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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Mercury greatest elongation August 16
Mercury is in the west after sunset, and it's farthest from the sun tonight for this evening apparition. How to spot it.
August 16, 2016
Moon at southernmost point on August 14
It's like a solstice for the moon, and it happens monthly. Watch for the moon to appear low in Northern Hemisphere skies, and high in Southern Hemisphere skies.
August 14, 2016
Saturn stationary on August 13
A planet's "stationary point" doesn't mean it stops moving. In space, nothing ever stops moving. Instead, the "stationary point" is an Earth-centered illusion.
August 13, 2016
Meteors, moon and planets on August 12
The moon's passage near these planets got lost a bit in the excitement over the Perseid meteor shower. But you can still see them!
August 12, 2016
Moon near star Spica on August 8
Bright star near the moon on August 8 is Spica in the constellation Virgo. This blue-white gem of a star is some 1,900 times more luminous than our sun.
August 8, 2016
Moon and Jupiter again … see 5 planets!
On August 6, use the moon to locate Jupiter. Then look for Mercury and Venus to Jupiter's west, and for Mars and Saturn to Jupiter's east.
August 6, 2016
Moon and Mercury after sunset August 4
It won't be easy to catch Mercury near the August 4 young moon. But if your sky is clear all the way to the western horizon after sunset, try it!
August 4, 2016
Will you see moon and Venus August 3?
Try to catch the moon's entry into the evening sky on August 3, 2016. This young moon can help you to locate 5 bright evening planets.
August 3, 2016
See all 5 bright planets after sunset
Three of the 5 planets are easy to see. Two aren't so easy. Charts and info here that can help you see all 5 planets together in early August 2016.
July 31, 2016
Mercury-Regulus conjunction on July 30
Planet Mercury and star Regulus appear in 2016's closest conjunction of a planet and a bright star on July 30. Too bad they're so near the sunset glare.
July 30, 2016
