The sky, Dec. 23-29: The moons of Jupiter

The sky, Dec. 23-29: The moons of Jupiter

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 23, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. ■ Last-quarter Moon (exact at 5:18 p.m. EST). The Moon rises around midnight, under the hind feet of Leo. MONDAY, DECEMBER 23 ■ The little Pleiades cluster shines very high in the southeast after dinnertime, no bigger than your fingertip at arm’s length. How many Pleiads can […]

The sky, Dec. 15-22: Solstice on the 22nd

The sky, Dec. 15-22: Solstice on the 22nd

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 16, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 ■ The Summer Triangle is finally sinking low in the west, and Altair is the first of its stars to go (for mid-northern skywatchers). Start by spotting bright Vega, magnitude zero, the brightest star in the northwest right after dark. The brightest one […]

The sky, Dec. 8-15

The sky, Dec. 8-15

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 9, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 ■ First-quarter Moon (exact at 10:27 a.m. EST on this date). The Moon shines upper left of Saturn this evening, as shown above. ■ After darkness is complete, can you make out the dim Circlet of Pisces less than a fist-width above the […]

The sky, Dec. 2-8, featuring M31, the Andromeda Galaxy

The sky, Dec. 2-8, featuring M31, the Andromeda Galaxy

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 3, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 ■ Two faint fuzzies naked-eye. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Perseus Double Cluster are two of the most famous deep-sky objects. They’re both cataloged as 4th magnitude, and in a moderately good sky you can see each with the unaided eye. Binoculars make them easier. […]

The sky, Nov. 25-Dec. 1, starring the Andromeda Galaxy and Perseus Double Cluster

The sky, Nov. 25-Dec. 1, starring the Andromeda Galaxy and Perseus Double Cluster

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 25, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25 ■ The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Perseus Double Cluster are two of the most famous deep-sky objects. They’re both cataloged as 4th magnitude, and in a fairly good sky you can see each with the unaided eye. Binoculars make them easier. Did you […]

The sky, Nov. 18-24: Mars is brightening

The sky, Nov. 18-24: Mars is brightening

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 18, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 ■ The waning gibbous Moon rises within an hour after dark this evening. Watch for it to come up lower left of Jupiter. Another couple hours and Castor and Pollux will stand in good view to the Moon’s lower left, while Orion sparkles about […]

The sky, Nov. 10-17: Moon occults part of Pleiades late Friday

The sky, Nov. 10-17: Moon occults part of Pleiades late Friday

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 10, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 ■ The waxing gibbous Moon shines quite near Saturn this evening for the Americas. In fact, its dark limb will occult Saturn for southern Florida, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. For instance, seen from Miami, Saturn will slowly disappear at […]

The sky, Nov. 3-10: Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Friday

The sky, Nov. 3-10: Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Friday

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 4, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 ■ If you know a place with a very low view to the southwest horizon, bring binoculars after sunset to try for the very thin crescent Moon close to Antares. They’re deep in the bright twilight and thick air near the horizon! Look […]

The sky, Oct. 26-Nov. 3: Jupiter dominates the East

The sky, Oct. 26-Nov. 3: Jupiter dominates the East

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 28, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 ■ Altair is the brightest star high in the southwest after dark. Brighter Vega is about three fists to its right, high toward the west. Above Altair lurk two distinctive little constellations: Delphinus the Dolphin, hardly more than a fist at arm’s length to […]

The sky, Oct. 20-27: Jupiter optimal for telescope viewing

The sky, Oct. 20-27: Jupiter optimal for telescope viewing

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 20, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 ■ For most Northern Hemisphere observers, this is the first evening in more than a week that offers a brief window of Moon-free darkness for spotting Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS between twilight’s end and moonrise. The comet should be about 4th magnitude now, much faded from a […]