Category: Eye on the Sky | Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium's Blog

October Astronomy

Posted: September 28, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

October nights lengthen, welcoming a great view of the Milky Way arched from southwest to northeast, its subtle beauty anchored by the Summer Triangle in the southwest, and the rising star Capella in the northeast. The Draconid Meteor shower peaks near the 9th, while the Orionid Meteor shower peaks near… Read More

August Weather

Posted: July 31, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Weather

Even as the summer becomes more entrenched over the region, the signs are there that summer’s glory will not last much longer. Is that a reason to dampen summer plans? Hardly! In so many ways there is a full half of summer yet to go, with temperatures averaging as warm… Read More

August Astronomy

Posted: July 31, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Four planets span the evening skies—Venus low in the west, Jupiter higher in the southwest, Saturn above the “teapot” in Sagittarius in the south, and the fiery Mars in the southeast. The annual Perseid Meteor Shower brings us shooting stars from the 11th to the 14th, with the New Moon… Read More

July Astronomy

Posted: June 28, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Evenings arrive late, though the days do get a little shorter. The southern skies are busy this month, with the red star Antares marking the “heart” of the Scorpion, with claws stretching to the west, and its tail right along the horizon. To its left is Saturn, just above the… Read More

Saint J. Subaru Stargazing Party (Weather Looking Good!)

Posted: June 26, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Museum News, Planetarium News, Programs and Events

We are go for today’s event, the weather is looking good! An RSVP is NOT required to attend this event. Please navigate to fairbanksmuseum.org/stargazingparty for up to date information. We like to think big here at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium and August 10th, 2018 is no exception. On that… Read More

June Weather

Posted: May 30, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Weather

I find it curious how June is romanticized, as though it had some exemption to the usual chaos that characterizes our weather. Like much we find in legend and lore, a single, ideal day becomes memory, and then blends into expectation, and finally blossoms into reputation. June is certainly capable… Read More

May Weather

Posted: April 25, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Weather

True spring weather can be found in the merry month of May, though it can frequently be wedged between a frosty, or even snowy reminder of the winter past, and a generously warm preview of summer. As the storm track retreats north into Canada, our weather is punctuated by weather… Read More

April Astronomy

Posted: March 29, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Planetarium News, StarGazing

April starts with Venus climbing higher in the west, not setting until 2 hours after sunset by month’s end. Jupiter also rises earlier each night, close to sunset at the close of the month. Saturn and Mars, low in the southeast before the morning twilight, enjoy a close encounter as… Read More

April Weather

Posted: March 29, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Weather

Spring in April is like a new-born lamb, just getting to its wobbly legs – one moment bouncing, and the next tumbling and tripping. The strengthening sun will bounce temperatures into the 60s or 70s. In a few rare years, thermometers have leapt to 90 degrees. However, one sharp cold… Read More

March Weather

Posted: March 1, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Skywatch Almanac Weather, Uncategorized

Most of us do not care for transitions, though there are tempting moments of excitement and hope. Yet the changes often blind-side us, upsetting the routines that bring us comfort and security. March’s transitions are volatile, unreliable, so that even the tradition of maple sugaring is at the mercy of… Read More