Posts by

Bruce McClure

Moon and Venus on April 17 to 19

On April 17 to 19, you'll see some gorgeous pairings of the moon and brightest planet Venus. You'll find them in the west shortly after the sun goes down.

Bruce McClure

April 17, 2018

Will you see the young moon?

It's a wonderful evening for young moon hunting from North America or a Pacific island. The moon will be west after sunset, below brilliant Venus.

Bruce McClure

April 16, 2018

For Southern Hemisphere, moon and Mercury before sunup April 13 and 14

Mercury is starting its best morning appearance for 2018 for the Southern Hemisphere. Northern Hemisphere? You might catch the moon on April 13 (maybe 14), but Mercury will be tougher to see.

Bruce McClure

April 12, 2018

How the moon reveals the sun’s mass

How do astronomers determine masses for distant space objects? Here's one example - using the moon's orbit as a baseline to find the mass of our sun - from EarthSky's Bruce McClure.

Bruce McClure

April 9, 2018

2018’s closest far moon on April 8

The last quarter moon you'll see late tonight is aligned with 2018's closest apogee, that is, the closest of the moon's farthest points in its monthly orbit. And that's no surprise ...

Bruce McClure

April 7, 2018

This weekend, moon near Mars and Saturn

These 3 worlds - the moon, Mars and Saturn - will climb over your horizon very late at night this weekend. You can see all 3 together before dawn Saturday and Sunday.

Bruce McClure

April 6, 2018

Moon and Jupiter April 2 and 3

Stay up late Tuesday, or get up early Wednesday morning, to catch the moon and Jupiter. From the time they rise until the sun comes up, they'll be the brightest objects in the sky.

Bruce McClure

April 2, 2018

Mars and Saturn in conjunction April 2

The moon and bright planet Jupiter can help you find Mars and Saturn in conjunction on the morning of April 2.

Bruce McClure

April 1, 2018

Year’s 2nd Blue Moon on March 31

Enjoy the 2nd Blue Moon of 2018 on March 31. We haven't had 2 Blue Moons in a year since 1999. It won't happen again until 2037.

Bruce McClure

March 31, 2018

Moon in Virgo March 30 and 31

Virgo the Maiden is a large, faint, rambling constellation with a single bright star, Spica. Watch for the moon near this star tonight and tomorrow.

Bruce McClure

March 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.