The stars Shaula and Lesath as heralds of spring

On February mornings, look for the celestial ducks returning to open water on the river of the Milky Way as the stars Shaula and Lesath make their appearance. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/two-stars-in-scorpius-are-a-harbinger-of-spring…

Moon and Lion’s Heart rise mid-evening January 29 and 30

These next few nights – January 29 and 30, 2021 – use the moon to find Regulus, the Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo. After the moon drops out of the evening sky, use the Big Dipper to star-hop to Regulus and Leo. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-regulus-at-mid-evening-in-january…

Another terrible year for wildfires and smoke in the US in 2020

Wildfires burned more than 10 million acres in the United States during the 2020 season. It was the worst season on record. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/us-2020-wildfire-season-record-bad…

Moon, Mars, Uranus January 19, 20, 21

Over the next several evenings – January 19, 20 and 21, 2021 – let the moon show you the red planet Mars, and then use Mars to find the distant ice giant planet, Uranus. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-mars-uranus-january-19-20-21…

6 space missions to look forward to in 2021

Here are some of the space missions to keep an eye out for in 2021. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/6-space-missions-2021-artemis-chandrayaa3-jameswebb…

Young moon and Mercury in mid-January 2021

These next several days – January 14, 15 and 16, 2021 – you can spot the waxing crescent moon and innermost planet Mercury, near the sunset point. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/young-moon-and-mercury-in-mid-january…

When will the Age of Aquarius begin?

Astronomers and astrologers may agree that the Age of Aquarius starts when the vernal equinox point moves out of constellation Pisces and into Aquarius. But when will that be? There’s no definitive answer. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/when-will-the-age-of-aquarius-begin…

What are degrees, arc minutes and arc seconds?

How do skywatchers measure distances in the night sky? Here’s how to understand it when they speak of objects as being several degrees (or several arc minutes or arc seconds) apart. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/sky-measurements-degrees-arc-minutes-arc-seconds…

The sun in 2020

See a whole year of sun images, an image a day for 2020, taken by ESA’s Proba-2 satellite. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/sun-in-2020-movie-images…

Watch for Venus, Antares and the moon before sunup January 9, 10 and 11

Venus, Antares, and the moon before sunup. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/venus-antares-moon-morning-january-9-10-11-2021…