Posts by

Bruce McClure

See Venus at its brightest

Greatest brilliancy for Venus is a delicate balance between how much we see of its day side, and the changing distance between our 2 worlds. Conditions are now optimum! Venus looms low in the twilight, dazzlingly bright.

Bruce McClure

September 20, 2018

Moon sweeps near Saturn and Mars September 17 to 19

On September 17, 18 and 19 - as soon as darkness falls - let the moon serve as your guide to 2 bright and beautiful planets, Saturn and Mars.

Bruce McClure

September 17, 2018

Use Cassiopeia to find Andromeda galaxy

Many use the constellation Cassiopedia - which is easy to find, shaped like an M or W - as a jumping off point for locating the near-nearest large galaxy to our Milky Way.

Bruce McClure

September 17, 2018

Moon, Jupiter and star Antares September 13 to 15

From September 13 to 15, 2018, let the moon guide your eye to the king planet Jupiter and the red supergiant star Antares.

Bruce McClure

September 13, 2018

Moon, Venus, Jupiter September 11 to 13

These next several days - September 11, 12 and 13, 2018 - look westward to spot the crescent moon, plus the planets Venus and Jupiter in the evening twilight.

Bruce McClure

September 11, 2018

Will you catch the young moon on September 10?

Africa and South America - and islands in the South Atlantic - have the best shot at tonight's young moon. Easier, generally, in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern. If you miss it, look tomorrow!

Bruce McClure

September 10, 2018

Meet the Gemini “twins” before sunup on September 5 or 6

There are many bright stars up before the sun now, but the moon can help you find Castor and Pollux.

Bruce McClure

September 4, 2018

Catch Venus, Jupiter, Arcturus at dusk

Look west at dusk throughout September, 2018, for a bright celestial threesome. In order of brightness, they are Venus, Jupiter and the star Arcturus.

Bruce McClure

September 2, 2018

Moon moves through Taurus the Bull

Let the moon be your guide to the constellation Taurus the Bull in early September, 2018. Then use Orion's Belt to locate Taurus when the moon moves away.

Bruce McClure

September 1, 2018

Watch for the full Sturgeon Moon

On both August 25 and 26, 2018, the brilliant full moon drenches the nighttime with moonlight from dusk until dawn.

Bruce McClure

August 25, 2018

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. He's 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.