Posts by 

Editors of EarthSky

Cassiopeia the Queen ascends in September and October

Cassiopeia the Queen is an easy-to-find constellation. It has the shape of a W or M. Look in the north-northeast sky on September and October evenings.
Astronomy Essentials

Saturn’s rings: Top tips for beginners

If you want to see Saturn's rings, September 2025 is a great time to look. Grab a telescope, find a dark sky and read the tips found here!

Sapphire: September birthstone comes in many colors

Sapphire, the September birthstone, is typically blue, the color caused by small amounts of titanium and iron in the crystal structure.

Do bees die after they sting you?

Do bees die after they sting you? Only the honeybee dies after stinging you, and only female bees have stingers. The female honeybee dies protecting its home.

The Winter Circle: Catch in the morning before dawn

The majestic Winter Circle isn't a constellation. It's an asterism, a giant circle - or hexagon - figure made up of bright stars from several constellations.

The return of Sirius in the morning signals seasonal change

A sign of the changing season is the return of Sirius before sunup. Want to make sure you've spotted Sirius? The 3 stars in Orion's Belt point to it.

Do you love twilight? The 3 stages explained

Twilight is that magical time between sunlight and darkness. Astronomers, the experts on nighttime, recognize three stages of twilight.

Can you see a full circle rainbow? All you need to know

It's possible to see the full circle rainbow, but sky conditions have to be just right. They're most often seen by pilots, who have a good view of the sky.

August full moon on August 8-9 is the Sturgeon Moon

The August full moon is the Sturgeon Moon. It takes place overnight on August 8-9, 2025. Then it will lie in front of the constellation Capricornus.

See the Venus-Jupiter conjunction on August 12

A conjunction is when 2 objects share the same right ascension. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction of August 12 is a great one for observation!