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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Middle of an eclipse season on July 28
An eclipse season lasts a little over one lunar month and typically includes 1 solar and 1 lunar eclipse. In 1 out of 7 eclipse seasons, the 1st eclipse comes early. Then we can have 3 eclipses. Watch for a 3rd eclipse in this eclipse season, in August!
July 28, 2018
Century’s longest lunar eclipse July 27
It'll be the longest total lunar eclipse of this century, with Mars - at its brightest - nearby. Red moon, red Mars. It doesn't get any better than this.
July 27, 2018
Mars will reach opposition on July 27
Earth passes between Mars and the sun on July 27, 2018 (night of July 26 for the Americas). It's best time to see Mars in some 15 years. Plus ... the moon gets in on the act.
July 25, 2018
Moon north of star Antares on July 22
The name Antares derives from the Ancient Greek and means rival to Ares - that is, rival to Mars. Like Mars, Antares is red in color. Antares is sometimes brighter than Mars, it's no match for Mars now!
July 22, 2018
On July 20, the bright “star” near the moon is Jupiter
As soon as darkness falls on July 20, use to moon to find the dazzling king planet Jupiter nearby. Then, over the new few evenings, the moon can help you identify the bright red star Antares.
July 20, 2018
Moon, Jupiter and Spica on July 19
On July 19, 2018, as the setting sun closes the curtains on the day, and the darkening skies bring out a myriad of far-off suns, let the moon introduce you to a very special star.
July 19, 2018
Monday’s moon still near Venus
Last chance to see these 2 very bright objects relatively close. After Monday evening, the moon - pursuing its easterly orbit around Earth - will be waxing larger and shifting away from Venus.
July 16, 2018
Scared yet? 2018 has 2 Friday 13ths
This Friday the 13th comes exactly 13 weeks after 2018's first Friday the 13th, in April. The whats, whens and whys of Friday the 13th.
July 13, 2018
Friday the 13th supermoon solar eclipse
The 2018 Friday the 13th solar eclipse will be seen mainly over the Southern Ocean, between Australia and Antarctica. The southeastern Australia coast will see a very skimpy partial eclipse on Friday afternoon. Eclipse times for that region here.
July 13, 2018
2018’s closest new supermoon on July 13
The closest new moon of 2018 - a supermoon - comes on July 13. You won't see it, but Earth's oceans will feel it. Then, 2 weeks later, we have the year's farthest full moon.
July 12, 2018
