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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Tips for watching N. Taurid meteors
The nominal peak of the North Taurid meteor shower is on the night of November 11-12, 2020.
November 8, 2020
Last quarter moon on November 8
Get up early, around the break of day tomorrow - November 8, 2020 - to see the moon at or near its last quarter phase, and assuming the position of the August noonday sun.
November 7, 2020
What is the Common Era?
If you encounter a date in the CE (Common Era) or BCE (Before Common Era) format, don't fret. They mean exactly the same thing as AD (anno Domini) and BC (before Christ).
November 6, 2020
Use the Big Dipper to find the Goat Star
You've heard of the "pointer" stars of the Big Dipper? They point to the North Star. You can also use bowl stars to find the star Capella, aka the Goat Star.
November 6, 2020
Jupiter gives us Pluto in 2020
The 3rd of this year's 3 Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions is coming up on November 12, 2020. Jupiter won't have another conjunction with Pluto again until February 4, 2033. And another one this good? Not for centuries.
November 4, 2020
See all 5 bright planets in November!
See all five bright planets in November 2020. Three of them - Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - pop out first thing at dusk and nightfall. The other two - Mercury and Venus - are found in the early morning sky.
November 2, 2020
Blue Moon and red Mars on Halloween
The full moon of October 31, 2020 is the second full moon of a calendar month and therefore carries the name Blue Moon. It's also the smallest full moon of 2020. And it's near red Mars! Watch for it.
October 30, 2020
Halloween ghost of the summer sun
At mid-northern latitudes, the star Arcturus sets about 2 hours after sunset around Halloween. It sets at the same point on the horizon as the summer sun. It's a Halloween ghost of the summer sun and an echo of long summer afternoons.
October 29, 2020
Moon and Mars meet in late October
Use the bright waxing gibbous moon to find the red planet Mars in late October 2020. This is the brightest that you'll see Mars for another 15 years!
October 28, 2020
Moon sweeps by Jupiter and Saturn October 21 to 23
These next several evenings - October 21, 22 and 23, 2020 - watch for the waxing moon to sweep by the gas giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn.
October 21, 2020
