Posts by 

Bruce McClure

Moon, Antares, Saturn at nightfall

On July 5, 2017 watch for the moon, star Antares and planet Saturn. Can you see their colors - and Antares' twinkling - in the moonlit glare?

Watch for Venus in July 2017

Notice its change of position in front of the constellation Taurus, with bright Aldebaran and the dipper-shaped Pleiades star cluster.

1st quarter moon with Jupiter June 30

The dazzling planet Jupiter is near the first quarter moon on June 30. Enjoy the waxing moon and Jupiter on July 1, too!

Moon approaching Jupiter on June 29

Tonight – June 29, 2017 – you can’t miss the moon and king planet Jupiter, given a clear sky!

Moon in front of Cancer on June 26

Crescent moon in front of Cancer the Crab on June 26, 2017. Plus a word about the difference between signs and constellations of the zodiac.

Young moon after sunset June 25

From most places worldwide, except at far-northern latitudes, the moon will set better than hour after sunset on June 25. Look for it near the sunset point.

Moon and Venus before sunrise June 20

You can't miss them! Look east an hour or two before sunrise. Moon is the 2nd-brightest, and Venus the 3rd-brightest, objects in our sky after the sun.

Close and far moons

Peter Lowenstein in Zimbabwe contrasts the size of the May 27 waxing crescent moon, which was close to Earth, with the June 9 full moon, which was far from Earth.

Half-lit last quarter moon on June 17

Although appearing half-illuminated, the last quarter moon carries that name because it's three-quarters of the way from one new moon to the next.

2017’s smallest full moon on June 9

June 9, 2017 brings the farthest full moon - and hence the smallest full moon - of the year. We've heard it called the micro-moon or mini-moon. Saturn is nearby.