This weekend, if you get an escape from cloudy winter weather and happen to have clear skies, you'll have the opportunity to see one of the best meteor showers of the year - the Geminids! What makes the Geminids so great? Well, a few things: 1) Gemini, the apparent radiant point for this shower, is…Read more Geminids!
Meteor
Perseid Meteor Shower – Difficult 2025
The Perseid meteor shower is typically a really good one, with up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak. But this year, we'll likely not see many of them. The apparent origin of the Perseids is the constellation Perseus (hence the name), which rises in the northeast around 10pm in early August. And while…Read more Perseid Meteor Shower – Difficult 2025
Spring Meteors – The Lyrids, Plus Morning Planets
I'm always a little hesitant to write about meteor showers, since you never know really how a particular event is going to shape up. Then again, since you never know, it's always worth an hour of my time to check things out. I still remember one December shower where the meteors were so thick and…Read more Spring Meteors – The Lyrids, Plus Morning Planets
Orionids (Astronomy: Week of 10/14/18)
I haven't generally had much luck writing about meteor showers. By which I mean that the showers I mention (so far!) have typically fizzled... On the flip side of that, I didn't mention the Draconids at all, because they're such a "minor" shower, but a couple weeks ago my wife and I saw 6 in…Read more Orionids (Astronomy: Week of 10/14/18)
The Moon, Mars, a Comet, and Maybe a Fireball (Astronomy: Week of 7/22/18)
Wow, there's a lot of cool stuff going on in the night sky this week. I can't wait til this pattern of East Coast thunderstorms lets me see it! Let me give a quick rundown, in the order of my own particular interest and excitement. Your mileage may vary. Mars at Opposition Mars is back,…Read more The Moon, Mars, a Comet, and Maybe a Fireball (Astronomy: Week of 7/22/18)
The Lyrids
I was reminiscing yesterday, and realized that time spent as a kid, laying out in the street with my dad searching for meteors, was probably what got me interested in astronomy. Seeing Saturn in a telescope definitely set the hook, but the bite came from meteor showers. More than stargazing, the meteor search was, for…Read more The Lyrids
Super-Everything to Kick Off 2018! (Astronomy: Week of 12/31/17)
OK, so... there might be a little bit of exaggeration in this title, but not much! Let's get to it! First off, we'll be ringing in the New Year with the year's first Supermoon, on New Year's Day! It's bigger, it's brighter! Because it's closer... the full Moon just happen to occur within a day…Read more Super-Everything to Kick Off 2018! (Astronomy: Week of 12/31/17)
The Geminids Are Here! (Astronomy: Week of 12/10/17)
It's time for one of the most reliable meteor showers of the year, the Geminids - and unlike last year's show (and the Perseids earlier this year), the Moon won't be around to spoil the party. In fact, the Moon is giving somewhat of an encore to early morning viewers, rising as a waning crescent…Read more The Geminids Are Here! (Astronomy: Week of 12/10/17)
The Moon! The Sun! The Meteors! (Astronomy: Week of 12/3/17)
Welcome to December, everybody! It's hard to believe it's already December, and that 2017 is almost over... but here we are. I'm posting my weekly backyard astronomy thoughts a day early this week, because I don't want you to miss the gloriously big, last (and only) Supermoon of the year, tonight, Dec 2. Now, the…Read more The Moon! The Sun! The Meteors! (Astronomy: Week of 12/3/17)
Planets and Meteors (Astronomy: Week of 11/12/17)
Last week I published a couple teasers on what were then "upcoming" events, so this week's highlights should be on your radar. I've been patiently waiting through a week of almost nonstop rain, so I'm looking forward to all this as well. First - the Leonid meteor shower is upon us. Unlike the last two…Read more Planets and Meteors (Astronomy: Week of 11/12/17)
An Astronomical Potpourri (Astronomy: Week of 11/5/17)
Hi, everybody. I hope you've been having a good week and that you survived the demonic onslaught of trick-or-treaters Tuesday night! I was scared out of my wits - but then again I was caught several times in the front yard looking at the Andromeda Galaxy when a couple costumed kids would sneak up on…Read more An Astronomical Potpourri (Astronomy: Week of 11/5/17)
Halloween (Astronomy: Week of 10/29/17)
It seems we are entering meteor season! The Orionids are winding down, but we have another shower peaking next weekend - the Southern Taurids are another wide, diffuse shower that lasts for weeks, peaking at 10-20 meteors per hour on November 4. Unfortunately, this peak coincides with a full Moon which will wash out the…Read more Halloween (Astronomy: Week of 10/29/17)
Uranus (Astronomy: Week of 10/22/17)
Before I get into the planetary stuff, I wanted to issue a reminder - the Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend, but this shower is not a moment in time. You should be able to see the Orionids over the next week or so, and you have the added benefit of being able to catch them…Read more Uranus (Astronomy: Week of 10/22/17)
Orionids (Astronomy: Week of 10/15/17)
I hope everyone is having a good week. I've been a bit busier than usual, and as far as the astronomer in me is concerned, weather hasn't cooperated - I haven't been able to capture any good photos of the Perseus Double Cluster like I planned. Rain and clouds all week, but I'm patient, and…Read more Orionids (Astronomy: Week of 10/15/17)
Alarming News (Astronomy: Week of 8/13/17)
I don't mean to cause a panic or otherwise worry anybody, but I've noticed something. For the past few mornings, I've been able to see the Sun coming up in the east, and the Moon setting towards the west - both in the same sky. Over the course of a few mornings, of course, the…Read more Alarming News (Astronomy: Week of 8/13/17)
Flying Squirrel Outdoors 