Category: Planetarium News | Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium's Blog

July Astronomy

Posted: July 1, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, What's Happening

The southern skies are busy this month, with the red star Antares marking the “heart” of the Scorpion, its claws stretching to the west, and its tail along the horizon. To its left, crossing the “river of light” known as the Milky Way, is the “teapot” in Sagittarius, while farther… Read More

June Astronomy

Posted: June 1, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Our shortest nights of the year in June still feature some great star gazing, with the Summer Triangle rising in the east – Vega, highest and brightest in the northeast, Deneb nearer the horizon, and Altair to their right, all three within the Milky Way, returning in the eastern skies,… Read More

May Astronomy

Posted: May 1, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

As May welcomes the return of some of the brighter summer stars, including Vega in the northeast, and Antares in the southeast, we watch the rapid descent of Venus, well-placed in the west during the first week, but fading in the Sun’s glare by Memorial Day. On its way, it… Read More

April Astronomy

Posted: March 30, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

April starts with Orion and his companions the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, standing on the western horizon to start, sinking lower through the month. The Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo, the Lion champions the southern skies, and Gemini’s Twins settle into the west. The… Read More

March Astronomy

Posted: March 4, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

In March, Orion settles into the southwest for some great evening views, appearing to “stand” on the horizon, with Taurus to his right, and the Great Dog to his left. The evenings also feature the Big Dipper rising in the northeast, looking like a giant question mark. Follow the “handle”… Read More

CNB Stories from Space

Posted: February 4, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Planetarium News, Programs and Events, What's Happening

Community National Bank Stories from Space happens every other Sunday, from 10 – 11AM, February 23 through April 4. This lively program is for budding space explorers, toddlers to 5 years old and their families. Science educator Mike Ressler and guest presenters zoom kids through the solar system with eye-opening… Read More

February Astronomy

Posted: February 3, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Orion dominates our February evenings, striding mid-way up from the southern horizon by 8 o’clock, accompanied by the brightest star in our night skies, Sirius, below and left of Orion, marking the nose of the Great Dog. High in the south, Taurus, the Bull charges at Orion, as the Big… Read More

January Astronomy

Posted: January 7, 2020| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

The winter stars feature the brightest collection of the year. Orion becomes the center of attention, with his three belt stars drawing a line to the right, pointing to the red star Aldebaran, the “eye” of Taurus, the Bull. To the left, Orion’s Belt leads to the rising star Sirius… Read More

First Night North

Posted: December 9, 2019| Categories: Planetarium News, Programs and Events

December 31, 6-9PM Our View is 20/20: Join our expert astronomers as they give you a tour of the winter skies, and show you highlights for 2020, including fantastic views of Venus, and a marvelous meeting of Jupiter and Saturn late in the year. Planetarium shows begin every 30 minutes… Read More

December Astronomy

Posted: December 2, 2019| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, Skywatch Almanac Weather, What's Happening

The longest nights of the year welcome the return of Orion, rising earlier each evening, and dominating the eastern sky, often identified by his line of three “belt” stars. Extending this line to the upper right leads to the red star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the Bull, while looking… Read More