Astronomy Highlights
Happy Perihelion to our fellow Earthlings! Spaceship Earth’s orbit is elliptical and at the closest point to the Sun today. (Skywatchers can always find something to celebrate.)Want to see exactly what our Earth looks like from space right now
Bundle up Buffs! Today we celebrate the winter solstice and the longest night of the year.Within a week or so, you’ll notice the days beginning to get longer as the arc of the Sun’s path through the celestial sphere gets higher in the sky.
The full Moon will be captivating this weekend! As the Moon rises on the eastern horizon, notice how far to the north it is — it will rise at its most northern position in over 18 years. Also, the winter solstice is fast approaching, causing
The winter skies are so enchanting! Look to the east tonight to spot the waxing gibbous Moon and brilliant Jupiter amidst the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters. Also, the Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight, but the Moon will be so bright that
The waxing crescent Moon and Venus form a spectacular pairing in the southwestern sky this evening.Can you see the rest of the Moon’s disk? Hope so! It’s a beautiful sight called Earthshine —created by reflected sunlight from the Earth shining back
Later this evening, the waning gibbous Moon (68% illuminated) rises in the east and shows us the way to the small, but mighty red planet Mars. The planet won’t be particularly bright, because it’s half the size of Earth and almost 82 million miles
Once again, the Moon helps us to spot another planet this month. Find the almost full, but technically 96% illuminated waning gibbous Moon rising in the east. The giant planet Jupiter will be below the Moon. Don’t miss this sight and grab a pair of
The Moon helps to point the way to find another gorgeous planet this month - Saturn. Look towards the south to spot the 70% illuminated Moon (Full Moon is on the 15th). Saturn will be directly above the lovely Moon.Keep following Fiske this month as
Take a stroll this evening after sunset to catch sight of an 11% illuminated waxing crescent Moon along with brilliant Venus. The pair will be low to the southwestern horizon. Follow us throughout the month as the Moon points the way to
Happy Halloween! Believe it or not, today is an astronomical holiday—a cross-quarter day to be exact (like Groundhog Day in February).Halloween falls between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice and has been celebrated since ancient times