If you’ve looked south on a clear, moonless night recently, you may have noticed it. A smudge of grey light on the sky’s dome, roughly three times the diameter of the full moon. The Beehive Cluster is not the brightest deep-sky object around, but it’s both famous and very beautiful. And, with a few simple directions, it’s… Continue reading The Beehive Cluster
Tag: Sky Watcher
The Winter Triangle
The weather may be fooling us into thinking it’s spring, but the collection of stars known as the Winter Triangle denies it. It can still be seen sailing across the southern sky, during these mild evenings in March. It rises in the east and sets in the west a little sooner each night. Using some… Continue reading The Winter Triangle
Jupiter: King of the Night Sky
If you have been wanting to see a planet at its very best, then this month may be your chance. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, will be ruling supreme over the night sky throughout the month of March. It will reach opposition on March 8th. This means it’ll be closest to Earth… Continue reading Jupiter: King of the Night Sky
See All Five Visible Planets!!!!
Starting this week, and lasting until late February, sky-watchers will be treated to a rare planetary spectacle. We’ll be able to see all five visible planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—simultaneously in the morning sky. This hasn’t happened since 2005, and it’s particularly awesome because these planets are easy targets for star-gazers of all ages… Continue reading See All Five Visible Planets!!!!
Morning Planets
Take a look at the sky before dawn this week, and you’ll be able to experience a stunning display of morning planets. On the morning of January 6, two prominent planets and the moon will have a close grouping in the southeastern sky. Look beneath the moon’s waning crescent to find Venus, the brightest “star-like”… Continue reading Morning Planets