Twilight
Twilight is a magical time, my favorite part of the whole 24-hour cycle.
Microsaccades
An article in Scientific American suggests that training your eye to see faint objects may have a physiological basis.
Two Views of the North America Nebula
The North America Nebula in Cygnus is famously visible to the unaided eye under dark skies. But are we really seeing the nebulosity?
Comet Envy
I've seen Comet LINEAR C/2006 VZ13 many times now — but not when it was most spectacularly placed.
Pollution and Stargazing
Air pollution can be as much of a problem as light pollution for stargazers.
Galaxies and Clusters and Comet, Oh My!
A summer night in the Boston exurbs proves surprisingly rewarding.
Strange Encounters Part II
I was intrigued that all the responses to my previous blog entry discussed encounters with wild animals rather than strange humans. (Sorry, I lost all of those comments during the switchover to the new blog technology.) I've met my fair share of wild animals, but somehow that never seems surprising…
The Day the Sun Stands Still
Have you ever wondered what the word "solstice" means?
Decisions, Decisions
A deep-sky observer's life revolves around the phase of the Moon and the weather forecast.
Unexpected Connections
What do digital voice recorders have in common with an 18th-century woman?
Big Sky
Night or day, it's wonderful to see the entire sky all at once.
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
Binoculars vs. Starblast, Redux
How do 15x70 binoculars hold up against a genuinely inexpensive telescope?
Binoculars: Guides and Recommendations
Binoculars Part III: One Eye Versus Two
Binoculars are qualitatively different from telescopes with identical aperture.
Binoculars: Guides and Recommendations
Three Binoculars: Part II
Binoculars' strengths and weaknesses are intimately connected.
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
A Tale of Three Binoculars: Part I
There's a big difference between 10x50 and 15x70 binoculars.
How Brightly Shines the Moon?
How does skyglow from the full Moon compare to urban light pollution?