January 2024

January 22:  Jupiter sits amidst three binary stars in Cetus, Aries and Pisces. The nearly full Moon moves from Gemini to Leo.

January 15: See the Moon near Neptune, Jupiter and Elnath. Venus makes a very close pairing with Xi Ophiuchi. Globular star clusters M4, M9 and M80 shine in the morning sky.

January 8: The stars of Auriga with open star clusters M36, M37 and M38, the stars of Lynx with open cluster NGC 1502 and Lepus with globular cluster M79 help us think about geometry again and what stars we see in the night sky from any location.

January 1: Perihelion passage means we can appreciate growing evening daylight. The Moon is problematic but some Quadrantid meteors should be visible. The Moon makes a good pairing with Spica and a great grouping with Antares and Venus.

 

December 2023

December 25: The Moon has a series of close encounters with bright stars. Hop from Regulus to Alphard to the stars of Crater, including double star Gamma. Venus pairs with double star AcrabGraffias as the week winds down.

December 18: Seven nights of observing ideas, including open star clusters M46 & M47, globular star cluster M68, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, the Moon, Summer Triangle stars in winter, stars in Libra, Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper.

December 11: It should be a great year for the Geminid meteor shower. Find multiple star system Theta Aurigae and M44, the Beehive Cluster, in Cancer.

December 4: Hop from Aldebaran to Jupiter to beautiful galaxy M33. The waning crescent Moon moves through Virgo, passing very near Zavijiva, Porrima, Spica and Venus.

 

November 2023

November 27: After waxing to full last week the still bright Moon wanes this week, passing bright stars Pollux and Regulus and open star clusters M35 and M38. Venus is near Spica and the stars of Leo's sickle usher in the morning sky.

November 20: As the week progresses the Moon fills out, passing a series of stars and planets, including Saturn, Neptune Jupiter, Uranus and the Pleiades.

November 13: The Leonid meteor shower arrives this week. Venus has a nice pairing with Porrima in Virgo. Use Jupiter as a guide to stars in Aries and galaxy NGC 877.

November 6: Catch the Moon and Venus together in the morning sky of the 9th. Venus passes by Zaniah in Virgo. It's the best time of year to observe Local Group naked eye galaxies Andromeda and Triangulum.

 

October 2023

October 30: Venus now in Virgo makes a tight pair with Zavijava. See a 2/3 full Moon near Castor and Pollux. Saturn guides the way to Iota Aquarii, Deneb Algedi, Nashira, Fomalhaut and Diphda.

October 23: Venus continues passing near stars in Leo, very near 59 Leonis early week and near Sigma Leonis late week. As the Moon waxes toward full, see it below Saturn in the sky then above Jupiter, leading to our reflecting on orbital planes.

October 16: Venus continues marching through Leo. See the Moon near bright star Antares, and Nunki and globular star cluster M54 in Sagittarius. Globular star cluster M75 Saturn and stars Algedi and Dalbih in Capricorn are well placed for observing.

October 9: Venus, Regulus and the Moon form a great group Tuesday morning. Saturn guides the way to Aquarius with star clusters M2, M72 and M73. Planetary nebula NGC 7009 lies near M72 and M73.

October 2: Watch Venus slide from Omicron Leonis to Regulus. The Moon joins in late week after being near the Pleiades and Pollux. Use Jupiter to find stars in Cetus, including double star Gamma Ceti.

 

September 2023

September 18: Use Rasalhague, Altair and Vega to locate the keystone of Hercules, including tough binary star Zeta. Globular star clusters M13 and M92 make good observing targets. The Moon fills from 15% full to 75% and pairs with Antares.

September 11: Locate the stars of Andromeda, including Cepheid variable R. Galaxies M31 and M33 shine beautifully in the nearly moonless night sky.

September 4: A spectacular crescent Venus lies just south of open star cluster M67 in Cancer. The Moon is in the region on the morning of the 10th after having aligned with Jupiter, Uranus and the Pleiades earlier in the week.

 

August 2023

August 28: Catch Arcturus and stars of Virgo and Serpens, with globular star cluster M5 just after sunset. Saturn and Jupiter rise as the night wears on. The Pleiades star cluster in Taurus, and Orion have climbed well into the sky before sunrise.

August 21: Use Rasalhague to turn the Summer Triangle into the Summer Quadrilateral and then identify the other stars in Ophiuchus. The area is full of globular star clusters, including M9, M10, M12, M14, M19, M109 and NGC 6517. The Moon is near Antares on the 24th.

