Posts by

Bruce McClure

Gaze toward Milky Way center on July 17

Sure, the moon's glare will obscure our view the stars tonight. Still, a glance up at tonight's moon is a look in direction to the center of our galaxy.

Bruce McClure

July 17, 2016

Mercury-Venus conjunction on July 16

On July 16, 2016, an awesome conjunction of our sun's 2 innermost planets, only half a degree (a moon diameter) apart. Will you be able to spot it?

Bruce McClure

July 16, 2016

Moon, Mars, Saturn on July 14-16

Mars is brighter than Saturn, and Saturn is brighter than a nearby bright star, Antares in the constellation Scorpius.

Bruce McClure

July 14, 2016

Moon approaching Mars on July 13

If you miss the moon and Mars tonight, try tomorrow night! Also, the moon will move on to pair up with Saturn on July 15.

Bruce McClure

July 13, 2016

Moon and star Spica on July 11

As darkness falls on July 11, 2016, you'll see a bright star near the moon. It's Spica in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

Bruce McClure

July 11, 2016

Stars with cool names

Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali are part of in Libra the Scales. In July, 2016, bright red Mars shines in front of Libra, too.

Bruce McClure

July 10, 2016

Moon near Jupiter again on July 9

The moon was near Jupiter on the night of July 8, and it's still near it! Check out the night sky's 2 brightest lights, side by side tonight.

Bruce McClure

July 9, 2016

Watch for moon and Jupiter

On July 8 and 9, 2016, the waxing crescent moon and planet Jupiter are the brightest evening objects. A line between them points toward Venus.

Bruce McClure

July 8, 2016

Binocular challenge: Venus and moon

If you can find the moon after sunset tonight, remember that its lighted face will be pointing toward Venus. Use binoculars!

Bruce McClure

July 5, 2016

After this, Mars will get fainter

Mars retrograde motion in front of the backdrop stars ends June 30. It means the best time in 2 years to observe Mars is now drawing to a close.

Bruce McClure

June 30, 2016

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.