Daily Astronomy Fix

September Full Moons go by many names — Harvest Moon, Drying Grass Moon, Corn Moon, Yellow Leaf Moon, Leaves Turning Moon, Autumn Moon and more. Make sure to get outside this season and enjoy the reflected light our celestial companion shines upon us.

Is Saturn your favorite planet? Have you always wanted to see it, but didn’t know where to look? Well, you’re in luck! There are few celestial objects that truly look 3D through binoculars or a small telescope. You’ll find this magnificent, ringed-gem above the Moon tonight. Just look for the...

Happy Fall Equinox! Our star, the Sun is directly over Earth’s equator today, creating an equal amount of daylight and nighttime hours (equinox comes from the Latin aequus which means equal and nox means night). Enjoy the day and the ever changing cycles of our planet.

Look to the southwest this evening to catch a pretty sight of the waxing crescent Moon with bright, orange Antares to the left. Graphic credit: SkySafari app

Getting up before the Sun rises isn’t easy for night owls, but early birds will be rewarded with an amazing view of blazing, bright Venus rising in the east about 5:00am. Graphic credit: SkySafari app

Enjoy the Full Super Moon tonight rising next to Saturn! Oh, and it’s a Blue Moon. Soak it up, it won’t happen again for several years. See our post from 8/1 for more info. Interested in reading more about our nearest celestial neighbor and the recent Moon landing? Check out...

Saturn is at opposition tonight (meaning directly opposite the Sun). So, it rises in the east as the Sun sets and will set in the west the Sun rises tomorrow morning. It’ll look like a yellow jewel in the sky. Enjoy the view all night long! Graphic credit: SkySafari app

Set up your telescope tonight and watch the Moon occult Antares, the heart of Scorpius. Shortly after 8pm MDT the waxing gibbous Moon will cover the brilliant orange star. Antares will pop back in view about 9:10pm. Check out the International Occultation Timing Association for more info on this event...

Make sure you catch the Perseid Meteor Shower this year. It peaks on the night of August 12th thru the morning of the 13th. Start watching at 10pm when the constellation Perseus rises over the northeastern horizon. The Moon won’t interfere with our view this year, so you’ll be able...

Early risers will be treated to a pretty view of the last quarter Moon and the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. The two celestial beauties won’t be this close together again until October of 2026. Graphic credit: Stellarium