Around 4.5 billion years ago, our solar system was nothing more than a large cloud of gas and dust, not much different than the Orion Nebula (Messier 42) that we enjoy looking at with our backyard telescopes every winter. Composed of mostly hydrogen, the cloud coalesced over millions and billions of years until a catalystContinue reading “June 2024 – Planets on Parade”
Author Archives: The Backyard Astronomer
May 2024 – The Sombrero Galaxy
The late 18th Century was a golden age of astronomical discoveries. After Galileo famously pointed his early invention at the heavens in 1609, Dutch glassmakers spent decades perfecting the lens technology that allowed for larger telescopes and more precise visual observations. Every reigning monarch in Europe just had to have the latest and greatest telescopes,Continue reading “May 2024 – The Sombrero Galaxy”
April 2024 – Solar Cycles and Sunspots
Nearly 3,000 years ago, The Chinese Yi Jing or “Book of Changes” documented small, irregular concealments in the surface of the Sun. By 300 BC, both Eastern and Western cultures were documenting their changing views of our star, and the patterns that would grow and then disappear on its disk. English Monk John of WorcesterContinue reading “April 2024 – Solar Cycles and Sunspots”
March 2024 – Vernal Equinox and Spring Beehives
Tuesday, 19 March, at exactly 8:06 PM MST, denotes the moment when the Sun will again be directly over Earth’s equator. As viewed from Central Yavapai County at approximately 34.54° N, we will see the Sun appear to rise and set due East and due West, respectively. This is the Vernal Equinox, the rebirth ofContinue reading “March 2024 – Vernal Equinox and Spring Beehives”
Unicorns and Roses
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 simple 7-point constellation, though only two of the starsContinue reading “Unicorns and Roses”
Dancing Planets
The planet Mercury is a unique specimen within our solar system. Orbiting every 88 days, this closest rocky body to our Sun has no geological activity and virtually no atmosphere. Its surface is pockmarked with testimonies of destruction, and with nothing to erode the signs of billions of years of impact events, making it aContinue reading “Dancing Planets”
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”
The Backyard Astronomer 