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Tales of Two Asteroid Occultations: Io, Nemausa Cast Shadows Over North America

24 Aug , 2016 by David Dickinson

Up for a challenge? Over the next two weekends, two asteroid occultations pass over North America. These are both occulting (passing in front of) +7th magnitude stars, easy targets for even binoculars or a small telescope. These events both have a probability score of 99-100%, meaning the paths are known to a high degree of accuracy. These are also two of the more high profile asteroid occultations for 2016.

Images of Today’s Transit of Mercury From Around the World

9 May , 2016 by David Dickinson

Amazing reader images of today’s transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun from around the world.

An Old Glass Plate Hints at a Potential New Exoplanet Discovery

28 Apr , 2016 by David Dickinson

How astronomers found an potentially new and exciting exoplanetary system lurking on a glass plate stored away for nearly a century.

Into the Red: Our Complete Guide to Mars Opposition 2016

27 Apr , 2016 by David Dickinson

The time to observe Mars is now, as the Red Planet heads towards a favorable opposition in May 2016. Here’s our complete guide to all things Martian, including observing, imaging and more.

April Lunacy: Getting Ready for the Full ‘Mini-Moon’

19 Apr , 2016 by David Dickinson

Why this week’s Full Moon is the smallest of 2016. It’s Mini-Moon season!

Prelude to Transit: Catching Mercury Under Dusk Skies

12 Apr , 2016 by David Dickinson

One of the best dusk apparitions of the planet Mercury occurs this weekend… this event also sets us up for a very special event next month: a transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun.

Teasing the Galactic Ghoul, Past and Present

27 Mar , 2016 by David Dickinson

The close call experienced by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is only one of the most recent brushes with catastrophe that spaceflight has experienced en route to Mars.

A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Leads the Way to Easter Weekend

22 Mar , 2016 by David Dickinson

The first Full Moon after the vernal equinox not only sets us up for Easter this weekend, but features an extra treat: a penumbral lunar eclipse.

Comet Craziness: 252P LINEAR Brightens, and a Close Pass for BA14 PanSTARRS

17 Mar , 2016 by David Dickinson

This week presents observational astronomers with two surprise treats, as Comet 252P/LINEAR brightens and heads north, and the second closest passage of a comet to the Earth occurs on March 21st.

Standing in the Shadow: Amazing Images of Today’s Total Solar Eclipse

9 Mar , 2016 by David Dickinson

Reader images for today’s amazing total solar eclipse from across the Pacific: the only total solar eclipse in 2016, and the last one prior to the return of totality to the United States on August 21st, 2017.

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