter and  Saturn are the morning sky […]

Where Winter and Spring Stars Meet | April 2021 Sky Happenings

Mars continues to fade a little bit each night now that Earth has overtaken it and is pulling away. However, it fades out gradually; Mars remains almost as bright as the stars around it in April 2021. And Mars is high in the west–well placed for observing right as night falls.  Jupiter and Saturn are the morning […]

Daylight Saving Time Springs Forward | March 2021 Sky Happenings

Mars continues to fade a little bit each night now that Earth has overtaken it and is pulling away. However, it fades out gradually; Mars remains almost as bright as the stars around it in March 2021. And Mars is high in the west–well placed for observing right as night falls.  Jupiter and  Saturn are the morning sky […]