Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!
A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Posts by
Bruce McClure
What is stellar magnitude?
The brightest stars to the eye are 1st magnitude, and dimmest stars to the eye are 6th magnitude. How does stellar magnitude work in astronomy?
January 1, 2026
How often do 7 eclipses occur in 365 days?
It's rare to have 7 eclipses in a calendar year. It's less rare to have 7 eclipses in 365 days. There are 7 eclipses in 365 days 29 times in the 21st century!
January 1, 2026
What’s the youngest moon you can see with your eye alone?
It has long been a sport for skywatchers to spot the youngest moon after sunset, with the eye alone. What does it take to see a very young crescent moon?
January 1, 2026
How often are there three eclipses in one month?
We last had three eclipses in one lunar month in 2020. It'll next happen in the year 2029. From 2000-2050, there are 3 eclipses in one lunar month 14 times.
January 1, 2026
The Orion Nebula (M42) is a starry nursery
You can see the Orion Nebula as a fuzzy spot in the sky using just your eyes. It's really a vast cloud in space where new stars are forming. Learn more.
December 30, 2025
December has the longest days (wherever you live)
The longest days accompany the winter solstice. In December, a day - a whole cycle of day and night - is about half a minute longer than the average 24 hours.
December 18, 2025
The Andromeda Galaxy: All you need to know
The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way. At 2.5 million light-years, it's the most distant thing you can see with the eye alone.
December 16, 2025
Your earliest sunset comes before the winter solstice
The solstice comes on December 21, 2025, at 15:03 UTC. Does that coincide with your earliest sunset? Probably not. It depends on where you live.
December 7, 2025
Andromeda galaxy: Find it by star-hopping from Pegasus
The 4 stars of the Great Square of Pegasus are easy to find. Ready? Let's star-hop! Use these guide stars to help find the Andromeda galaxy.
December 5, 2025
Planisphere: Your friend to find stars and constellations
A planisphere is an easy-to-use tool that can help you learn the night sky. Align the date and time to see what constellations and stars are overhead.
November 28, 2025