August 14: Catch a few final Perseid meteors. The young waxing Moon passes Mars, Porrima and Theta Virginis. Now is a great time to observe NGC 7000, the North America Nebula and double star Albireo in Cygnus, and M27, The Dumbbell Nebula, in Vulpecula.

August 7: It should be a great year for the Perseid meteor shower, peaking on the weekend. The week starts with the Moon passing Jupiter and Saturn's retrograde motion remains trackable against Sigma Aquarii.

 

July 2023

July 31: The nearly full moon passes Saturn midweek. Find the stars of Aquila, including bright Cepheid variable Eta Aquilae, with a sufficiently short period and large amplitude to make observing over a single week interesting.

July 24: See the Moon near Spica and then near Antares. Saturn rises before 11:00 pm. Jupiter guides the way to stars in the head of Cetus, including binary Gamma Ceti. Spiral galaxy M77 lies near Delta Ceti.

July 17: Find the Moon near star Zavijava and also near Regulus, Venus and Mars. Note Saturn above Fomalhaut. See open star clusters, globular star clusters and nebulae of different types.

July 10: After passing Jupiter, the Moon guides the way to Uranus. Open star clusters M29, M39, NGC 6811 and NGC 6819 sparkle in Cygnus.

July 3: The Moon scoots past Saturn. Mars has a close pairing with bright star Regulus. Venus guides the way to stars 18, 19, Omicron and Eta Leonis and interesting variable star R Leonis.

 

June 2023

June 26: The Moon waxes toward full. Mars and Venus sit near one another. Find interesting stars in Cygnus, including Albireo, Mu and Tau Cygni and 61 Cygni.

June 19: The Moon passes through as Venus closes a bit on Mars. Find the Eta, Iota, Sigma and Rho stars in Leo as well as spiral galaxies M95 & M96 and elliptical galaxy M105.

June 12: Venus passes the Beehive cluster. A thin crescent Moon pairs with Jupiter. Saturn starts retrograde motion. Star clusters M30, M72 and M73 make good observing targets in Capricorn.

June 5: Venus approaches Mars, each planet has close pairings with faint stars in Cancer. Open clusters M44 and M67 as well as multiple star systems Zeta and Iota Cancri lie near these planets. The waning Moon passes Saturn in the morning sky.

 

May 2023

May 29: As the waxing moon washes out the sky, stars in Scorpius and Sagittarius, including impressive multiple star systems, remain observable. Mars joins the stars of the Beehive Cluster.

May 22: Castor, Pollux, the Moon , Venus and Mars gather in a group in the west after sunset. The triangle tail of Leo guides us to galaxies M98 and M99, and asteroid Ceres along the way.

May 15: Venus passes near Mebsuta as it enters the heart of Gemini. Saturn is very near and pulling away from faint stars in Aquarius. The waning crescent Moon lies near Neptune to start the week. The triangle of Leo points the way to elliptical galaxy M49.

May 8: Venus pairs with open cluster M35 before closing on star Mebsuta. M44 and M48 are other fine open star clusters to observe. Spiral galaxy M51 is an observing challenge. Mars pairs with Kappa Geminorium and the Moon passes Saturn.

May 1: The waxing Moon passing through Virgo directs attention to the stars there, including binary Porrima and variables R and W Virginis. These last two not only provide fun observing challenges but offer the opportunity to consider how stars evolve.

 

April 2023

April 24: The Moon pairs with star cluster M35, Mars and Regulus. Globular star cluster M3 and galaxies M65 and M66 are good right now. Catch multiple star Lambda Orionis before it disappears for summer. Saturn climbs in the morning sky.

April 17: There's opportunity to see an old slender crescent Moon in the morning sky early week and a young slender crescent Moon in the evening sky late week. Saturn closes on star Sigma Auarii. The Moon pairs with Venus as Mars moves from Mebsuta toward Wasat in Gemini.

April 10: Corvus, Virgo and Leo are at their highest in the sky right now. Explore their stars, including a pair of fabulous binary systems. Find a couple of the many galaxies in the region, as well as a globular star cluster.

April 3: As the nearly full Moon tracks Leo to Virgo to Libra, Venus closes on the Pleiades star cluster while Mars approaches Mebsuta in Gemini. It's a good time to look at the color differences in bright stars Betelgeuse, Rigel, Castor and Pollux. Castor is a fine multiple star system for a small telescope.

