EarthSky Tonight—Young moon and Mercury after sunset
To see the planets, find a level horizon in the direction of sunset. The moon and Mercury will pop out close to the southwest horizon some 35 to 60 minutes…
EarthSky Tonight—December 6, Winter Circle up by late evening
This year, the brightest stars of winter appear less brilliant, because there is an even-brighter planet nearby. This planet is Jupiter, by far the brightest star-like object in the evening…
EarthSky Tonight—Algol, a famous variable star, dimmest tonight
Algol is what astronomers call an eclipsing binary star. In other words, the single point of light that we see as Algol is really two stars.
EarthSky Tonight—December 4, Cassiopeia high up in northern sky on December evenings
From a dark country sky, you will see that Cassiopeia sits atop of the luminous band of stars known as the Milky Way.
EarthSky Tonight—December 3, Greatest illuminated extent for Venus December 4
Venus shines at it brightest throughout the first week of December 2010.
EarthSky Tonight— December 2, See the moons of Jupiter on December evenings
Given clear skies, everyone with a decent backyard telescope should be able to view Jupiter’s moons.
EarthSky Tonight—December 1, Moon and Venus at brightest pair up before sunrise December 2
Despite Venus’ variation in brightness, this blazing world always ranks as the third-brightest celestial body, after the sun and moon.
EarthSky Tonight—Nov 30, Sun in Ophiuchus until December 17
The ecliptic – which translates on our sky’s dome as the sun’s annual path in front of the background stars – actually passes through 13 constellations, although this is not…
EarthSky Tonight—Nov 29, catch Mercury after sunset
Mercury is hard to spot, not because it is dim, but because it so often hides in the sun’s glare.
EarthSky Tonight—Nov 28, Summer Triangle in west on fall and winter evenings
In late June – around the June 21 solstice – the Summer Triangle pops out in the east as darkness falls and shines all night long.