Posts by

Bruce McClure

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.

Bruce McClure

May 3, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

May 2, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

May 1, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

April 30, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

April 27, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

April 27, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

April 26, 2018

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.

Bruce McClure

April 25, 2018

Moon sweeps through Leo the Lion April 23 to 25

The waxing gibbous moon moves toward Leo's brightest star Regulus, then passes it. It's a good time to identify this easy-to-find constellation.

Bruce McClure

April 23, 2018

Lyrid meteors before dawn April 23?

Will you see Lyrid meteors Monday morning? Maybe! The shower's peak has passed by Monday, but some meteors may still be flying.

Bruce McClure

April 22, 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.