Posts by

Bruce McClure

Moon, Saturn, Mars August 20 to 22

Saturn is considered a bright planet, but it's the faintest of them. Maybe the moon can help you spot it on August 20 or 21. As for Mars, it's still bright! Don't miss it.

Bruce McClure

August 20, 2018

Moon, Antares, Saturn August 18 to 20

The supergiant star Antares shines red in our sky, and the planet Saturn - glorious ringed world - shines golden. See them near the moon August 18 to 20, 2018.

Bruce McClure

August 18, 2018

Moon near Jupiter, plus a Venus milestone

The bright object near the August 17 moon is Jupiter. Meanwhile, nearby Venus swings to its greatest apparent distance from the sun on our sky's dome.

Bruce McClure

August 17, 2018

Moon, Venus, Jupiter August 14 to 16

Bright planets and an orbiting moon! Enjoy them on these August evenings.

Bruce McClure

August 14, 2018

Wondrous moon and Venus on August 13

On Monday evening, a great celestial drama begins as the moon sweeps by Venus. There are 4 bright planets in the evening sky now, and the moon will pass each one in turn.

Bruce McClure

August 13, 2018

Partial solar eclipse on August 11

The August 11, 2018 partial solar eclipse happens will be seen in the Arctic, far-northeastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and much of Asia (north and east).

Bruce McClure

August 9, 2018

August 8 and 9 before sunup: Moon in Gemini

The moon has now waned to a slim crescent phase. It's near the stars Castor and Pollux - the legendary Gemini "twins" - on August 8 and 9, 2018.

Bruce McClure

August 7, 2018

August 6 and 7 before sunup: Moon in Taurus

These next 2 mornings - August 6 and 7, 2018 - you'll find the moon in front of Taurus the Bull, near its 2 most prominent signposts: the bright star Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster.

Bruce McClure

August 5, 2018

Arc to Arcturus and spike Spica

Right now, the planets Venus and Jupiter - and the Big Dipper - can help you learn the sky mnemonic follow the arc to Arcturus and drive a spike to Spica.

Bruce McClure

August 2, 2018

Mars closest to Earth on July 30-31

Closer than since 2003! Even closer now than when we passed between Mars and the sun last Friday. How that can happen, and the prospects for viewing Mars through a telescope now.

Bruce McClure

July 30, 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. 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.