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This Week's Amazing Sky
It’s a “Black Moon”! This sounds ominous but it’s not. Find out what a Black Moon is, when the next Black Moon occurs, and special symbolism and folklore.What is a Black Moon?A Black Moon is a special kind of New Moon, just as a Blue Moon is a special kind of Full Moon. Neither are astronomical terms; both are catch phrases for an unusual lunar calendar occurrence. For this reason…
Learn how the Moon affects planet Earth. From tides to weather, there are many ways that our one and only natural satellite works in tandem with our planet. Plus, let’s dispel some myths about powers that our Moon does NOT have!How the Moon Affects TidesOcean TidesOf course, high tides and low tides are caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull. People…
Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up? The dark portion of the Moon (the area unlit by the Sun) seems to glow. This phenomenon is known as “Earthshine.” Historically, this was called “the new Moon in the old Moon’s arms.” Learn more about Earthshine.What is Earthshine?When you can see the dark, unlit portion of the crescent Moon (the area unlit…
On this March equinox, does the Sun rise due east and set due west? Are day and night of equal duration? Some of these answers are quite contrary to common wisdom. Bob Berman brings the fun facts to celebrate the first day of spring!On the vernal equinox (March 19, 2024), the Sun will cross the celestial equator—an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator—from south to north. This…
The most dramatic happening in the sky in springtime is not unfolding at night. It’s in the day. Yep, here comes the Sun! Let’s take a look at how our Sun is getting higher more quickly every day.Many folks assume that the change to warmer weather in springtime is due to the Sun being out longer and longer—the growing change in daylight length. That’s partially true. But…
Groundhog Day. Just a bizarre tradition involving a marmot, right? Believe it or not, Groundhog Day is full of amazing sky-related stuff. Even its date relates to the heavens. Bob Berman explains the connection to astronomy and sky watching.
As the tradition goes, a Pennsylvania groundhog ignores crowds of humans closely gathered around him, and then, despite having a four ounce brain,…
Want a cosmic way to ring in the New Year? On New Year’s Eve, the brightest star visible from our planet, Sirius, reaches its highest point in the sky as the clock strikes midnight (or, near to it).
Spot Sirius in the New Year Sky
Simply step outdoors on New Year’s Eve as local midnight approaches, then look toward the south and you’ll easily see the brightest star,…
Was the Star of Bethlehem a real astronomical object? Many religious scholars believe the bright star never existed as a physical object. Instead, when the account was written 50 years after Christ’s death, the star was meant as an astrological omen. I take both religion and science seriously. In and of itself, the mixing of science and religion is shaky, but it can be helpful in…
Here they come! After an interminable absence, a phalanx of planets has avalanched into the evening sky. Let’s enjoy the planet beauty contest parading before our eyes at the end of November. Take a look with Bob Berman as your guide.
The Planets Parade at Night
Jupiter: You’ve already surely noticed the brightest one, Jupiter, the most brilliant “star,” hands down. You can’t miss…
The new Moon rocket launch is named Artemis after Apollo’s mythological twin sister. The test of the Artemis rocket is re-raising the boisterous debate about returning to the Moon. Should we go back or move on? Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons.A human hasn’t stepped on the Moon since 1972! The new Moon rocket being tested is called the Space Launch System (SLS), and it’s the most…
Is the full Moon round? It a perfect sphere or circle? Or, what shape is it? Take a guess, and then let’s explore the shape of Earth’s only satellite, our Moon.
Why do we care if the Moon is perfectly round? Well, perfect circles are actually pretty rare in nature.
Take a look at the Moon the next time it’s a Full Moon. See your Full Moon Calendar. It’ll appear as a flawless disk to…
No, those aren’t Saturn’s rings! This is the first (stunning!) image of planet Neptune by the new Webb telescope, showing off several narrow rings on our outermost planet. Here’s Bob Berman’s latest post about the news—plus, some facts about the outermost planet.
What is Neptune?
The eighth and farthest planet from our Sun, Neptune is an ice giant that is enormous enough to…
