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Guy Ottewell

Guy Ottewell

Astronomer, artist and poet Guy Ottewell's beloved Astronomical Calendar ended its yearly print run in 2016, its 43rd year. Visit Guy’s website UniversalWorkshop.com or his blog at UniversalWorkshop.com/Guysblog. You can also find 2018 Astronomical Calendar info and charts there at UniversalWorkshop.com/Guysblog/astronomical-calendar-2018. His stories and art are used here with permission. Thank you, Guy!

Star chart, showing Milky Way around Orion region.

Beetles steer by the Milky Way

Posted by in Earth | Space | 2 weeks ago
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When dung beetles grab a prized bit of food, they hurry off in a straight line. To be able to do this, they have to be able to see the stars.
A basket full of colored Easter eggs.

Why is Easter so late this year?

Posted by in Human World | 1 month ago
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Easter is this Sunday. Astronomer Guy Ottewell explains why it’s a late Easter, but not the latest it can be.

Lurch forward an hour

Posted by in Human World | 2 months ago
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“A squeal of distress will go flying across America … It’s all those clocks, being twisted an hour forward, away from the natural time they were born to show.” Insights on time from astronomer Guy Ottewell, here.
Chart showing Mercury and Mars in the west after sunset.

Now is the time to see Mercury

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 3 months ago
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For Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, it’s the best evening apparition of Mercury in 2019. Now is the best time to look.
Chart showing the early morning sky in late January and early February 2019.

The moon at mid-arch from full to new

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 4 months ago
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Astronomer Guy Ottewell shares insights and charts related to the current moon phase.

Past-and-future Earths ring in New Year

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 5 months ago
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Astronomer Guy Ottewell has developed a novel way of picturing ourselves riding on Earth, orbiting the sun. See those past-and-future Earths as we look backward at the old year – and forward into the new – here.

A sense of balance, at the solstice point

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 5 months ago
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At the December solstice, Earth arrives at the 4th of the year’s 4 cardinal points.

Venus hovers near Spica

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 6 months ago
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Venus and the bright star Spica have been near each other for some days, and will remain so for a few days longer. We’re now in the middle of the best time to see them near each other in the east before sunup.

Venus passages compared

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 7 months ago
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Venus will sweep near the sun in our sky (inferior conjunction) on October 26. Astronomer Guy Ottewell uses his great skill at illustration to compare this passage of Venus with the last one, and the next one.

Venus, she or it?

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 9 months ago
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Are you interested in the famous 8-year cycle of Venus? The charts in this post – from astronomer Guy Ottewell – illustrate it. Also, weigh in on whether you think we should describe Venus as she or it!