Posts by 

Bruce McClure

Find the Omega Centauri star cluster

The sparkling blue-white star Spica acts as your guide to the Omega Centauri cluster, a globular cluster bright enough to see with the eye alone, in a dark sky.

Don’t miss moon and Mars on May 6

Don't miss the moon and Mars together in the predawn sky on May 6, 2018. Plus a word about other bright planets you can see in May.

Moon, Saturn, Mars on May 4 to 6

Stay up after midnight, or rise before the sun these next few mornings, to see the moon, Saturn and Mars - and possibly, some of Eta Aquariid meteors streaking past in moonlight.

Venus and star Aldebaran after sunset

You can't miss Venus. It's the brightest thing in the west after sunset. Aldebaran - the eye of the Bull in Taurus - needs a darker sky. Wait some minutes! It'll pop into view.

Moon, Antares, Jupiter May 1-2

Tonight's moon is near the bright star Antares in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. An even brighter planet, Jupiter, is nearby.

Moon and Jupiter meet in Libra

On April 30, 2018, enjoy the bright moon near Jupiter. Then let Jupiter guide you to Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali, Libra's 2 brightest stars.

Will you see Mercury before sunrise?

From the Southern Hemisphere, these next weeks are your best opportunity of 2018 to spot the sun's innermost planet, Mercury. From the Northern Hemisphere ... not so much.

Moon near Spica on April 27 and 28

Spica, in the constellation Virgo, is one of our sky's brightest stars. An even brighter object will be nearby, the planet Jupiter.

April 26 moon near Spica and celestial equator

Just as earthly coordinates help travelers, so celestial coordinates guide sky explorers. Tonight, meet Earth's celestial equator ... simply Earth's equator projected onto the great dome of sky.

A word about the moon’s distance tonight

The moon was closest to Earth April 20. It'll be farthest from Earth May 6. Tonight's moon is closer to its average distance from Earth.