The sky, Jan. 11-16: Jupiter dominates winter sky

The sky, Jan. 11-16: Jupiter dominates winter sky

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 11, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, January 11 The strange, metallic asteroid 16 Psyche is moving through Taurus the Bull this month. Tonight it is particularly easy to find as it slides north of the bright star Aldebaran. Cataloged as Alpha Tauri, red giant Aldebaran shines at an easy-to-spot magnitude […]

The sky, Dec. 29-Jan. 2: Welcome in new year with Messier clusters, Saturn

The sky, Dec. 29-Jan. 2: Welcome in new year with Messier clusters, Saturn

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 30, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Travel southeast from Capella to capture Auriga’s targets. The chart zooms in on the Happy Face asterism. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly Sunday, December 28 Let’s keep the holiday joy going with a smile among the stars — tonight we’re tracking down the so-called Happy Face […]

The sky, Dec. 21-26: Winter solstice

The sky, Dec. 21-26: Winter solstice

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 21, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, December 21 The winter solstice occurs today at 10:03 A.M. EST. This marks the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical summer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Note that meteorological winter began December 1st, so you may have already heard news outlets […]

The sky, Dec. 7-12: M42 of Orion shines

The sky, Dec. 7-12: M42 of Orion shines

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 7, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, December 7 The Moon passes 4° north of Jupiter in Gemini at 11 A.M. EST, after both have set. However, you can catch the pair in the evening sky; they rise a few hours after sunset, with Jupiter now leading the way above the […]

The sky, Nov. 23-28: Crescent Mercury, full Venus together before sunrise on 24th

The sky, Nov. 23-28: Crescent Mercury, full Venus together before sunrise on 24th

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 23, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, November 23 Andromeda the Princess is high in the evening sky after dark. Best known for the eponymous Andromeda Galaxy (M31), there is so much more to see in this royal domain, including the lovely edge-on spiral we’re targeting tonight: the Silver Sliver Galaxy […]

The sky, Nov. 2-7: Super Moon on Nov. 5, Titan transits Saturn on Nov. 6

The sky, Nov. 2-7: Super Moon on Nov. 5, Titan transits Saturn on Nov. 6

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 2, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, November 2 Daylight saving time ends today at 2 A.M. The Moon passes 4° north of Saturn at 6 A.M. EST, then passes 3° north of Neptune at noon EST. This evening after sunset, you’ll find the waxing Moon located to the upper left […]

The sky, Oct. 26-31: Elusive Saturn moon in view Oct. 26

The sky, Oct. 26-31: Elusive Saturn moon in view Oct. 26

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 26, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, October 26 Saturn’s moon Iapetus reaches inferior conjunction tonight, sitting 1.3′ due north of Saturn and glowing at roughly 11th magnitude. This oft-elusive moon is easier to find when it is close to its parent planet, so give it a try tonight. Magnitude 0.7 […]

The sky, Oct. 19-24: Orionid meteor shower on Oct. 21

The sky, Oct. 19-24: Orionid meteor shower on Oct. 21

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 19, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, October 19 The Moon and Venus hang close together in the predawn sky, sharing the sky in the constellation Virgo. An hour before sunrise, look east to spot Venus, the brightest point of light, blazing at magnitude –3.9 nearly 7° above the horizon and […]

The sky, Oct. 11-17: 4 moons of Jupiter all visible on Oct. 13

The sky, Oct. 11-17: 4 moons of Jupiter all visible on Oct. 13

Special to CosmicTribune.com, October 11, 2025 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Saturday, October 11 Last week, Io and Europa took a trip together across Jupiter, transiting the planet with their shadows. The moons’ resonant orbits mean similar events often repeat, and this morning is your chance to catch another one. Bright Jupiter stands high above the […]