Posts by

Bruce McClure

Moon, Saturn, Antares early Monday

If you see them, notice the colors of Saturn and Antares. Saturn is golden, and the star, Antares, is reddish. Plus you might notice Antares twinkling, while Saturn shines steadily!

Bruce McClure

February 19, 2017

Star brightness versus star luminosity

Some extremely large and hot stars blaze away with the luminosity of a million suns! But other stars look bright only because they're near Earth.

Bruce McClure

February 18, 2017

Moon, Antares, Saturn early Sunday

Late tonight - February 18, 2017 - or before dawn Sunday, look for planet Saturn and star Antares close to the wide waning moon.

Bruce McClure

February 18, 2017

Venus brightest around February 16

Venus is brighter around February 16-17, 2017 than at any other time during its ongoing, approximate, 9.6-month reign in the evening sky.

Bruce McClure

February 16, 2017

How many eclipses in 1 calendar year?

Every calendar year has at least 4, but 5, 6 or even 7 eclipses are also possible. Why don't we see them all?

Bruce McClure

February 10, 2017

Subtle lunar eclipse on February 10-11

The Americas and Greenland see the penumbral lunar eclipse Friday evening. Europe, Africa, and Asia see it Saturday morning.

Bruce McClure

February 10, 2017

Moon near Aldebaran on February 5

Aldebaran is Taurus the Bull's brightest star. The February 5, 2017 moon isn't just passing near it. It's passing in front of it, as seen from some parts of the globe.

Bruce McClure

February 5, 2017

Lunar sunrise and the 1st quarter moon

Imagine watching a sunrise on the moon. Then see one, from afar.

Bruce McClure

February 3, 2017

Moon points to Venus and Mars

The February 2 moon isn't as close to the planets as it was on February 1. But you can still use the moon to identify the planets because its lighted face points to them.

Bruce McClure

February 2, 2017

Seen the moon, Mars, Venus yet?

Tonight – February 1, 2017 - the moon and the planets Mars and Venus line up in front of the constellation Pisces the Fishes.

Bruce McClure

February 1, 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.