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Posts by
Bruce McClure
The Big and Little Dipper: How to find them
How to find the Big and Little Dipper in the nighttime sky. From the Northern Hemisphere the Big Dipper is high in the sky on spring evenings.
March 23, 2023
On the equinox, equal day and night?
Day and night are mostly equal on the equinox. There's a bit more daylight because the sun is a disk, not a point, and Earth’s atmosphere refracts sunlight.
March 19, 2023
Equinox shadows trace a straight line from west to east
Equinox shadows are unique. On this day - and this day only - the tip of an upright stick's shadow follows a straight path, west to east, all day long.
March 19, 2023
Equinox sun rises due east and sets due west
The 2023 March equinox occurs on March 20 at 21:24 UTC (4:24 p.m. CDT). The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west on that day.
March 18, 2023
The Beehive cluster: A swarm of 1,000 stars
The Beehive cluster is an open star cluster that lies near the center of the constellation Cancer the Crab. It goes by many names, including Praesepe and M44.
March 15, 2023
Meet Cancer the Crab and its Beehive Cluster
Cancer the Crab is one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac. Learn how to find it in your sky, plus learn about its star cluster, mythology and more.
March 11, 2023
Meet Taurus the Bull in the evening sky
Taurus the Bull resides near the constellation Orion. It contains 2 famous star clusters that are easy to spot: the Pleiades and the Hyades.
February 22, 2023
Meet Gemini the Twins, home to 2 bright stars
The constellation Gemini the Twins is home to Castor and Pollux. Learn more about these bright stars, which you can see on northern winter nights.
February 19, 2023
Andromeda galaxy: Find it by star-hopping from Pegasus
The 4 stars of the Great Square of Pegasus are easy to find. Ready? Let's star-hop! Use these guide stars to help find the Andromeda Galaxy.
February 12, 2023
Year’s latest solar noon happens on February 11
February 11 has 2023's latest solar noon by the clock. Solar noon is a natural event, the instant when the sun is at its highest point for the day.
February 10, 2023
