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Skywatching

National Interest
September's Full Moon Offers More Than One Night To Watch September's Full Moon Offers More Than One Night To Watch September's Full Moon Offers More Than One Night To Watch
September's Full Moon Offers More Than One Night To Watch One of autumn’s signature sky displays is approaching, and catching it will offer more flexibility than a single night outdoors. The Harvest Moon will rise in the east shortly after sunset on Saturday, Sept. 26, according to NASA’s September skywatching guide. Saturn will appear nearby, adding another easy-to-spot object to the evening sky. The moon reaches its full phase at 12:49 p.m. EDT that day, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. For viewers in the Northeast, the evening rise will offer a chance to see it. No need to limit plans to Saturday. The moon will appear nearly full on Frid…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Double Celestial Treat: Venus Meets Jupiter, Meteor Showers Follow Hours Later Double Celestial Treat: Venus Meets Jupiter, Meteor Showers Follow Hours Later Double Celestial Treat: Venus Meets Jupiter, Meteor Showers Follow Hours Later
Double Celestial Treat: Venus Meets Jupiter, Meteor Showers Follow Hours Later Skywatchers are in for a two-part cosmic spectacle: a rare Venus-Jupiter pairing followed by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.  Tuesday, Aug. 12 will dawn with brilliant Venus sidling up to mighty Jupiter in the eastern twilight, and by nightfall the year’s most dependable meteor show will be streaking overhead. The planetary rendezvous starts around 4 a.m. local time when Venus, the brightest beacon in the sky, slides to within less than one degree of Jupiter.  Hold a pinky finger at arm’s length and you will cover the gap. The duo rises higher through dawn and repeats almo…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Northern Lights Will Dance Across Half Of US: Here's When To Catch Them Northern Lights Will Dance Across Half Of US: Here's When To Catch Them Northern Lights Will Dance Across Half Of US: Here's When To Catch Them
Northern Lights Will Dance Across Half Of US: Here's When To Catch Them The Northern Lights are headed South.  Forecasters say more than half of the United States may witness the Aurora Borealis on Monday, June 2, thanks to a powerful solar eruption known as a coronal mass ejection. Satellites detected the massive solar flare on Friday, launching a colossal cloud of charged particles toward Earth, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The event is expected to trigger a strong geomagnetic storm, which will likely give the Northern half of the US a rare show. The aurora is usually reserved for skies near the North and South Poles, but solar e…

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by Josh Lanier
National Interest
Parade Of Planets: Rare Celestial Lineup Set To Dazzle Night Skies Parade Of Planets: Rare Celestial Lineup Set To Dazzle Night Skies Parade Of Planets: Rare Celestial Lineup Set To Dazzle Night Skies
Parade Of Planets: Rare Celestial Lineup Set To Dazzle Night Skies A rare celestial phenomenon is about to light up the heavens, offering skywatchers a chance to marvel at the dynamic beauty of our Solar System.  This February, a "Parade of Planets" will see all seven of Earth’s planetary neighbors align in a dazzling display. The main event occurs on Friday, Feb. 28, when Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars will appear in the night sky at the same time.  Stretching in a neat row along the ecliptic, this alignment promises to be a feast for the eyes, with bright Venus and Jupiter taking center stage while the fainter Neptu…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Full Wolf Moon To Eclipse Mars In Rare Lunar Event — Here’s When, How To Watch Full Wolf Moon To Eclipse Mars In Rare Lunar Event — Here’s When, How To Watch Full Wolf Moon To Eclipse Mars In Rare Lunar Event — Here’s When, How To Watch
Full Wolf Moon To Eclipse Mars In Rare Lunar Event — Here’s When, How To Watch Skywatchers are in for a rare treat as January’s Full Wolf Moon aligns with Mars in a celestial event called a lunar occultation.  On the evening of Monday, Jan. 13, the Moon will pass directly in front of Mars, temporarily hiding the planet from view in a stunning display visible across much of the world. When To Watch The Full Wolf Moon will reach peak fullness at 5:27 p.m. EST on Jan. 13. Shortly after, the occultation of Mars will begin. The exact timing of the event depends on your location: In the continental United States, most regions will see the occultation occur between 7 …

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Hundreds Across Multiple States Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Hundreds Across Multiple States Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Hundreds Across Multiple States
Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Hundreds Across Multiple States A bright fireball streaked across the East Coast on Monday, Nov. 11, catching the attention of hundreds of people from Connecticut to Virginia (did you see it? Send footage to [email protected]). The American Meteor Society reported that 236 people witnessed the fireball around 7:48 p.m., with sightings spanning 13 states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario, Canada (click here for the sightings map). Witnesses described the fireball as a striking light blue or green that illuminated the sky for four to seven seconds, moving diagonally from the upper right to the lower left. The eve…

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by Cecilia Levine