Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2026

2026's Leonid meteor shower will peak on the morning of November 18, 2026. Watch for meteors after midnight until dawn. A 1st quarter moon will be present.

Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13-14

The Geminids are here! The 2026 shower peaks December 13-14. Watch in a dark sky. The peak time of night is probably around 2 a.m.

Are the December solstice and January perihelion related?

December solstice 2025 occurred on December 21. Earth will be closest to the sun about 2 weeks later, on January 3. Coincidence?

What is a full moon? All you need to know

The full moon, opposite the sun in its orbit, shows us its sunlit side. The moon appears full a couple of days before and after the exact moment of full moon.

What’s a Blood Moon? All you need to know

By this definition, Blood Moon is a member of a special kind of lunar tetrad : four total lunar eclipses in a row. Now it's used for any total lunar eclipse.

The moon illusion makes the moon look huge!

When you see a large-looking moon low in the sky, does the moon look bigger to you? That's the moon illusion that makes the moon look so big.

What is a last quarter moon?

The last quarter moon appears a week after full moon and a week before new moon. The moon appears half-lit, like half a pie.

Planisphere: Your friend to find stars and constellations

A planisphere is an easy-to-use tool that can help you learn the night sky. Align the date and time to see what constellations and stars are overhead.

The Big Dipper, the Pointers and Polaris

Want to find Polaris, the North Star? The entire northern sky turns around it. If you can find the Big Dipper, you can always find Polaris.

First quarter moon appears half-illuminated

The first quarter moon is halfway between new and full moon. Half of the moon is illuminated and it's a quarter of the way through it's orbit around the Earth.