 

March 2023

March 27: Mars moves past beautiful open star cluster M35 in Gemini. The Moon joins them early in the week. Venus, shining brightly in the evening sky, slips by Uranus. Keep watching in the weeks ahead and Venus will reach M35 as well.

March 20: A thin crescent Moon will slide past Venus on to the Pleiades, an open star cluster in Taurus. Continue on to find open star clusters M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga as well as the stars there, including binary star Theta. Appreciate beginning the night looking toward the galactic anti-center and ending it by looking toward the galactic center.

March 13: Venus has separated from Jupiter impressively in a week. It now serves as a guide to stars in Aries and interesting galaxies M74, M77 and M33. The Moon wanes away until a very old Moon finds Saturn in the glow of sunrise.

March 6: As Venus pulls away from Jupiter in the evening sky, the planets guide the way to stars in Pisces. The Moon tracks through Leo and Virgo passing Porrima and Spica.

 

February 2023

February 27: Jupiter and Venus, the two brightest planets, have a beautiful close pairing. The Moon passes near Mars, then bright star Pollux and bright star Regulus.

February 20: The thin crescent Moon, Jupiter and Venus form an tight group after sunset on the 22nd. As the Big Dipper climbs into the evening sky, it's a good time to explore binary stars, galaxies and the Owl Nebula there.

February 13: Venus makes a close pairing with Neptune. The waning crescent Moon works through Scorpius and Sagittarius. Globular star cluster M22 and M22 are good telescopic targets. The Big Dipper climbing into the evening sky heralds the arrival of spring.

February 6: It's a good week for watching things move in the sky. Venus closes on Jupiter. The comet in the news lately passes by Mars. The Moon has close pairings with stars Regulus, Porrima and Spica.

 

January 2023

January 30: Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus and Mars line up in the evening sky. The Moon grazes Mars on Monday night. Move from Jupiter to find stars in Cetus and Sculptor. We are gaining evening daylight ever more rapidly.

January 23: It's a great time of year to explore Cancer with the beautiful Beehive Cluster at its heart. Open cluster M67, variable star RT Cancri and multiple star Zeta Cancri are fine targets as well. The Moon makes nice pairings with Jupiter and Uranus this week.

January 16: Something to observe every night of the week! Zeta Piscium, galaxies in Leo, Orion Nebula, Venus/Saturn spectacular pairing, Jupiter, slender crescent Moon with Antares.

January 9: The Moon moving through Leo and Virgo offers a great opportunity to think about geometry in the solar system. Gemini and Taurus high in the night sky now, offer views of their stars and open star clusters. The Sun will be there in the summer when Sagittarius and Scorpius grace the night sky.

January 2: The nearly full Moon moves from Mars to Elnath to Castor and Pollux as the week progresses. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is on the meridian near midnight making this a great time to explore the stars of Canis Major and open star cluster M41.

 

December 2022

December 26: The Moon makes nice pairings with Saturn and Jupiter. Appreciate the long nights with views that span the seasons from Pegasus and the Andromeda Galaxy to the Orion Nebula and galaxies in Leo and Virgo with the Big Dipper high above the pole.

December 19: Saturn remains in the tail of Capricornus in the evening sky. One can ponder geometry while attempting a very thin crescent moon at sunrise on the 21st and Mercury at greatest elongation at sunset. At the solstice we are closer than average to the sun. As a result we start gaining evening daylight more and more rapidly, while still losing morning daylight. Now is a good time to observe the effect while picturing our hurtling through space around the Sun.

December 12: It's Geminid meteor time. The evening of the 13th is near peak but the evening of the 14th has a little less moonlight. The moon leaves its its occultation of Mars last week for an occultation of Porrima in Virgo this week. 

December 5: On the evening of December 7 the Moon occults Mars, something worth checking out. We can identify some of the nearby stars of Taurus and think about the geometry and dynamics of solar system and Galaxy as Mars is near opposition while we are looking toward the galactic anti-center.

 

November 2022

November 28: As Mars continues retrograding through Taurus, it can guide the way to supernova remnant the Crab Nebula, the remains of a massive star, and planetary nebula NGC 1514, the remains of a lower mass star. As always, the Hyades and Pleiades add sparkle to the region.

November 21: As night falls, Jupiter sits squarely between bright stars Diphda and Markab, guiding the way to fainter stars in Cetus and Pisces. Spiral galaxies NGC 7479, NGC 247 and NGC 253 can be located in small telescopes by hopping from nearby stars.

