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.

April Star Blog

Venus remains high in the evening sky this month. Look in the west at dusk for the brightest thing there. Venus was at greatest elongation on March 24, meaning that Venus is as far from the Sun as it can possible get in our sky. What’s more, at this time of year the ecliptic—the apparent path […]

March Star Blog

Venus is even higher in the evening sky this month. Look in the west at dusk for the brightest thing there.  Venus comes to greatest elongation on March 24, meaning that Venus is as far from the Sun as it can possible get in our sky. What’s more, at this time of year the ecliptic—the apparent […]

February Star Blog

Spherical diagram, using lines and dots, of constellations found in the night sky.

Venus is even higher in the evening sky this month.  Look in the west at dusk for the brightest thing there. Mercury makes a rare appearance in the evening sky this month.  For the first half of February, look for it low to the western horizon right at dusk, directly under Venus.     Mars is […]

January Star Blog

Venus is even higher in the evening sky this month.  Look in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there. Mars is higher in the morning sky each day this month.  Look low in the east at dawn. Jupiter begins to emerge into the morning sky this month.  Look low in the southeast at […]

December Star Blog

Venus continues to emerge into the evening sky this month. Look low in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there. Saturn is also in the southwestern evening sky. Watch Venus approach and pass it on December 11. Mars is higher in the morning sky each day this month. Look low in the east […]

November Star Blog

Venus continues to emerge into the evening sky this month.  Look low in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there. Jupiter remains in the evening sky for one last month.  Look low in the southwest at dusk.  Venus passes close by—within 1.5 degrees— on November 24.  By month’s end, it is becoming lost […]

October Star Blog

Jupiter remains in the evening sky. Look low in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there.  Saturn is also in the evening sky. Although it is not as bright as Jupiter,  you can find it easily at some distance to the left of Jupiter.   Venus gradually re-emerges into the evening sky this […]

September Star Blog

Jupiter remains in the evening sky, well placed for observing.  Look low in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there.   Saturn is also in the evening sky.  Although it is not as bright as Jupiter,  you can find it easily at some distance to the left of Jupiter. Venus and Mars are lost in the Sun’s glare and […]

August Star Blog

Jupiter remains in the evening sky, well placed for observing.  Look low in the south at dusk for the brightest thing there.  Saturn is also in the evening sky.  Although it is not as bright as Jupiter,  you can find it easily at some distance to the left of Jupiter.   Venus and Mars are […]

HMNS’ Guide to the Night Sky in July, 2019

Jupiter remains in the evening sky, well placed for observing.  Look low in the southwest at dusk for the brightest thing there.   Saturn is at opposition on July 9.  This means that Earth is aligned between Saturn and the Sun on that date, putting Saturn opposite the Sun in our sky.  For much of July, Saturn is […]