Do you want to see some sky watching highlights in February 2021? Find Mars all month after sunset, especially on the night of Feb. 18 for NASA’s planned rover landing. Then, watch the Moon glide across the Winter Circle before it pays a visit to the bright stars of the constellation Gemini. Check out the …
Jupiter-Saturn Great Conjunction: Watch Best View Since Middle Ages!
by Lance D. Davis Stargazers get ready for a nice treat as we are about to witness a super-rare planetary alignment not seen for almost 800 years! Our solar system’s two biggest worlds – the mighty Jupiter followed by the glorious ringed Saturn – will appear in the sky next to each other at their …
The Geminids: Best Meteor Shower of the Year!
by Lance D. Davis The Geminids are widely recognized as the best annual meteor shower a stargazer can see, occurring between Dec. 4 to Dec. 17. We will broadcast a live stream of the shower’s peak Dec. 14-15 (changed dates from 13-14 due to weather) from a meteor camera at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center …
Total Solar Eclipse to Cast Shadow on South America
by Lauren Lambert What is a Solar Eclipse? A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. This event happens when the Moon completely blocks the Sun and the Moon’s shadow falls onto a portion of the Earth’s surface. There are three types of solar eclipses: …
Sky Watching Highlights for December 2020
In the month of December, stargazers get ready for some excitement in the sky! Catch the year’s best meteor shower, the Geminids, in the middle of the month. Then, witness an extremely close pairing of Jupiter and Saturn that won’t be repeated for decades. And mark the shortest day of the year on the northern …
Sky Watching Highlights for November 2020
Are you ready for November’s sky watching highlights? Cool autumn evenings are a great time to look for the Pleiades star cluster. You’ll also have a couple of great opportunities to observe the Moon with Jupiter and Saturn. Plus, check out the phenomenon known as Earthshine. Learn about all that and more from NASA’s Jet …
‘Once in a Blue Moon’ Coming Soon
by Lauren Lambert There’s an extra special treat coming Earth’s way – a Blue Moon on the night of Oct. 31 for Halloween. What is a Blue Moon? According to modern folklore, it is a phenomenon where a Full Moon appears twice in one calendar month. Typically, each month has only one, as Full Moons …
It’s All About Mars in October
by Lance D. Davis NASA is developing a path for an exciting journey to Mars – a rich destination for scientific discovery and human exploration as we expand our presence into the solar system. This month of October brings an amazing night-sky view of the Red Planet. Mars is currently visible, reaching its highest point …
Sky Watching Highlights for October 2020
There’s plenty to see in the sky for October! The Moon will be full not once, but twice this month. It’s also a great time for viewing Mars and trying to spot the galaxy of Andromeda. Learn more from the video below produced by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
International Observe the Moon Night 2020
by Lance D. Davis International Observe the Moon Night is a worldwide public event encouraging observation, appreciation and understanding of our Moon and its connection to NASA exploration and discovery. This is a great time to celebrate the Moon with enthusiasts and curious people all over Earth as excitement grows about NASA’s Artemis program, which …