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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Meet Aquarius the Water Bearer and its stars
Aquarius lies in a “watery” part of the sky, near Pisces the Fish, Cetus the Whale, Eridanus the River and Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish.
October 16, 2022
Zodiacal light: All you need to know
The zodiacal light is an eerie light extending up from the horizon before dawn around the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Southern Hemisphere? Look after sunset!
September 27, 2022
Year’s fastest sunsets happen around equinoxes
The year's fastest sunsets are at the equinoxes, and the slowest are at the solstices. We're talking about the minutes needed for the sun to sink below the horizon.
September 21, 2022
Neptune at opposition September 16, 2022
Neptune at opposition - when it's 180 degrees from the sun on the sky's dome - comes on September 16, 2022. You need optical aid to spot it.
September 16, 2022
Favorite Star Patterns
Teapot points to Milky Way center
As you gaze toward the famous Teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius, you're looking toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
August 21, 2022
Sagittarius the Archer and its famous Teapot
The zodiacal constellation of Sagittarius the Archer contains the Milky Way's center and a famous asterism known as the Teapot.
August 20, 2022
See Messier 20, the Trifid Nebula
If you have an extremely dark sky, you can see the Trifid Nebula on as a fuzzy patch in the Milky Way. Binoculars show more and a telescope even more detail.
August 17, 2022
Astronomy Essentials
Saturn at opposition on August 14
Don't miss Saturn at opposition on and around the night of August 14, 2022. That's when our planet Earth passes between the sun and Saturn.
August 14, 2022
Moon near fiery Antares August 6 and 7
Watch for the moon near fiery Antares on the evenings of August 6 and 7, 2022, floating near the summer Milky Way. They'll be a stirring sight!
August 7, 2022
What is an astronomical unit?
An astronomical unit - or AU - is a measurement that astronomers use to describe distances in the solar system. Find out how long an AU is here.
July 31, 2022
