Posts by 

Bruce McClure

Full Snow Moon near star Regulus February 8 and 9

The full moon instant occurs on February 9, 2020, at 7:33 UTC. The moon will appear full to the eye on both February 8 and 9. It'll be near the star Regulus in Leo. We in North America call the February full moon the Snow Moon or Hunger Moon.

Is this weekend’s full moon a supermoon?

The full moon on February 9, 2020, ranks as the 4th-closest (and therefore the 4th-largest) full moon of 2020, but is it a supermoon?

Moon near star Aldebaran on February 3

This evening - February 3, 2020 - use the moon to find Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Aldebaran is a reddish star and represents the Bull's fiery eye. Also, watch for the tiny, misty, dipper-shaped Pleiades nearby.

See Mercury beneath Venus at dusk

February 2020 presents a good evening showing of Mercury for the Northern Hemisphere. This world will appear over the sunset point on the horizon as dusk gives way to nightfall for the next few weeks.

How to locate planet Uranus

Tonight's waxing crescent moon shines close to Uranus. Learn how to locate the planet, using tonight's moon location and these links to charts and other info.

Star-hop from Orion to Planet 9

For several years now, astronomers have been searching for a hypothetical Planet 9 in the starry sky. You can use the constellation Orion to show you approximately where they're looking.

Close and far moons of 2020

In periods of four years, lunar perigees and apogees fall on the same, or nearly the same, calendar dates.

Lengths of lunar months 2020

In 2020, the longest lunar month happens between the February 23 and March 24 new moons; and the shortest one between the August 19 to September 17 new moons.

Don’t miss young moon and Venus after sunset (Neptune’s there, too)

After sunset on January 26, 27 and 28, 2020, watch for the young moon and planet Venus in the west at dusk and nightfall. Use the lit side of the moon to locate Mercury, the innermost planet. If you have a telescope, use Venus to locate the Neptune, the farthest planet.

Will you spot the moon and Jupiter?

The lighted portion of the waning crescent moon will point toward Jupiter on the mornings January 21 and 22, 2020. Look east! You'll enjoy spotting Jupiter so near the sunrise.