Happy Father's Day all! A least to all the fathers out there. I haven't been sharing any astronomical thoughts for a while, as I've been too busy being a dad, myself. But despite my lack of writing, I've consistently been looking up. Enough to notice that Mars has slipped away and almost disappeared into the…Read more Opposition (Astronomy, Week of 6/16/19)
Jupiter
Summer?
Around here, meteorologically at least, spring has been sort of hard to get a grip on. We've gone from weeks of rain (very spring-y), to cold dreary late-winter holdouts interspersed with days of mid-summer 90-degree temps and high humidity. It's been a confusing time -- and so it's hard to really get a grip on…Read more Summer?
Jupiter is Back (Astronomy: Week of 5/6/18)
A lot has happened in the two weeks I've gone silent... spring has sprung, the evening peepers have given way to Chuck-Will's-Widows and both screech and barred owl calls. Trees have leafed out (and flowered, as copious pollen can attest), and I've watched redbuds, dogwoods, wisteria, and locust trees bloom. In the meantime, I've been…Read more Jupiter is Back (Astronomy: Week of 5/6/18)
Ah… Spring, and Stuff (Astronomy: Week of 4/1/18)
As I write this, on 3/31/18, a Blue Moon is rising on the night before Easter Sunday. By convention (and agreement per the Council of Nicaea in the year 325), Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs after the Vernal Equinox - one of the few remaining holidays that…Read more Ah… Spring, and Stuff (Astronomy: Week of 4/1/18)
Spring Planets! (Astronomy: Week of 3/18/18)
I am writing this on St. Patrick's Day. Erin Go Bragh! And I'm casting a glance fairly frequently out the window these days, looking for green. Spring is coming - the vernal equinox actually occurs on the 20th this year (Tuesday) - just after noon (12:45pm EDT). Often confused with "the first day of Spring",…Read more Spring Planets! (Astronomy: Week of 3/18/18)
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 