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This Week's Amazing Sky
When we gaze up at the night sky, it appears as a still-life scene. The one exception is when a streaking meteor suddenly pierces the sky. We’re talking about shooting stars. Would you believe a shooting star is just the size of a raisin? Learn all about these streaks of light—and how to see one!The stars appear motionless. You’d have to leave and return ten minutes later to notice that the…
Planet Mercury is odd in so many ways; it’s hard to find aspects that aren’t strange. What color is Mercury, really? And does it have the hottest surface temperature? See 10 fun facts about the smallest planet in our solar system. 10 Facts about Planet MercuryMercury’s orbit may be nearest to the Sun, so you’d think it was also the hottest planet. Nope! It’s the second hottest…
At noon now in midwinter, the Sun stands a bit higher each day. Most of us do not notice the slow changes in the sky, like daylight increasing by just seconds a day, and what that does to us. Let’s explore these often unseen natural wonders.1. Note the Sun’s position rising—over five times its width every week.Each day, the Sun moves eastward against the stars. Being in Aquarius,…
When the local weather station (or your weather app) says that there is an “80% chance of rain,” do you assume that this means you have an 80% chance of getting rained on? Not true. Bob Berman explains what a “chance of rain” really means!If you’re a sky watcher like yours truly, the first step in observing the sky is having decent weather. We probably all check the forecast from time…
Step outside anytime after 9 P.M. in winter, and it’s easy to spot Orion the Hunter, one of the season’s most easily recognizable constellations. Read Bob Berman’s post about Orion’s five bright stars and why it’s so special.Many of you can probably identify the Hunter’s Belt, those three stars in a row. But let’s find two even brighter stars of the Hunter (one red-orange and the other…
When you’re looking at a Moon that’s half-illuminated—like half a pie—why is it called a “quarter Moon” instead of a “half Moon”? Seems confusing, right? Astronomer Bob Berman explains this Moon phase, which he finds the most interesting of all!Why Do We Call It the Quarter Moon?We’ve all looked up at the night sky and seen half of the Moon’s disk illuminated. If you had two…
Want to be amazed? Look skyward on the next clear night. With your own eyes, you’ll be able to see which way you, Earth, the Sun, and the entire galaxy are moving in space.You don’t need dark country skies for this. Being in a city is okay. But you do need an open swath of sky, so get out in the open somewhere, and do this at 9 p.m.Nothing is Stationary in …
What is the biggest explosion that we humans have ever seen? It’s the supernova! Bob Berman’s newest piece is about supernovas, a truly super phenomenon with “star power.”Supernova!Any word that begins with “super” is supposedly remarkable. But it’s not always true. Some are visual duds, like the “supermoon” the media frequently hypes. Most look no different from every other Full Moon…
Do you trust your instincts? Maybe you shouldn’t. It seems that ancient Greeks and the old church doctrines were correct because it sure feels as if we’re not moving. But we’re actually in wild, constant motion. How fast are we spinning—and why don’t we feel it?On Earth, we don’t notice that the Earth is spinning. In contrast, when we gaze into the sky, we see constant…
The next Blood Moon will occur on March 14, 2025. What exactly IS a Blood Moon? There are boatloads of celestial hype about this phenomenon, as well as the reference to a strange prophecy. I’ll help you separate fact from fiction.What Is a Blood Moon?In simple terms, a Blood Moon is another name for a total lunar eclipse—like the one taking place on March 14, 2025.During a lunar…
We’ve all been told that the “Sun sets in the west.” Actually, that’s a generalization. Bob Berman talks about the sunset in fall, and how the Sun rises and sets across the seasons. You can even do your own Stonehenge thing, without moving a single rock!The Sunset in AutumnBack in September, at the autumnal equinox, you could see the Sun rise due east and set due west. This also happens…
It’s your annual opportunity to see Jupiter at biggest and brightest! The Giant Planet reaches “opposition” on November 2–3, 2023 as Earth passes between it and the Sun. Just one day prior, on November 1–2, Jupiter reaches its closest point to Earth. Learn more from Bob Berman.Jupiter in OppositionNotice planet Jupiter in the night skies? You can’t miss it. It’s dazzlingly bright the…
