Two basic astronomy questions were recently asked in a survey taken of the graduating class of a prestigious New England university. One was: “What causes the seasons?” The other: “What causes the phases of the Moon?” Astonishingly, 86% did not know the answer to either one! Although introductory astronomy courses are offered at most colleges …
The two most exciting of all the planets (Venus and Mars not withstanding!) are perfectly placed in the evening sky for your enjoyment this month. They are the many-mooned planet Jupiter and ringed planet Saturn—both offering wonders not to be missed by skywatchers.
This month contains the date that many (including myself) consider to be the most important and significant in all of human history. It’s July 20th, 1969—when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility and we traveled to another world for the first time 50 years ago! If it’s clear on Saturday …
There’s an old adage that “A joy that’s shared is a joy doubled.” Stargazers love to share the heavens with others—especially newcomers to the hobby. To experience this for yourself, why not plan to attend an astronomy club meeting near you? And this month is a perfect time since nearly all of these groups are …
The sky’s best-known figure (with the possible exception of the constellation Orion) is the Big Dipper. The Dipper itself is actually not a constellation but only part of one—Ursae Major, the Great Bear. It’s an “asterism” or a distinctive pattern made up of parts of one or more constellations. But it surely has to be …
On March evenings, a very famous but subtle stellar commune sits right on the celestial meridian (the north-south line in the sky passing overhead) in the constellation Cancer. A fascinating sight whether using the unaided eye, binoculars, or wide-field telescopes, it’s a “must-see” target for skywatchers. To identify the Beehive Star Cluster and its host …
Few realize the role that Edmund Scientifics telescopes have played over the years in the growth of amateur astronomy. If you are among those who own one of these vintage instruments, you may be sitting on a wonderful window on the heavens for your personal observing pleasure—and valued collector’s item in many cases as well! …
Be sure to mark your calendar for January 20th. A spectacular total lunar eclipse will be widely visible from all of North America later that evening (and somewhat into the hours after midnight). Five eclipses will occur in 2019—three solar and two lunar. But this is the only one of the five visible in the …
A lot is going on in the sky this month, including a beautifully-paired conjunction of radiant Venus and the crescent Moon low in the western twilight on the 15th, and the Moon hovering just above Jupiter on the 20th in the southwest at dusk. (That date is also “Moon Day”—the anniversary of the first landing …
Today’s mantra that “bigger is better” when it comes to TV screens, cars, houses, stadiums, etc. definitely doesn’t apply to telescopes for stargazing. Turns out that small scopes have some important advantages over larger ones and, surprisingly, in many cases can provide views of celestial wonders unmatched by the biggest of instruments!
