Posts by

Bruce McClure

Planet Uranus in moon’s glare on December 27

The December 27 moon is close to the 7th planet, Uranus. The lunar glare glare will make it tough to spot, but notice stars nearby ... and come back when the moon is gone.

Bruce McClure

December 27, 2017

Catch Mercury in the morning sky

It's in the sunrise direction before sunup, but very low in the sky. Luckily, 2 other planets - Mars and Jupiter - are pointing to Mercury.

Bruce McClure

December 22, 2017

21st century’s longest lunar month starts December 18

Lunar months are roughly 29.5 days. The upcoming one will be 7 hours longer than the mean and this century's longest lunar month. Why?

Bruce McClure

December 17, 2017

See a star that changes its brightness

Sheliak is a variable star in the constellation Lyra the Harp. You can notice its brightness changes in a cycle lasting 6.5 days.

Bruce McClure

December 16, 2017

Lengths of lunar months in 2017

Longest lunar month of 21st century (2001 to 2100) starts with December 18 new moon. It's also the farthest new moon of the year. Coincidence?

Bruce McClure

December 15, 2017

Moon and Regulus on December 8

Moon and star Regulus rise in the east at late evening and appear near each other for the rest of the night. Regulus is considered the Lion's Heart.

Bruce McClure

December 8, 2017

Full supermoon on December 3

The December 3, 2017 full moon is 2017's only supermoon. The two full moons in January 2018 - on January 2 and 31 - will also count as supermoons.

Bruce McClure

December 3, 2017

December 2 moon is nearly full

It's called a Long Night Moon because our nights are long now, and because this moon takes a high path across the sky. In the Southern Hemisphere ... Short Night Moon!

Bruce McClure

December 2, 2017

Moon and Aldebaran in early December

Starting this evening, on December 1, and for the next few days, see if you can spot the star Aldebaran in the moon's glare.

Bruce McClure

December 1, 2017

Saturn-Mercury conjunction is 1st of 3

Saturn and Mercury come together low in the western twilight sky on November 28, 2017. Here's how to spot them.

Bruce McClure

November 28, 2017

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.