Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy | Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium's Blog

April Astronomy

Posted: March 31, 2021| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

The stars continue their transition into spring each April, as Orion and his companions, the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, gradually settle toward the western horizon. The spring stars may not dazzle in comparison, yet the Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo, the Lion champions the… Read More

March Astronomy

Posted: March 2, 2021| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

In March, Orion settles into the southwest for some great evening views. The evenings also feature the Big Dipper rising in the northeast, looking like a giant question mark. Follow the “handle” toward the horizon, where the star Arcturus rises by 9 o’clock. After months of great planet viewing, only… Read More

February Astronomy

Posted: February 1, 2021| Categories: Eye on the Sky, 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: December 31, 2020| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Orion becomes the center of attention in January, 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 – the brightest star in the night skies. … Read More

December Astronomy

Posted: December 1, 2020| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

The most stunning sight in the skies will be the “great conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn, low in the southwest in the early evening, the closest visible in 800 years! Mars remains prominent, cresting high in the south. Early risers see Venus lowering toward the horizon, lost in the Sun’s… Read More

November Astronomy

Posted: November 2, 2020| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Jupiter and Saturn settle lower into the southwest, inching lower toward the horizon through the month. Mars fades a little, but continues its excellent display, climbing higher into the southeast. Just to the right of Jupiter and Saturn, Milky Way extends up to the Summer Triangle, then overhead, while the… Read More

October Astronomy

Posted: October 5, 2020| Categories: Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

As the shorter days give way to longer nights, the Milky Way arches from near the Teapot of Sagittarius, hosting Jupiter and Saturn in the south-southwest, through the Summer Triangle high in the southwest, then into the northeast to greet the rising star Capella. Summer’s bright star Arcturus sets in… Read More

September Astronomy

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

Summer’s constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius are thinking about leaving as they progress into the southwest through the month, joined by the spectacular planetary duo of Jupiter and Saturn in the south as twilight fades. Extending up from the Teapot in Sagittarius, the broad, faint path of the Milky Way arches… Read More

July Astronomy

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

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