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Larry Sessions

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Larry Sessions

Can you see Canopus, the 2nd-brightest star?

Here's how to spot Canopus, the 2nd-brightest star in the sky as seen from Earth, on February evenings. It’s located far south on the sky’s dome.

Deborah Byrd

Larry Sessions

February 17, 2026

Meet the Crab Nebula, remnant of an exploding star

The Crab Nebula is visible with binoculars or small telescopes. Scan near bright stars in Taurus to spot this expanding stellar remnant.

Larry Sessions

Shireen Gonzaga

January 20, 2026

Blue-white Rigel is Orion’s brightest star

Blue-white Rigel shines as the brightest star in the constellation Orion the Hunter. It's a hot massive star, that someday will explode as a supernova.

Larry Sessions

January 16, 2026

What was the Christmas star? Science and mystery

What was the Christmas star? Some scientific explanations attempt to explain the Star of Bethlehem, including a planetary conjunction, comet or supernova.

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

December 21, 2025

Orange Aldebaran is Taurus the Bull’s fiery eye

Aldebaran is an enormous star that marks one of the eyes of Taurus the Bull. If placed where our sun is, its surface would pass the orbit of Mercury.

Deborah Byrd

Larry Sessions

December 3, 2025

Fomalhaut is the Loneliest Star … but not in 2025

Fomalhaut is known as the 'lonely one' or 'solitary one' because it shines brightly in an otherwise dim patch of sky. But in 2025, Saturn is nearby.

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

September 15, 2025

61 Cygni – a double star – is nicknamed Flying Star

Compared to other stars, 61 Cygni moves quite rapidly against the background of more distant stars, revealing its proximity to Earth.

Larry Sessions

Shireen Gonzaga

August 7, 2025

Summer Triangle star: Altair is variable and spins fast!

Altair, in the constellation Aquila the Eagle, is one of the closest stars to our solar system. It's variable in an unusual way, and it spins very fast!

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

July 23, 2025

Summer Triangle star Deneb is distant and luminous

When you gaze at the bright star Deneb, you’re gazing across thousands of light-years of space at one of the bright stars of the huge Summer Triangle asterism.

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

July 16, 2025

Summer Triangle star: Vega is bright and blue-white

There's a noticeable star pattern called the Summer Triangle in the east on July and August evenings. Its brightest star is blue-white Vega.

Larry Sessions

Deborah Byrd

July 8, 2025

Larry Sessions

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Larry Sessions has written many favorite posts in EarthSky's Tonight area. He's a former planetarium director in Little Rock, Fort Worth and Denver and an adjunct faculty member at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He's a longtime member of NASA's Solar System Ambassadors program. His articles have appeared in numerous publications including Space.com, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy and Rolling Stone. His small book on world star lore, Constellations, was published by Running Press.