Posts by

Bruce McClure

Elnath is a bright star close to the galactic anticenter

The galactic anticenter is opposite the Milky Way's center from our viewpoint on Earth. The closest bright star to the anticenter is Taurus the Bull's Elnath.

Bruce McClure

January 28, 2026

Meet the Winter Circle, aka the Winter Hexagon

The brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere's winter sky form the shape of the Winter Circle, or Hexagon, that will help you locate 6 constellations.

Bruce McClure

Kelly Kizer Whitt

January 15, 2026

The Hyades star cluster: The Face of Taurus the Bull

Look for the V-shape Hyades star cluster in Taurus the Bull in the evening sky. It represents the Face of the Bull and it's beautiful in binoculars.

Bruce McClure

January 11, 2026

How far is a light-year? Plus, distances in space

How can we comprehend the distances to the stars and other galaxies? Here's a way to understand a light-year in terms miles and kilometers.

Bruce McClure

January 1, 2026

What’s a Blood Moon? All you need to know

By this definition, Blood Moon is a member of a special kind of lunar tetrad : four total lunar eclipses in a row. Now it's used for any total lunar eclipse.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

January 1, 2026

What is an astronomical unit?

An astronomical unit - or AU - is a measurement that astronomers use to describe distances in the solar system. Find out how long an AU is here.

Bruce McClure

January 1, 2026

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?

Bruce McClure

January 1, 2026

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.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

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!

Bruce McClure

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?

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

January 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.