Posts by

Bruce McClure

The Great Rift is a dark swath in the Milky Way

The Great Rift or Dark Rift is a darkened swath of the Milky Way where new stars are forming. It's best seen from a rural location away from light pollution.

Bruce McClure

August 19, 2026

Is Ophiuchus the 13th constellation of the zodiac?

The sun passes through Ophiuchus for about 2 weeks every year, so why isn’t this constellation considered the zodiac’s 13th sign?

Bruce McClure

August 19, 2026

Find the Andromeda Galaxy using Cassiopeia

Leave the city behind this weekend, and go galaxy-hunting! Cassiopeia - one of the easiest constellations to identify - points the way to the Andromeda Galaxy.

Bruce McClure

August 2, 2026

What are star trails, and how do I photograph them?

Star trails are long-exposure photographs of stars taken as Earth turns, resulting in streaks of light across the sky. Here's how to photograph star trails.

Bruce McClure

July 30, 2026

Meet Shaula and Lesath, the Scorpion’s Stinger stars

Shaula and Lesath, the Stinger Stars, mark Scorpius the Scorpion’s tail. Learn how to find this striking constellation in the night sky.

Bruce McClure

Editors of EarthSky

July 28, 2026

M6 and M7: Open star clusters in the Scorpion’s Tail

M6 and M7 are star clusters near Scorpius’ stinger. Under a dark sky, these loose groups of stars can be a stunning sight.

Bruce McClure

EarthSky Voices

July 23, 2026

The Northern Cross: Find the backbone of the Milky Way

The Northern Cross is an asterism - or recognizable pattern of stars - within the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Here's how to find it in your sky.

Bruce McClure

July 19, 2026

Coathanger cluster: This star pattern looks like its name

The Coathanger cluster resembles its namesake and is easy to spot with binoculars, using the star Albireo - part of the Summer Triangle - as a signpost.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

July 17, 2026

Exquisite Albireo, a beloved and colorful double star

Albireo, in the constellation Cygnus, is a favorite for stargazers. Through a small telescope, it appears as a beautiful gold star with a dimmer blue companion.

Bruce McClure

Shireen Gonzaga

July 2, 2026

Epsilon Lyrae is the famous Double Double star

To the unaided eye, Epsilon Lyrae appears as 1 star. But it’s actually a system with at least 5 stars. Learn how to find them here.

Bruce McClure

July 1, 2026

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure served as lead writer for EarthSky's popular Tonight pages from 2004 to 2021, when he opted for a much-deserved retirement. You can still find many articles at EarthSky.org that were originally written by Bruce, and which the EarthSky editors still update regularly. Bruce is a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also wrote and hosted public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York. Bruce he loves cycles of all kinds! You can still find many articles at EarthSky with Bruce's name on them, exploring the various, intricate cycles of the sky.