Skywatching | Universe Today

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! If you're a die-hard amateur astronomer, then you'll recognize this as one of the prime times to undergo the rigorous "Messier Marathon" – an all night race to see how many Messier objects you can capture! If you need a bit of assistance, be sure to visit the Guide To Space section of Universe Today where you'll find plenty of information to help you along with your quest. If you're into a more quiet weekend, then come along as we discover some galactic star clusters that are a little bit more off the beaten path. Whenever you're ready, I'll see you in the backyard… Read more…

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You should always put out the old dinner set when you have astronomers around. It all starts innocently enough with imagine this wineglass is the Earth rotating on its axis… But then someone decides that large plate is just right to show the orientation of an orbital plane and more wine glasses are brought to bear to test a solution to the three body problem and… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! What better way to celebrate a snow-bound weekend than by having a look at the "Eskimo"! While we're at it, we'll take a look at an awesome open cluster suitable for all optics and take an adventure towards one of the best supernovae remnants in the night sky. Along the way, we'll explore some of the history and mystery behind these objects, so dust off your optics and I'll see you in the backyard…. Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! I don't know about everyone else, but most observations here have been of the big M0. Clouds, clouds and more clouds! Perhaps we're really in a nebula? However, for those fortunate few that do have clear skies, let's take a look at what's happening on the lunar surface each night. And, since we've got to deal with a little "Moonlight Sonata", we'll also inspect some bright stars and alternative catalog studies to add to your knowledge and pleasure of the night sky! Whenever you are ready, dust off your optics and I'll meet see you in the backyard…. Read more…

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Awake during the wee hours of the morning? Try heading outdoors for awhile to watch for the "guess-timated" peak of the Coma Berenicid meteor shower on the morning of January 19. It might not be the most prolific meteor shower on record and this might not be the perfect peak, but this year's presence is making headlines! Read more…

Filed under: Meteor Showers, Skywatching | 3 Comments »

Image courtesy of K. Itagaki

Are you ready for some excitement that won't take an observatory telescope to spot? Then get out your binoculars, because according to CBET 2128 there's a new object showing its stuff off in the constellation Ophiuchus… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! It's a dark weekend and time to get out and rock the night… If you're up to the challenge, one of the finest and most exciting objects we'll study here isn't a Messier… it's a comet. And not just any comet – but one that fits right into this time frame in history! Not up to hunting a moving object? Then we'll take a look at two objects that could resemble comets and not only present a challenge, but add to the fun! Whenever you're ready, dust your optics off and I'll see you in the backyard…. Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! While the skies don't change a whole lot from year to year, how you approach astronomy and what you can do with your "astronomy time" certainly does! We begin the weekend with a variable star and a great galaxy. Ready for more? Then why not tackle an historic learning project with Mars? No scope or binoculars? No problem. There's still lots of cool things you can do when you know where to look! Whenever you're ready, I'll see you in the backyard…. Read more…

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Crescent Moon and Venus - Danilo Pivato

Greetings, fellow Stargazers! Were you up early this morning? If so, you were greeted by an awesome scene, much like this one captured by Danilo Pivato. There's nothing more eyecatching the a close appearance of Venus and the Moon! With dark skies this weekend, it will be a good opportunity to broaden your astronomical horizons by chasing lesser known objects in both binoculars and telescopes. Of course there are challenges, too! Whenever you're ready, I'll see you in the back yard…. Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! It's a much darker weekend – and just in time for the Draconid Meteor Shower! If you haven't been watching the early morning trio of Venus, Mercury and Saturn, there's still time… Just as there is time to chase a couple of Caldwell Objects and a very challenging galaxy study for more practiced observers. But we're not forgetting small scopes and binoculars either as we take a look at "What was Charles Messier thinking when he recorded M73?" It's time to turn your eyes to the skies and I'll see you in the dark… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Are you ready to catch the planetary action? Then get thee out into the night, because right now is the perfect time of year to catch all of our solar system bodies in the same day! Be sure to be out on Saturday night, too… Because it's "Harvest Moon"! Need a little bit more of a challenge? Then fly off to Cygnus as we take a look at two of its most beautiful (and challenging) double stars! Whenever you're ready, I'll see you in the dark… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! It's an awesome weekend forecast for many of us attending Fall Star Parties, and all over the world we're looking forward to moonless nights and the fellowship with our brother and sister amateur astronomers. If you've never been to a star party, try the Goggle pages for information… you just might find one going on near you! In the meantime, let's have us a "Snowball" fight, chase some galaxies and ponder double stars! I'll see you in the night… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Ah, yes… Full Moon. Are you ready to howl? If you didn't get a chance to watch the galiean moons do their dance last weekend, then be sure to catch the awesome video you'll find inside! In the meantime, keep your ears alert for the rise of tonight's "Full Corn Moon" and check out the Omicron gems. As the skies get darker, the Herschel challenges warm up – so dust off your optics and I'll see you in the backyard… Read more…

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Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Are you ready for a little lunacy this weekend? Yes, it's back – but there is no other distant world whose features we can study quite so clearly and as well as the Earth's companion – the Moon. If it's been awhile since you turned a telescope or binoculars its way, why not spend an evening or two enjoying some of its features before it becomes overwhelmingly bright? There are other bright objects we often take for granted as well, too… Such as colorful and challenging double stars. If that's not enough for you – then keep your eyes wide open – because some very cool things are about to happen with Jupiter's moons! Time to dust off your optics and I'll see you in the backyard… Read more…

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July 22, 2009 Solar Eclipse Image Submitted By Bill Fish

The total solar eclipse which just occured on the 22nd of July 2009 was the longest in terms of maximum totality duration of the 21st century – lasting over six and a half minutes. Not since Saros 1991 have astronomers and eclipse chasers been treated to such a length of time! The eclipse footprint started in India along the western shore near Surat moved towards Butan and reached the southern tip of Nepal and the northern edge of Bangladesh. For other lucky astronomers, the eclipse path also took the event over the Chinese cities of Chengdu, Suining, Chonging, Wuhan, Xiaogan, Hangzhou, and Shanghai – yielding five minutes of totality. Leaving Shanghai the shadow raced across the ocean to fall across islands such as Toshima and Akusaki south of Japan and eventually the Marshall islands. Where did the longest time occur? The maximum eclipse duration of 6 minutes and 43 seconds was far off the coast in the Pacific Ocean! As I write this announcement, our readers are sending in their photos and stories to my home email (send them!!) and I just couldn't wait to show you some of the beginning results. It will take a short time to do a little translation work… But it's a small, wonderful world and this article will be updated very soon!

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