Posts by

Bruce McClure

Is Ophiuchus the 13th constellation of the zodiac?

Born between November 29 and December 18? Then the sun passes in front of Ophiuchus on your birthday. Here's how to spot the constellation Ophiuchus in the sky.

Bruce McClure

August 10, 2025

Favorite Star Patterns

Teapot of Sagittarius points to Milky Way center

As you gaze toward the famous Teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius, you are looking toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

Marcy Curran

August 5, 2025

Sagittarius the Archer and its famous Teapot

The zodiacal constellation of Sagittarius the Archer contains the center of the Milky Way and a famous asterism known as the Teapot.

Bruce McClure

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 31, 2025

Eltanin and Rastaban, the Dragon’s eyes

These 2 famous stars shine down from the northern sky. Eltanin and Rastaban represent the fiery eyes of the constellation Draco the Dragon.

Bruce McClure

Don Machholz

July 29, 2025

Exquisite Albireo, a favorite and colorful double star

Albireo, in the constellation Cygnus, is a favorite for stargazers. Through a small telescope, it appears as a beautiful gold star with a dimmer blue companion.

Bruce McClure

Shireen Gonzaga

July 17, 2025

The Omega nebula is a star-forming region

The Omega nebula, also known as the Swan nebula or M17, is visible through binoculars and glorious through a telescope. Here's how to find it.

Bruce McClure

July 10, 2025

The Northern Cross: Find the backbone of the Milky Way

The Northern Cross is an asterism - or recognizable pattern of stars - within the constellation Cygnus the Swan. Here's how to find it in your sky.

Bruce McClure

July 9, 2025

Meet Shaula and Lesath, Scorpion’s Stinger stars

Shaula and Lesath, known as the Stinger of the Scorpion, are easy to see at the end of the Tail of the constellation Scorpius.

Bruce McClure

Editors of EarthSky

July 6, 2025

Epsilon Lyrae is the famous Double Double star

To the unaided eye, Epsilon Lyrae appears as one star. But it’s actually a system with at least five stars. Learn how to find it here.

Bruce McClure

July 2, 2025

Latest sunsets follow the summer solstice

Why don't the latest sunsets come on the longest day (the solstice)? In a nutshell, it's a discrepancy between the sun and the clock.

Bruce McClure

June 24, 2025

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. He's 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.