November 14: Catch a few Leonid meteors late week. The waning moon will be sliding through Leo, near Regulus on Thursday morning. Find some stars in Lynx and look for NGC 2419 the Intergalactic Wanderer globular star cluster.

November 7: A total lunar eclipse will be visible for many on the morning of November 8. As the bright moonlight dims, Uranus will be revealed very near the Moon and even nearer a neighboring star, visible in binoculars. Later in the week the Pleiades and Mars and makes an attractive grouping with Castor and Pollux.

 

October 2022

October 31: The Moon has pairings with Saturn and Jupiter this week. Saturn lies very near Iota Capricorni, a star that companions were discovered around earlier this year. It's a good time to identify other stars in Capricornus as well.

October 24: Mars makes a superb triangle with Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. As Mars enters retrograde motion we can reflect on how our understanding of the universe has grown. That reflection can be furthered while observing the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant very near Mars. Watch for the thin crescent Moon to appear just after sunset later in the week.

 

October 17: The Orionid meteor shower peaks this week, a good opportunity to reflect on random meteors versus meteors showers, with Halley serving as the parent comet for this shower. Near the radiant lie some lesser known stars in Orion and open star clusters NGC 2244 and NGC 2264 in sometimes overlooked Monoceros.

October 10: With Mars continuing to track through Taurus, now is a good time to observe the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. The Moon joins Mars on Friday night and Saturday morning, after it occults Uranus on the 11th/12th for some observers, a good chance to spy the planet for all observers.

October 3: As darkness falls northern hemisphere observers can enjoy Perseus following Cassiopeia into the evening skies. For those in North America October 7 offers a great chance to observe an eclipse of binary system Algol. As the week progresses, the Moon slides past Pluto, Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter.

 

September 2022

September 26: The stars of the southwestern edge of Pegasus lead to globular star cluster M15 and M2., as well as the stars of Aquarius, including binary Zeta and Cepheid variable Eta. Jupiter and Phi Aquarii guide the way to Neptune.

September 19: Plenty of observing options for the week. The Moon makes a nice pairing with bright star Pollux and then the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. While the motion of Mars through the Hyades becomes evident after a week or so of close observation, starting a long term observing project of Saturn now will reveal that planet's current subtle retrograde motion. Each evening starts with bright Jupiter below the rising great square of Pegasus heralding the arrival of autumn.

September 12: For observers at mid-northern latitudes the Summer Triangle is high overhead as darkness falls now. Cygnus offers good views of double stars, open star clusters and nebulae.

September 5: Those in North America get a chance to start the week by observing the Moon blot out star Tau Sagittari in the handle Sagittarius' teapot. Later in the week the Moon has good pairings with Saturn and Jupiter.

 

August 2022

August 29: As darkness arrives, find Saturn in Capricornus near stars Deneb Algedi and Nashira. Neptune was first observed very near here. Star clusters M30, M72 and M73 make fine targets. An hour later one can use Jupiter to locate stars in Pisces. Later still, find Mars shining between the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters in Taurus.

August 22: Now is a great time to find the stars of Scorpius and explore the region where Sagittarius and Scorpius meet, more or less directly toward our galactic center. Beautiful, glittering open star clusters abound in this region.

August 15: Think about geometry as you see the Moon pass just below Jupiter to start the week and just above Mars 4 days later. Compare the color of Mars to nearby red stars Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. Observe open star clusters the Pleiades, the Double Cluster and M34.

August 8: When there is too much Moon to observe much else, be grateful when the Moon interesting pairings and surroundings. This week find it amidst the stars of the teapot asterism in Sagittarius, then near Saturn and finally near Jupiter.

August 1: Watch the moon pass very near bright stars Porrima and Antares. Observe a few pre-peak Perseid meteors and check out the beautiful Double Cluster in Perseus while you do so.

 

July 2022

July 25: Learn the stars of the teapot asterism in Sagittarius, identifying the region that has the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Consider how we first used globular star clusters to determine the distance to our Galaxy's center as you observe globular star clusters M70, M54 and M22 in Sagittarius.

July 18: Monday night into Tuesday morning the Moon is near Jupiter for a beautiful showing. Two days later the Moon makes has a similar pairing with Mars. On the day in between it is near binary star Alrescha in Pisces. Find that star and Eta Piscium when the moon is near as a guide. Return a few days later when the moon has moved on to observe face-on spiral galaxy M74.

