Skywatching: January 29-February 1 All the naked-eye planets are visible in the morning sky before sunrise. You have probably heard the news reports about being able to see five planets at once. This doesn’t happen very often, but it also is not some kind of weird cosmic alignment. It just means that if you were to… Read More The Time Is Now for Seeing 5 Planets At Once
Spica, Mars, Saturn, and More Look to the southwest after sunset over the next few nights and you will find a parade of planets and stars. Spica, Mars, and Saturn form a diagonal line in the southwest after sunset this week. (Screen capture of Star Walk for iOS) Farthest west and lowest is the blue-white… Read More Skywatching: August 6-7
Mars Speeds Past Spica This weekend, try and observe Mars as it passes near the bright star Spica. Notice too the color difference: Mars is a bright orange-red planet and Spica is a blue, twinkling star. If you have been watching Mars this summer, you have seen it get closer and closer to Spica. This Saturday,… Read More Skywatching This Weekend: July 11-14
Moon, Mars, and Spica On this Fourth of July weekend, many will be looking to the skies for fireworks displays. On Saturday, July 5, you can also see a close grouping of three easily seen celestial objects: the first quarter Moon, the planet Mars, and the star Spica. By about 9:30 pm CDT or so,… Read More Meeting of Three on the Three-day Weekend
Arcturus The third brightest star in our countdown is ARCTURUS, the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, the herdsman. Arcturus is easy to find and is the brightest star visible in the summer months. You may know the phrase, “Follow the arc to Arcturus.” The arc of the phrase is the curving handle of the… Read More Brightest Stars Visible From Chicago: #3
Planet Quartet Over the next few days, four out of the five naked-eye planets are visible in the evening sky. Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are easy to find; Mercury is a bit of a challenge. Venus, the fifth naked-eye planet, is visible in the morning sky. Shortly after sunset, look to the west to find brilliant Jupiter.… Read More Skywatching: May 29-30
