Never miss a full moon, eclipse, or meteor shower with reminders from the Almanac Daily newsletter.
This Week's Amazing Sky
Since I’m on vacation, I’m reminded each evening about how different the sky looks when you travel. Take Boston to Hawaii. Yes, the Moon will appear differently. Got friends and family in different locations? Planning travel? Let’s explore whether we all see the Moon and Sun in the same way.Actually, changing your longitude, your east-west location, alters nothing. It’s going south or north…
Thinking about a telescope? Just like the many advancements in digital technology, such as better mobile phones, telescopes have become “smart.” Renowned astronomer Bob Berman says it’s hard to ignore that the quality of backyard-level telescopes has changed big-time in the past few years. It’s like having a Hubble in your backyard!It used to be an easy issue. Anyone could derive endless…
Have you seen reports about “killer asteroids flying by Earth”? Naturally, many are concerned that Earth may not always be so lucky. Should we be worried? Bob Berman, astronomer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, explains all in his usual straightforward way.First things first. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen reports of an asteroid heading near Earth, one passing much closer than even the…
Alert! The new star we’ve been talking about is about to explode. Experts estimate the time for the nova eruption is close to now. Get ready to see a new star in the night sky. According to NASA, it’s a rare “once-in-a-lifetime” event. Bob Berman has the details. The 2024 Nova EventIf you’ve been following our newsletter, you know this year has already brought a rich bounty…
Regulus is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Here are viewing tips, plus learn about the remarkable Regulus, the “little king” of the stars. While it appears as a single star to the human eye, Regulus has three unseen companion stars, two of which can be seen in telescopes.Regulus is the brightest object in Leo. The “Sickle of Leo” makes up the lion’s mane and looks like…
We’re about halfway through a phenomenal year for skywatchers! Next up is the solstice full Moon. Almanac astronomer Bob Berman explains why this is a special Moon—and on his list of only six “must-see” celestial events for 2024.The universe does not pretend to offer equality regarding Earth’s sky calendar. Some years present mind-numbing spectacles; others are average, and others offer…
One of the year’s best meteor showers—the Perseids—gets underway in mid-July. It starts with just a few extra shooting stars per hour, and when we reach the nights of August 11 and 12, we will see a meteor every 2 minutes or so. But the comet behind these lovely shooting stars is what we should really be talking about!Meteors are tiny specks of debris that have fallen off a comet.…
Astronomy is filled with wonders, but it’s frustrating if you can’t see the sights. So, we will focus on the number one brightest star in our northern sky—named Arcturus. No star charts are needed. Discover this orange-colored, giant star with its fascinating mythology.If you love the night sky as I do, you know that there are mind-stretching realities and visual wonders capable of impressing…
Excitement accompanied the numerous auroras seen a few weeks ago. The good news is that the incredibly powerful sunspot group that created the Northern Lights will appear again for a few nights on either side of Thursday, June 6. This is also the night of the new Moon, so we may see more wondrous displays. Get the facts from astronomer Bob Berman.The Record-Setting May 2024 AurorasOn…
The hunt for exoplanets that resemble Earth is today’s biggest astronomy obsession. We know that our galaxy is brimming with planets as researchers have found thousands of exoplanets. Enjoy Bob’s latest post on Earth twins!In the past year alone, a supposed “Earth twin” was found orbiting a star 1400 light years away. But if we dig deeper, the true hidden allure in the search for Earth-like…
You finish dinner at a restaurant, and it’s suddenly pouring. You gaze at your car parked not so far away. Is it better to walk or run in the rain?Believe it or not, scientists have debated this for years. If you run you get there faster, so less rain hits you. But meanwhile you’re slamming more frontwise into the droplets, making them preferentially strike your chest…
What are the Seven Sisters? These are stars in the Pleiades star cluster—one of the most noticeable star patterns. This tiny dipper of six stars appears at nightfall, lowish in the west, directly above where the Sun sets in the spring. So, wait, why are they called the Seven Sisters? Read on!Why is the Pleiades called the Seven Sisters?The seven sisters come from Greek…