July 11: Begin the week on the night of the 10th/morning of the 11th by finding the 90% full Moon near bright star Antares in Scorpius. While there enjoy beautiful double star Graffias. On the night of the 15th into the morning of the 16th the Moon (once again about 90% full after having passed through full) passes near Saturn. Give another look to the line of planets in the morning sky and note Aldebaran climbing onto the pre-dawn sky even though it is still mid-July!

July 4: We return to Aquila this week to observe an open star cluster, a globular star cluster and a galaxy, along with beautiful star Deneb al Okab Borealis.

 

June 2022

June 27: The Summer Triangle is climbing into the sky as it gets dark now. Identify the bright stars of Aquila and work at locating three variable stars there - an eclipsing binary, a Mira and a Cepheid.

June 20: The planets have been putting on a fine show for months but this week may be the best as the waning moon makes beautiful pairings with Jupiter, Mars and Venus while passing through the area.

June 13: The Moon passes through full during the week, beginning near bright orange Antares and making a beautiful pairing with Saturn later in the week. Mornings are still about planets, although they are spreading a bit. Watch the space between Mars and Jupiter grow in the coming weeks.

June 6: We return to thinking geometrically about the night sky this week, identifying objects that are the same distance south of the zenith as Polaris is north of the zenith for northern hemisphere observers. The reflection leads us to Porrima in Virgo, the Moon late week and star Yed Prior in Ophiuchus as well as globular star clusters M10, 12 and M14.

 

May 2022

May 30: We talk comets and meteor showers, and predictability and unpredictability in astronomical observing, all in conjunction with the possible Tau Herculid meteor shower May 30 into May 31.

May 23: Looking at the joys of exploring objects that pass near the zenith over the course of a single night. For me, this week that includes spiral galaxy M63 in Canes Venatici, binary star 44 Boötis and globular star cluster M92 in Hercules.

May 16: Explore the region near the north celestial pole as the Big Dipper hangs high in the evening sky over the pole for northern observers. Find Polaris and stars in Draco as well as galaxies in Ursa Major.

May 9: Prepare for the total lunar eclipse on May 15 by tracking the moon through Leo and Virgo on into Libra. As the sky goes dark with the eclipse locate the three brightest stars of Libra north of the moon.

May 2: Return to observe the planets still adorning the morning sky. The Eta Aquariid meteor shower with its radiant near Mars should produce meteors to observe all week. Very near star Eta Aquarii lies Zeta Aquarii, a fine double star.

 

April 2022

April 25: The crescent Moon joins the spectacular display of planets in the morning sky this week. Find stars of Pisces, Aquarius and Pegasus nearby.

April 18: Venus, Mars and Saturn continue their fine display in the morning sky. By week's end try to pull Jupiter from the pre-sunrise glow as it joins them. Also, look for Lyrid meteors, using the opportunity to observe the stars of Lyra as well as globular star cluster M56 and the Ring Nebula M57.

April 11: The waxing Moon moves through Leo into Virgo, passing near bright stars Regulus and Spica. Check out double stars Algieba in Leo and Mizar in the Big Dipper. Familiarize yourself with the stars of Boötes and Corona Borealis.

April 4: Watch Mars move relative to Saturn in the morning sky as the week progresses. The Moon slips past Castor and Pollux later in the week. Use the stars of Leo to help identify the constellation Lynx and search out the Milky Way's most distant globular star cluster.

 

March 2022

March 28: Heading into spring, enjoy a late look at the bright stars of winter, appreciating that both Sirius and Procyon have white dwarf companions. In Canis Major double star Adhara and open star clusters M41 and M50 provide fine views for small telescopes.

March 21: Observe globular star clusters M4 and M80 along with the stars of the head of Scorpius, paying particular attention to fine double star Graffias. The moon will be in the area, just above Antares, after midnight on the night of 22/23. Five days later, before sunrise on the 28th, the thin crescent moon will join Mars, Venus and Saturn. That will be a sight worth getting up early to see.

March14: Observe binary stars in Boötes and think about the long history of these stars contributing to our understanding of stellar structure and evolution.

March 7: Watch the close pairing of Venus and Mars in the morning sky. Explore the constellation Cancer, with open star clusters M44 and M67 and multiple star system Zeta Cancri.

 

February 2022

February 28: On Monday morning observe a thin crescent moon with multiple planets in the morning sky. Then on Friday evening see a similarly thin crescent moon near sunset. In between these appearances of the moon enjoy double stars, globular star cluster M79 and faint galaxies in Lepus.

