Skywatching
How to See Planet Mercury at its Best in 2014
There’s an often told anecdote that astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus never spied Mercury. And while this tale is almost certainly apocryphal,…
An Incredible Time-lapse of Venus Passing Through Inferior Conjunction
Some of the most amazing celestial sights are hidden from our view in the daytime sky. Or are they? We…
The Moon Occults Saturn in the Dawn this Weekend
Mark your calendars: the first in a series of interesting occultations of Saturn by the Moon for 2014 starts this…
A “MiniMoon” Seen Around the World
So, did last night’s Full Wolf Moon seem a bit tinier than usual? It was no illusion, as avid readers…
John Dobson, Inventor of the Popular Dobsonian Telescope, Dead at 98
The cosmos lost a good soul Wednesday. John Dobson, famous as the creator of the simple, low-cost Dobsonian telescope, passed…
An Amazing Capture of Jupiter and its Moons
It’s always a thrill to watch the action at Jupiter, as its moons pass in front of and behind the…
A Possible Meteor Shower from Comet ISON?
Hey, remember Comet C/2012 S1 ISON? Who can forget the roller-coaster ride that the touted “Comet of the Century” took…
See the Smallest Full Moon of 2014: It’s the “Return of the Mini-Moon”
Last month, (and last year) we wrote about the visually smallest Full Moon of 2013. Now, in a followup act, our…
LEDs: Light Pollution Solution or Night Sky Nemesis?
You may have noticed a change underway in your city lighting. High pressure sodium lights, with their familiar orange glow,…
Astro-Challenge: Nabbing Venus… at Inferior Conjunction
Residents of high northern latitudes can take heart this frigid January: this coming weekend offers a chance to replicate a…