David Dickinson
An Old Glass Plate Hints at a Potential New Exoplanet Discovery
How astronomers found an potentially new and exciting exoplanetary system lurking on a glass plate stored away for nearly a…
Into the Red: Our Complete Guide to Mars Opposition 2016
The time to observe Mars is now, as the Red Planet heads towards a favorable opposition in May 2016. Here's…
April Lunacy: Getting Ready for the Full ‘Mini-Moon’
Why this week's Full Moon is the smallest of 2016. It's Mini-Moon season!
Prelude to Transit: Catching Mercury Under Dusk Skies
One of the best dusk apparitions of the planet Mercury occurs this weekend... this event also sets us up for…
Huge Sunspot Turns Earthward
A massive sunspot emerged this past weekend, reversing the downward trend for solar cycle #24... for now.
Watch the Moon Occult Vesta and Aldebaran This Weekend
The Moon occults the bright star Aldebaran on the evening of April 10th for North America, and, for a lucky…
A Challenging Daytime Occultation of Venus for Europe
Up for a challenge? The Moon occults Venus for Europe, the UK and northern Asia on April 6th, though it'll…
Teasing the Galactic Ghoul, Past and Present
The close call experienced by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is only one of the most recent brushes with catastrophe…
A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Leads the Way to Easter Weekend
The first Full Moon after the vernal equinox not only sets us up for Easter this weekend, but features an…
Comet Craziness: 252P LINEAR Brightens, and a Close Pass for BA14 PanSTARRS
This week presents observational astronomers with two surprise treats, as Comet 252P/LINEAR brightens and heads north, and the second closest…