February 21: The waning moon moves from Virgo to Sagittarius, passing bright stars along the way. On the morning of the 22nd the moon will cover up Zubenelgenubi, a pretty bright star in Libra. If you live in the middle to western Americas, you have a chance to see it. If not, then the moon and star will still make an outstanding pair to observe. Use the opportunity to learn the stars of Libra.

February 14: Observe the nearly full moon in Leo near bright Regulus from the evening of the 15 through early morning of the 17th. Identify the bright stars of Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Perseus and Andromeda, pausing to enjoy the Double Cluster, the Crab Nebula and the Little Dumbbell Nebula, maybe later in the week and the week after when the moon is interfering less.

February 7: Try to find Mercury in the morning sky. Track the moon as it passes between the Hyades and Pleiades open star clusters in Taurus, before moving through Gemini, passing close by open star cluster M35 before making a nice alignment with Castor and Pollux.

 

January 2022

January 31: The for sure don't miss event of the week is a slender crescent moon near Jupiter on Wednesday evening. Then, take a bit of time to explore the stars and star clusters of Auriga.

January 24: Track the moon from near Antares in Scorpius on Thursday morning to near Mars in Sagittarius Saturday morning. Venus climbs toward Mars as well. Find Kaus Borealis in the lid of the teapot of Sagittarius and use binoculars to search for open star clusters in the region.

January 17: See Venus, Mars and Scorpius in the morning sky with the stars of Canis Major and open star cluster M41 in the evening sky.

January 10: Keep tracking Mars in the morning sky and get prepared for Venus to follow. Jupiter and Saturn are sinking lower in the evening sky. Catch them now before they, too, join Mars and Venus in the morning sky as the year wears on. The moon passes by the Pleiades and Aldebaran this week. Check out open star clusters M35, M36, M37 and M38.

January 3: Watch the moon near Jupiter and Saturn on the evenings of the 4th and 5th. Try to dig Mars, near Antares, out of the morning glow of the sun and use that apparent string of Jupiter to Saturn to Venus to Sun to Mars to envision the flattened plane nature of the solar system. Think about the elliptical nature of our orbit as we are at closest approach to the sun this week.

 

December 2021

December 27: Check out the string of bright Jupiter, Saturn and Venus in the evening sky. See Arcturus and Spica in the morning sky, with the moon near Spica on the morning of the 28th. Try to split binary star Porrima in Virgo.

December 20: Paying close attention now will allow you to track sunset times getting later each day (if you live in the northern hemisphere). Follow the moon as it passes close by bright stars in Gemini and Leo.

December 13: Don't miss the Geminid meteor shower on the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th. Then use that as an excuse to observe Gemini the rest of the week.

December 6: This is an observing week not to miss. Each night from the 6th through the 8th, the waxing crescent moon is near one or more of bright Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. It's a great time to see the Summer Triangle in the evening sky. Then watch as parts appear again in the morning sky.

 

November 2021

November 29: Now through early spring, Orion is well-placed for observing. Observe the stars of this bright constellation, as well as faint star clusters and bits of nebulosity beyond the famous star birth region that marks Orion's sword.

November 22: It's Thanksgiving week in the United States, so observe the outlines of 3 stellar cornucopias in the sky: Capricornus, Pisces and Andromeda. Enjoy the planetary, stellar and galactic treasures they hold. Jupiter is still sliding by Deneb Algedi. Great double stars can be seen as well as interesting galaxies.

November 15: Try observing a few Leonid meteors after the moon has set on the mornings of the 16th and 17th. The moon is very near Uranus on the evening of the 17th; use a small telescope to see if you can find the planet. Use the moon to identify identify the star Menkar in Cetus. For the Americas, there's a partial lunar eclipse on the morning of the 19th. It's a busy observing week.

November 8: Last week we talked about watching Jupiter and Saturn move against the background stars. Add Venus this week, as it races through Sagittarius. Don't miss the moon near Jupiter and Saturn on the 10th and 11th.

November 1: Jupiter and Saturn still shine brightly in the evening sky. November is a great month to mark their eastward motion against the stars of Capricornus. Globular star clusters M2 and M30, and double star Beta Capricorni are interesting objects in the area.

 

October 2021

October 25: Follow the waning moon from Taurus through Gemini to Cancer as the week progresses. Check out the Beehive Cluster and Crab Nebula later in the week when the moon is less bright.

