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Posts by
Bruce McClure
The year’s earliest solar noon is on November 3
November 3 brings the year's earliest solar noon - that is, earliest midday - by nature's clock. It's a harbinger of the Northern Hemisphere's earliest sunset.
November 2, 2025
Halloween is an astronomy holiday. It’s a cross-quarter day
A cross-quarter day falls between an equinox and a solstice. Halloween is the year's 4th cross-quarter day and the spookiest of them all.
October 31, 2025
Around now, watch for Taurid fireballs
Maybe you've been watching for them already. A nominal peak of the shower is November 4 and 5, and the North and South Taurids are overlapping now.
October 15, 2025
Double Cluster in Perseus on October evenings
The Double Cluster in Perseus is a breathtaking pair of open star clusters, easy to see in October. Here's how to find it in your sky.
October 9, 2025
Gamma Cephei, aka Errai, a future North Star
Gamma Cephei - or Errai - is a binary star system that will one day be Earth’s North Star. It's home to the 1st exoplanet ever discovered.
September 28, 2025
See the Trifid nebula aka Messier 20 tonight
If you have a dark sky, you can spot the Trifid nebula as a fuzzy patch within the Milky Way. And binoculars or a telescope will reveal more details.
August 28, 2025
Zodiacal light: Start watching for it now
The zodiacal light is an eerie light extending up from the horizon before dawn around the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Southern Hemisphere? Look after sunset!
August 22, 2025
Capricornus the Sea-goat has an arrowhead shape
Capricornus the Sea-goat is can be spotted in September and October, and is formed in the shape of an arrowhead. One Messier object, M30, is found within.
August 21, 2025
The Great Rift is a dark swath in the Milky Way
The Great Rift or Dark Rift is a darkened swath of the Milky Way where new stars are forming. It's best seen from a rural location away from light pollution.
August 20, 2025
Thuban was the North Star for the ancient Egyptians
The North Star changes over time. Thuban was the Pole Star some 5,000 years ago, when the Egyptians were building the pyramids.
August 12, 2025
