By Wayne Smith The Lyra constellation in the Northern sky is known as a memorial to music thanks to being named after the lyre, a musical instrument similar to a harp. The small constellation is also the namesake from where the annual Lyrids meteor shower radiates. The Lyrids are expected to peak on the night...
By Wayne Smith You don’t want to sleep on this upcoming lunar event. Just step outside on the evening of March 13 or early in the morning of March 14 and take a look at the total lunar eclipse for yourself. And you can count NASA’s Dr. Renee Weber among those who will be checking...
By Serena Whitfield The Geminids meteor shower is back for its annual December show of beautiful bright and fast meteors. The Geminids, which will peak on the night between Dec 13–14 in 2024, is considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers. Where Did the Geminids Originate and What Makes …
By Serena Whitfield Skywatchers can see the next full Moon, the Beaver Moon, on Nov. 15, starting at 4:29 p.m. EST. This Moon is extra special as it’s the final Supermoon of 2024, meaning the Moon will appear bigger and brighter than usual. The term “supermoon” was coined in 1979 and occurs when a full Moon …
By Wayne Smith From a total solar eclipse in April to a partial lunar eclipse of September’s Harvest Moon, 2024 has been sweet for skywatchers – professionals and amateurs alike. And just in time for Halloween, stargazers can anticipate another treat in the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 20 and 21 thanks to the Orionids Meteor …
An ancient celestial traveler will make its first close pass by Earth in mid-October. Mark those calendars – because it might not be back. The Oort Cloud comet, called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was discovered in 2023, approaching the inner solar system on its highly elliptical orbit for the first time in documented human history. It …
By Wayne Smith Ahh, fall is almost upon us. Autumn officially begins Sept. 23 and for many, it will mean cooler temperatures – a welcome reprieve from the summer heat. Fall also brings football, pumpkins, and a Harvest Moon to watch for in the sky. Save the date of Tuesday, Sept. 17. With a clear …
Everyone everywhere is invited to join fellow sky-watchers Saturday, Sept. 14, for International Observe the Moon Night – a worldwide public event encouraging observation, appreciation, and understanding of the Moon and its connection to NASA exploration and discovery. This celebration of the Moon has been held annually since 2010, and this year NASA’s Planetary Missions …
Stargazers seeking familiar points of interest in the night sky are likely to point out Betelgeuse, the red supergiant star sometimes identified as “the shoulder of Orion.” Even some 400-600 light-years distant, it’s typically one of the brightest stars visible in the night sky, and the brightest of all in the infrared spectrum. Fewer space …
By Wayne Smith They may not attract as much attention as last month’s daylight fireball over New York City, but stargazers can still anticipate seeing some shooting stars with the upcoming Perseid meteor shower. Caused by Earth passing through trails of debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, the shower has become famous over the centuries …
