Posts by

Bruce McClure

Moon receding tonight in 2 ways

Tonight's moon has passed its monthly perigee, or closest point. Plus, over the long course of time, the moon's mean distance from Earth is increasing.

Bruce McClure

February 13, 2016

Mercury and Venus close before sunrise

Starting an hour or so before sunrise, for the next several mornings, aim your binoculars at dazzling Venus to spot Mercury nearby.

Bruce McClure

February 11, 2016

See 5 bright planets at once

First time we can see 5 planets at once since 2005. All 5 are up before dawn, still, and all 5 will remain visible until Mercury disappears in the dawn just after mid-February.

Bruce McClure

February 8, 2016

Mars’ west quadrature on February 7

At west quadrature on February 7, 2016, the red planet appears 90% illuminated as seen through a telescope. Fantastic time to see Mars is just ahead.

Bruce McClure

February 7, 2016

Moon, Venus, Mercury on February 6

Let the crescent moon guide you to Mercury as darkness wanes toward dawn on Saturday, February 6. And see all 5 planets before dawn!

Bruce McClure

February 5, 2016

Moon, Venus, Mercury next few mornings

Look for the waning crescent moon near planet Venus on the mornings of February 5, 6 and 7. And see all 5 planets before dawn.

Bruce McClure

February 4, 2016

Moon, Saturn, Antares on February 3

Before dawn on Wednesday, let the moon introduce you to Saturn - in fact, to all five visible planets. Antares is the bright star near Wednesday morning's moon.

Bruce McClure

February 2, 2016

Quarter moon, Earth perihelion, neap tide

The last quarter moon combined with Earth at perihelion should usher in a gentle neap tide, with little variation between high and low tide over the next few days.

Bruce McClure

January 2, 2016

First full moon on Christmas since 1977

Moon phases recur on or near same calendar dates every 19 years. Why didn't we in North America have a full moon on Christmas Day 19 years ago?

Bruce McClure

December 25, 2015

Northern Crown near dusk and dawn

The Northern Crown - a C-shaped group of stars - glitters above the western horizon after dusk, and above the eastern horizon before dawn.

Bruce McClure

November 16, 2015

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. He's 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.