Posts by 

Bruce McClure

Old moon to pass Spica, Mars, Mercury

Enjoy the morning spectacle over the next several mornings, as the waning crescent moon sweeps by the star Spica and then the planets Mars and Mercury.

Moon and Leo from midnight until dawn

Get up before dawn to see the moon near Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, on November 19 and 20, 2019.

Aldebaran is star near moon on November 13

Will you see the red star Aldebaran - Eye of the Bull in Taurus - in the moon's glare tonight? More here, including the story of Aldebaran when it joined with another bright star, Capella, to appear as a double pole star.

Full moon subdues North Taurid meteor peak

Full moon comes on November 12, 2019, as the moon is sweeping through the constellation Taurus the Bull. This full moon comes on the peak night of the North Taurid meteor shower.

Last transit of Mercury until 2032

Mercury will pass directly in front of the sun on November 11, 2019. During the Mercury transit, the planet will appear as a black dot crossing the sun's face. Click here to learn who will see it, how to watch, and transit times.

North Taurid meteors to peak in moonlight

Slow-moving North Taurids don't exhibit a sharp peak, so meteor rates may remain fairly steady for the next several days. Too bad about the moon!

Red Mars and blue-white Spica pair up in morning sky

Watch for them in the east before sunup on the mornings November 8, 9 and 10, 2019. Cool color contrast, and, yay ... Mars is back!

Moon, Saturn, Jupiter in early November

At nightfall and early evening - November 1 and 2, 2019 - the waxing crescent moon shines in the vicinity of the planet Saturn, and the dazzling planet Jupiter sits below the moon and Saturn, fairly close to the horizon.

Moon goes by Jupiter on Halloween

On October 30 and 31, 2019, watch for 2 brilliant luminaries - the crescent moon and dazzling planet Jupiter - to pop out near one another as dusk gives way to nightfall.

Go young moon hunting in late October

To maximize your chances of catching the young moon on October 28, find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunset. Binoculars will come in handy! On October 29-31, the moon will be easier to see, from all parts of the globe.