Here’s how to find the constellation Cancer in your sky. Plus Cancer’s place in sky history, lore and science. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/cancer-heres-your-constellation…
Tag: solstice
Westward shift of Orion and all the stars
As Earth makes its grand tour around the sun each year, the constellations all shift westward in our sky. Orion is a good one to notice. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/the-westward-shift-of-orion-and-all-the-stars…
Fastest sunsets happen near equinoxes
We’re talking about the amount of time needed for the body of the sun to sink below the horizon. It’s true. The sun actually sets faster around the time of an equinox. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/when-are-the-fastest-sunsets…
Watch the sun’s shift on your horizon
Looking for an easy, but profound, sky activity? Note how far the sunset moves on your horizon, as spring shifts toward summer, or autumn toward winter, on your part of the globe. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/how-far-does-sun-move-on-your-horizon-each-day…
What is the gegenschein?
The sun’s counterglow – or gegenschein – is kind of a stargazers’ legend. What is it, and how can you see it? Erwin Matys and Karoline Mrazek of Project Nightflight explain. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/definition-what-is-the-gegenschein…
Gemini? Here’s your constellation
The constellation Gemini, with its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, shines prominently in winter and spring night skies of the Northern Hemisphere. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/gemini-heres-your-constellation…
Taurus? Here’s your constellation
How to find to find the constellation Taurus in your night sky. Plus the names of some of its bright stars and star clusters and its mythology. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/taurus-heres-your-constellation…
Groundhog Day is an astronomy holiday
Groundhog Day is tied to the movement of Earth around the sun. Falling approximately midway between a solstice and an equinox, it’s the year’s 1st cross-quarter day. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-groundhog-day…
Will Punxsutawney Phil get it right in 2020?
Every February 2nd, a weather-prognosticating groundhog in Pennsylvania tells us if we should expect six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Should we believe him? Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-accuracy…
Earth closest to sun on January 4-5
We reach our closest point to the sun for 2020 on January 4 or 5, depending on your time zone. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/earth-comes-closest-to-sun-every-year-in-early-january…