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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Venus at its brightest in morning sky
Day side of Venus now covering more area - as seen in Earth's sky - than at any other time during this morning apparition. So Venus is now at its brightest!
April 29, 2017
Young moon, Mars and Aldebaran
Look soon after sunset! On April 27, the moon will quickly follow the sun below the western horizon.
April 27, 2017
First supermoon of 2017 on April 26
The April 26, 2017 supermoon isn't a full moon. Instead, it's a new moon. You won't see it, but Earth's oceans will feel its effects.
April 26, 2017
Moon and Venus before Sunday’s sunrise
Before sunrise on April 23, 2017, you'll find a beautiful pairing of the waning crescent moon and dazzling planet Venus in your eastern sky.
April 22, 2017
Last quarter moon rises around midnight
You might spot the moon after sunrise on April 18 or 19, high in the sky. Did you know a last quarter moon is slightly fainter than a first quarter moon? Learn why here.
April 18, 2017
Mars near Pleiades cluster at nightfall
Mars and the Pleiades star cluster will fit (or nearly fit) in the same binocular field all this week. They'll come closest together on the sky’s dome on or near April 22.
April 17, 2017
Moon and Saturn close in morning sky
From anywhere on Earth - on the mornings of April 15, 16 and 17 - Saturn will be a bright golden object near the waning gibbous moon. The red star Antares is also nearby.
April 14, 2017
A star whose magnetic field flipped
Tau Boötis was the first star, other than our sun, ever seen to undergo a magnetic field reversal. This post also includes 2 great videos about our sun's magnetic reversals.
April 13, 2017
Moon follows Jupiter April 11-12
Jupiter rises before the moon. Then, as Earth spins under the sky, the moon chases Jupiter for the remainder of the night.
April 11, 2017
Full moon near Jupiter April 10-11
Full moon comes on April 11 at 6:08 UTC. For the Americas, that means full moon happens tonight. As the 1st full moon of northern spring, it fixes the date of Easter Sunday.
April 10, 2017
