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Moon with Jupiter and the Pleiades, Oct 1 and 2, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 29 – October 8

The Moon pairs with Jupiter, then the Pleiades, as it departs the evening sky. That leaves a dark-sky Milky Way crossing the zenith, where Cygnus the Milky Way Swan flies southward for fall.

Moon passing under Saturn in evening, Sept. 26-28, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 22 – October 1

The bright Moon steps eastwaed night by night under Altair, then Saturn, then the Great Square of Pegasus. Meanwhile, Deneb replaces Vega as the zenith star; welcome to fall.

Flattened Sun

Celestial News & Events

Is the Day 12 Hours Long on the Equinox? It's Complicated

The Earth's atmosphere and the large size of the solar disk result in unequal days and nights, even on the equinox.

Venus, Regulus, and Mercury in early dawn, Sept 16, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 15 – 24

Comet Nishimura shines at its brightest... but don't be disappointed, we warned you. Meanwhile Jupiter outdoes Saturn as an evening light, and the Little Dipper dumps water into the Big Dipper.

Waning crescent Moon passing Venus at dawn, Sept 11-12, 2023Moon

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 8 – 17

Comet Nishimura teases us shyly low on the dawn horizon, then low on the dusk horizon. The Milky Way arches high across the evening sky, and Saturn invites your telescope.

Waning Moon and Jupiter around midnight, Sept 3-4, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 1 – 10

Vega culminates at the zenith around the end of twilight. Arcturus and the Dipper sink through the evening. Saturn and Jupiter rule the late-night hours, and Venus shines at dawn.

Celestial News & Events

The Moon Is "Blue" This Wednesday...Or Is It?

If skies are clear this Wednesday, you'll see the full Moon — but it's not the "true" Blue Moon.

Full Moon and Saturn at opposition, Aug. 30, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 25 – September 3

Saturn comes to opposition. Vega crests at the zenith, while Arcturus declines in the west. Venus shines at dawn. Go out before dawn's very first light, and you get an Orion-starring preview of the evening sky at New Year's.

Comet Nishimura C/2023 P1

Explore the Night with Bob King

New Comet Nishimura May Become Naked-Eye Bright

Comet Nishimura is quickly brightening in the morning sky and may be faintly visible with the naked eye next month. And on August 24th observers in North America will be treated to an occultation of Antares.

Moon passing Spica at dusk, Aug 9-21, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 18 – 27

The waxing Moon passes Spica and then will occult Antares for much of North America. Saturn reaches opposition this week. The Andromegasus Dipper scoops up as summer wanes.

2016 Perseids

Night Sky Sights

Get Ready for a Great Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseids are here! With no Moon to spoil the show it's time to break out the lawn chairs, sit back, and watch the comet dust fly.

Waning crescent Moon passing Pollux and Castor at dawn, Aug. 12-14, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 11 – 20

The Perseid meteors come rushing in, and peak Perseid night ends with the waning crescent Moon triangulating Castor and Pollux. Vega and Sagittarius culminate after dark. Scorpius lays itself down.

The Moon with Jupiter and the Pleiades, dawn of Aug 8 and 9, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 4 – 13

We're approaching the peak of the Perseid meteors. Vega claims the zenith as the Teapot claims the south. In twilight, Mars has a friendly but not very intimate date with Mercury.

Saturn and Moon at dawn, Aug. 3, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 28 – August 6

Venus turns super-interesting and then disappears. Mercury lingers behind it in twilight. So does little Mars in third place. On the other side of the sky, the Moon passes Saturn.

Venus July 24, 2023

Explore the Night with Bob King

View the Thin Crescent of Venus

With Venus approaching inferior conjunction in August here's a foolproof way to follow its thinning crescent as the planet transitions from Evening Star to Morning Star.

12P/Pons-Brooks evolution

Celestial News & Events

See Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks in Outburst!

Comet Pons-Brooks, a dim comet on its way to a great apparition next spring, suddenly sprang into action overnight, brightening by five magnitudes. Now you can see it in a 4-inch telescope.

Waxing Moon passing Gamma Virginis (Porrima) and Spica, July 23-24, 2023

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 21 – 30

Low in twilight, Mercury consorts with Venus and squeaks by Regulus. The waxing gibbous Moon does what it does every July: crosses Scorpius and Sagittarius.

Waxing crescent Moon passing Mercury, Venus, Mars; July 18-20, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 14 – 23

Venus, Mercury, and Mars, very unequal, gather low in the western twilight with the crescent Moon stepping over them and Regulus in their midst. And do you know which way the Kite of Boötes bends?

Mars and Regulus in conjunction near Venus, July 19, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 7 – 16

Mars meets Regulus while Venus looks on. Scorpius comes to its July height — bearing its double stars, Cat's Eyes, and Little Cat's Eyes. And keep a lookout for noctilucent clouds at the end of dusk.

Venus, Mars and Regulus at dusk, June 30, 2023

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 30 – July 9

Full Moon in the Teapot. Are the colors of brights easier to discern in moonlight? Twilight? Mars closes in on Regulus as Venus watches. And the supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy is still 12th magnitude.

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