Total Eclipse | May 2022 Sky Happenings

Sky map of constellations seen in May evening skies

Venus remains in the morning sky this month.  Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so you can try to find it low in the southeast at dawn.  Venus remains a ‘morning star’ for most of 2022. Mars is low the morning sky this month.  The Red planet pulls away from Saturn this […]

HMNS Museum Store Hosts Local Faves

shimmering blue butterflies arranged on a wooden clock

We know. Mother’s Day is right around the corner and everyone is scrambling for the perfect, last-minute gifts. While it’s tempting to play it safe ordering a few random presents from big box stores or mega online retailers, the Museum Store has your back with unique, handcrafted gifts from some of mom’s favorite local artists. […]

How-To with HMNS | Pysanky Eggs

Group of colorfully painted pysanky eggs

Eggs are traditionally associated Easter and spring as symbols of new life and plenty. Pysanky eggs (pysanka – singular) are a beautiful, traditionally decorated eggs inscribed with motifs that communicate specific well wished to the recipient. These eggs are typically made to be given to loved ones and as symbols of respect. Giving a pysanka […]

HMNS Explains | Telescopes 101

A person stands at a telescope underneath the stars

Written by Leonard Ferguson, George Observatory volunteer Have you ever gotten a new telescope? Are you possibly frustrated with not being able to figure out how that new ‘scope works? Next is figuring out how to really “see” those objects once you find them! While a discussion of the many different telescope designs is far […]

Full Moon Brings Easter | April 2022 Sky Happenings

Astronomers using NASA Hubble Space Telescope have found a bow shock around a very young star in the nearby Orion nebula, an intense star-forming region of gas and dust.

Mercury is the only evening planet this month.  Look for it low in the west at dusk, over the point of sunset, beginning mid-month,. Venus remains in the morning sky this month.  Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so you can try to find it low in the southeast at dawn.  Venus […]

HMNS and World Autism Awareness Day

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, and HMNS is proud to have raised awareness about autism amongst staff within the past year! HMNS recertified as a Certified Autism Center in 2021, and HMNS at Sugar Land and The George Observatory received the same distinction for the first time. What this means is that staff […]

Spring Cleaning: Rusty Tool Edition

In my early 30’s, I first learned about proper care and maintenance for pruning tools. Not to sound dramatic, but it has changed my life. I had no idea the power that basic household white vinegar holds over a pile of derelict tools. We all have that pair of crunchy old clippers, or that socket […]

Cool birds in strange places (and then some…)

bat falcon sitting on power post

The blog about the stray woodpecker in a cemetery was such a smash hit, that the clever folks in our PR dept. proposed taking it to the next level. My mind raced with possible sites to visit that would fall under the general theme of ‘Cool birds in strange places’, but invariably the best group […]

Mute Swans: More than Just a Pretty Bird

Guest blog by Cathy Hou Editor’s note: Cathy interned with Dr. Dan Brooks, HMNS Curator of Vertebrate Zoology. Her hard work culminated with publication of this article on Mute Swans in our beloved Lone Star state: https://www.hmns.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SwanEprint.pdf A Mute Swan swims in the lake, white feathers glistening, recognized by its distinctive S-shaped neck. You may […]

Spring Forward | March 2022 Sky Happenings

Map of constellations for the month of March 2022

Venus remains in the morning sky this month.  Venus outshines everything except the Sun and the Moon, so you can try to find it low in the southeast at dawn.  Venus remains a ‘morning star’ for most of 2022. Mars is low the morning sky this month.  Look low in the southeast at dawn, to […]


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