October 18: Don't let the bright moon deter you from searching out a few Orionid meteors, perhaps before peak when the moon is farther from the radiant.

October 11: See Pegasus and Andromeda in the evening and Leo in the morning, constellations we often associate with opposite times of the year. Check out the gamma star in each constellation and galaxies M31 and M33. Don't miss the moon near Jupiter on the evening of the 14th.

October 4: Look for bright stars Fomalhaut and Altair while using Jupiter and Saturn to find fainter stars in Capricorn. Check out star clusters M72 and M73 in the region.

 

September 2021

September 27: It's a great time of year to explore the constellation Lyra. Start at bright star Vega to identify stars of the constellation & find double stars, a variable star, a famous planetary nebula and a good globular cluster.

September 20: Identify stars Diphda and Fomalhaut with the moon nearby early in the week. As the moon wanes think about how solar system geometry is tied to moon rising and setting times as well as phase. Late in the week the waning moon is near the Hyades and Pleiades open star clusters in Taurus.

September 13: Find the stars of Cassiopeia and Perseus. Watch eclipsing binary Algol coming out of eclipse on the evening of September 15 if you are in North America.

September 6: Follow the arc from Jupiter to Saturn to Venus, using your geometrical imagination to envision the flattened plane of the solar system. Use that arc to find bright stars Antares, Altair and Vega.

 

August 2021

August 30: See iconic stars of summer in Sagittarius and Scorpius just after sunset. See iconic stars of winter in Orion, Taurus and Auriga just before sunrise. Challenge yourself to see, and identify, a few Aurigid meteors.

August 23: Identify the stars of Sagittarius along with several bright open star clusters as the region lies about midway between Saturn and bright star Antares.

August 16: As the moon waxes toward full this week and tracks eastward against the background stars it has nice pairings with bright star Antares, Saturn and Jupiter.

August 9: It's Perseid meteor shower week! This year looks to be a good one with only a little moon interference. Getting out whenever it is dark and clear from the 11th through the 14th should be rewarded with meteors.

August 2: Use bright star Antares to locate a series of fainter stars and globular star clusters in Scorpius.

 

July 2021

July 26: We have Jupiter, Saturn and a meteor shower in the sky after midnight each night this week.

July 19: With the stars of the Summer Triangle high overhead for observers at mid-northern latitudes near midnight, now is a good time to start tracking them into autumn. I recommend checking out beautiful double star Albireo. The moon is relatively nearby midweek

July 12: It will be worth the effort to watch Venus and Mars all week, with the pair particularly near one another on the 12th and 13th, as the slender crescent moon passes by.

July 5: Now is a great time to identify the stars of Scorpius and Sagittarius and observe open star clusters M6 and M7 near the border between the two constellations.

 

June 2021

June 28: Visit the stars of Virgo before they become hard to observe as we slip into summer. Look for galaxies in the region but pay special attention to binary star Porrima. I recommend starting a multi-decade Porrima observing project because what could be more fun?

June 21: Observe the moon near Antares, the bright orange star in Scorpius. Use Antares to locate other stars in Scorpius and then see the moon near Saturn.

June 14: Watch Venus climb higher in the evening sky over the next several weeks as it heads toward a meeting with Mars in July.

June 7: Use the stars of the Summer Triangle to find star Rasalhague in Ophiuchus and the constellation Hercules with its spectacular globular cluster M13.

 

May 2021

May 31: Wait, what? Another video about the stars in Leo? Yes! This week we use the stars in the tail - Denebola, Zosma and Chertan - to locate galaxies M65 and M66.

May 24: An introduction to the bright stars of Leo - Regulus, Denebola and Algieba, along with a discussion of astronomical seeing and angular resolution.

May 17: We have been spending time looking at the stars of the evening spring sky over the past month. This week watch the moon move past the stars of Leo and Virgo - a new close pairing every night!

May 10: Return to the Arcturus to Spica region and use those bright stars to locate Serpens and globular cluster M5.

May 3: Another meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids should have meteors visible all week. Use it as an excuse to let Saturn and Jupiter point you in the direction of Aquarius.

 

April 2021

April 26: Draw a line from bright star Arcturus to Denebola in Leo and use that line to find globular clusters and galaxies.

April 19: You can watch the Lyrid meteor shower next week. Before that you can watch me urge you to watch the Lyrid meteor shower next week and to think about where those meteors are coming from.

