There are a few astronomical events that, even though they recur, are once-in-a-lifetime occasions, separated by too much time for all but the luckiest to see twice. For me, Halley’s Comet in 1986 was such an occasion. I lifted my…
Category: Sky Phenomena
Mars Is Ready For Its Closeup
Why does something look big? Is it because it actually IS big, or is it because it is close to us? The closest celestial body to the Earth is our Moon. It’s an object that’s very easy to see without…
The Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024
A little over a month away now! Rather than write a lengthy post, I’m just going to address the main questions people usually have. The sun is going to be 90% obscured at my home. Is it worth traveling to…
Dark Skies
When I would take my astronomy students to Lynchburg College’s (now the University of Lynchburg) Belk Observatory in rural Bedford County, Virginia, I was surprised at how many of them had never seen the Milky Way. Growing up in urban…
Tagged with: Bortle scale
Blue Moon Blues
Supermoon! Blue moon! Full moon! People do get excited about this, at least if media coverage and social media posts are any indication. Do I? Well, a full moon means I can see to put the garbage out more easily…
Venus
I have often joked that when I am asked a question that begins with “I saw this really bright thing in the sky…” my answer has a 90% chance of being right if I just say “Venus.” It is the…
Tagged with: Venus
Meteors and the Earth
Meteor showers both are—and are not—among the most predictable of astronomical events. The Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak at 9:06 p.m. EDT on the night of April 22nd. Why are they predictable? Meteor showers occur when the Earth…
All Types of Solar Eclipses
In August of 2017, many of us in North America witnessed a total solar eclipse, as the path of the moon’s shadow crossed the contiguous United States from coast to coast. In the coming twelve months, there will be three…
Equinox!
On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 5:24 p.m. EDT (21:24 UTC), the sun will cross the equator heading north, signaling the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall in the southern hemisphere. Really? The sun only APPEARS to…
Moon Phases and Earth’s Shadow
Quick! Why does the moon go through phases every month? If you answered that it’s because the Earth’s shadow falls on the moon, be sure the volume on your device is turned on before you click below. Back you…
Tagged with: Lunar phases
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