Unicorns and Roses

Rosette Nebula, Courtesy N.A Sharp, NOIRLab, Wikimedia Commons. A lesser-known and relatively modern constellation occupies the void between Orion, Canis Major, Hydra and Gemini, though the stars are difficult to see with the naked eye due to modern light pollution.  Monoceros – mono meaning “one” and ceros meaning “horn” – the Unicorn is a simpleContinue reading "Unicorns and Roses"

December 2023 – Geminids Meteor Shower

Meteor showers are generally produced when the Earth passes through the remnant tail of a comet, often long after it has visited our inner Solar System.  July’s Perseids are a gift from Comet Swift Tuttle (last close approach in 1995), the Eta Aquariids in May and Orionids in October come from the path Halley’s CometContinue reading "December 2023 – Geminids Meteor Shower"

October 2023 – Annular Eclipse

If you happen to be around the Four Corners area on October 14th, make sure to have your solar eclipse glasses with you.  After that day, you will be able to tell your friends that you saw an eclipse from four different states!  An annular solar eclipse will grace our skies that morning, with theContinue reading "October 2023 – Annular Eclipse"

September 2023 – Archers, Teapots, and the Milky Way

From double full super moons to ringed giants at opposition, August was full of local events in our Solar System, whereas September takes us back to some amazing deep sky objects.  Many of the best clusters and nebulae lie along the galactic plane, easily identifiable in the sky as the Milky Way.  While one canContinue reading "September 2023 – Archers, Teapots, and the Milky Way"

August 2023 – Celestial Neighbors

August hosts a plethora of lunar and planetary events, perfect for the Backyard Astronomer.  Even the most basic binoculars or telescope will allow one to enjoy our celestial neighbors as they put on quite the display this month. August 1st starts off the month with a Full Supermoon.  The second Supermoon this year, this eventContinue reading "August 2023 – Celestial Neighbors"

Stories in the Stars

By Adam England, the Backyard Astronomer The Greeks coined the term planetes - meaning “wanderer” – to describe the objects they saw in the sky that regularly moved against the background of the other, fixed stars.  Over time, this included many bodies that wander across the night sky, including the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,Continue reading "Stories in the Stars"

Scorpions and Rabbits

By Adam England, The Backyard Astronomer One of my personal favorite constellations is Scorpius.  It is very easy to identify in the summer months when it rises in the Southeast and sways above the Bradshaw Mountains like the traditional scorpion promenade à deux pairing dance.  The red supergiant Antares defines the head of the ScorpionContinue reading "Scorpions and Rabbits"

NameExoWorlds2022 Winning Submissions Press Release

IAU Selects Names for 20 Exoplanetary Systems — The NameExoWorlds global contest names the next set of exoplanets and host stars The International Astronomical Union’s NameExoWorlds 2022 contest has selected 20 pairs of names for exoplanets and their host stars. The contest was organised within the framework of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary ofContinue reading "NameExoWorlds2022 Winning Submissions Press Release"

Buzzing Bees Birthing Planets

Spring also brings with it the pollinators that make our world possible, and the Beehive Cluster shines prominent in the sky this month.  You may be able to spot these industrious little lights “buzzing” around Mars on the night of June 2nd, when the Red Planet will be centrally located among this open cluster.  MarsContinue reading "Buzzing Bees Birthing Planets"