April 12: Familiarize yourself with the bright stars of spring - Arcturus, Spica and Regulus - over the next few weeks and throw in the constellation Corvus for good measure. After that we can return to find distant galaxies in this region.

April 5: The Big Dipper climbing higher into the evening sky as it tells us spring has arrived. Watch roll around until morning when it points back down toward the ground.

 

March 2021

March 29: Back at the beginning of the month we tried hard to dig Saturn and Jupiter out of the glow of the sun. Now they are easy to spot in the morning sky and they point the way to Sagittarius and the center of the Milky Way. It's a reminder of how they sky is a constant for us and yet ever-changing.

March 22: Here, I suggest you return to observe the bright stars Castor, Pollux and Regulus as the moon passes through this week, making the stars of the region easier to locate. Don't be shocked that someone who has imaged the same small patch of sky every clear night for nearly two decades suggests spending two consecutive weeks to get familiar with a particular region of sky.

March 15: Observe the bright stars Castor, Pollux and Regulus with the fainter stars of Cancer and open star clusters M44 and M67 between Pollux and Regulus

March 8: As winter fades into spring, observe the stars of Lepus and Canis Major, and open star clusters M46 and M47.

March 1: Jupiter and Mercury will be in conjunction this week. If the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction was hard to see last December, this one is incredibly tough but still fun to try and good to watch this part of the morning sky for the next several weeks.

 

February 2021

Week of February 22: As we turn toward spring, check out the bright stars of winter with the nearly full moon moving through them.

Week of February 15: Watch the moon slide past Mars, then the Pleiades. Use these to find variable star Mira.

Week of February 8: Mars is racing away from its conjunction with Uranus 3 weeks ago, closing on the Pleiades star cluster over the next few weeks. Start watching now!

Week of February 1: After suggesting you turn your attention away from the Summer Triangle last week, I recommend turning it back this week. See it, Cassiopeia and Scorpius in the morning sky.

 

January 2021

Week of January 25: Turn your attention from the Summer Triangle of stars to what I am promoting as the "Winter Triangle" of fuzzy objects - the Double Cluster of stars in Perseus and galaxies M31 and M33.

Week of January 18: Forget about the "great" conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn last month while you watch the "really quite nice" conjunction of Mars and Uranus unfold.

Week of January 11: Use clear evenings ahead to watch Orion getting higher in the sky as we progress through January. Pay special attention to bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse.

Week of January 4: Think about planetary orbits as you watch Venus sink lower in the morning sky, awaiting Jupiter and Saturn's morning arrival a little later in the year.

 

December 2020

Week of December 28: Watch sunset get markedly later over the next few weeks and think about our annual closest approach to the sun.

Week of December 21: Here in the darkest part of winter I recommend returning to the stars of the Summer Triangle and using them to think a little about geometry.

Week of December 14: Get Ready for the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn over the next week. They're a bit easier to see now and the moon adds interest.

Week of December 7: Watch the Geminid meteor shower, peaking overnight from the 13th into the 14th.

 

November 2020

Week of November 30: Observe the stars of Andromeda and Perseus and make the most of two chances this week to see eclipsing binary star system Algol reach minimum light.

Week of November 23: Follow the moon past Pisces and Cetus next week, guiding you to the historically important galaxy M77.

Week of November 16: Observe two globular star clusters, one in Pegasus and one in Aquarius.

Week of November 9: Find the constellation Lepus and the interloping globular star cluster M79.

Week of November 2: The stars of Taurus, with the moon very near bright star Aldebaran.

 

October 2020

Week of October 26: Observing the Great Square of Pegasus, Andromeda with the the Andromeda Galaxy, Mars and the moon.

Week of October 19: Envisioning the flattened disk of the solar system looking at the string of planets across the sky.

Week of October 12: Properties of the Summer Triangle stars.

Week of October 5: Returning to Venus in the morning sky as it moves very near the bright star Regulus in Leo.

 

September 2020

Week of September 28: Thinking about how scattering of light makes stars, the moon and planets both dimmer and redder and how the same process allows us to see the daytime sky and makes it blue.

Week of September 21: Stars appearing further west in the sky at the same time on later dates

Week of September 14: A first look at the stars in the Summer Triangle

Week of September 7: Venus and Orion in the morning sky

 

August 2020

Week of August 31: Observing open star clusters in Cassiopeia

Week of August 24: The moon slides past Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn as it heads from Sagittarius into Capricornus