Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!
A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Posts by
Bruce McClure
Happy Friday the 13th: It’s the 2nd of 2 in 2024
When a year with 366 days starts on a Monday, it's inevitable Friday the 13th will occur twice. In 2024, Friday the 13th comes in September and December.
December 13, 2024
Meet Pisces the Fish, 1st constellation of the zodiac
Pisces the Fish is a zodiac constellation that is high in the sky on December evenings. Look for it and its asterism, the Circlet of Pisces.
December 10, 2024
See Orion’s Belt as a celestial bridge between hemispheres
Many know Orion's Belt, a short, straight row of 3 stars. Orion's Belt is considered a celestial bridge between the sky's Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
November 13, 2024
Mirach is your guide star to finding 3 galaxies
Mirach in the constellation Andromeda helps stargazers locate the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and "Mirach's Ghost" (NGC 404).
November 10, 2024
Cassiopeia and Perseus on October evenings
Cassiopeia and Perseus are neighbors in the fall sky. Use Cassiopeia's distinctive W or M shape to locate the dimmer Perseus on autumn and winter evenings.
October 20, 2024
Meet Libra the Scales, a zodiacal constellation
The zodiacal constellation Libra the Scales is a fixture of the evening sky during Northern Hemisphere summer (Southern Hemisphere winter).
June 25, 2024
Zubenelgenubi is the alpha star of Libra the Scales
Zubenelgenubi - Alpha Librae - is a double star, and is the second brightest star in the constellation Libra the Scales.
June 23, 2024
Eta Aquariid meteors are richer from the Southern Hemisphere
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is better in the Southern Hemisphere because sunrise comes later in May, where it's now autumn and they are moving toward winter.
May 1, 2024
Cor Caroli, named for the heart of a king
Cor Caroli is a binary star and the brightest star in the northern constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Its name means Heart of Charles.
April 24, 2024
On the equinox, are day and night equal?
Day and night are mostly equal on the equinox. There's a bit more daylight because the sun is a disk, not a point, and Earth’s atmosphere refracts sunlight.
March 19, 2024
