Astronomer Guy Ottewell talks about his awesome book about some of our solar system’s most beloved outer worlds. As always, he provides the best charts anywhere!

With Jupiter now at its best, turn binoculars or a telescope on the giant planet for a glimpse of its 4 largest moons.

Saturn’s opposition is this week. Jupiter’s opposition was about a month ago. What is opposition? It marks the middle of the best time of year to see a planet … but why?

July 2019 is Saturn’s month. Its opposition is July 9. Both Saturn and Jupiter appear in the southeast at nightfall and light up the sky most of the night. Mercury and Mars sit low in the west at sunset in early July and quickly follow the sun below the horizon. Venus, east at dawn, succumbs to the glare of sunrise.

In 2019, there are 13 new moons and 12 full moons, but only 5 eclipses – 3 solar and 2 lunar.

The best time of 2019 for seeing Saturn’s glorious rings is upon us. You’ve seen the photos, but maybe you want to see the rings with your own eyes? Here are a few things to think about.

When you hear the word “conjunction” in astronomy, you know it means 2 objects close together on our sky’s dome. This post defines inferior and super conjunctions, plus discusses conjunctions between planets, stars and the moon.