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

May Astronomy

Posted: April 30, 2022| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, What's Happening

May welcomes the return of some of summer’s brighter stars, including Vega in the northeast, and Antares in the southeast. High in the south, Leo the Lion prowls toward the southwest through the month, while high above, the Big Dipper guides you with its handle to “arc” to Arcturus, then… Read More

April Astronomy

Posted: March 31, 2022| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

I always look forward to April’s view of the departing Orion and his companions, the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, as they gradually settle to, then below the western horizon. The spring stars may not dazzle in comparison, yet the Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo,… Read More

March Astronomy

Posted: March 1, 2022| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

March brings some great views of Orion as he settles into the southwest, while the brilliant Dog Star, Sirius follows him, cresting in the south. 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… Read More

February Astronomy

Posted: February 1, 2022| Categories: 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, protecting the Seven… Read More

Skywatch Astronomy

Posted: January 10, 2022| Categories: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

The heart of winter brings the brightest stars in our skies into full view. Orion sits at the center of these stellar “super stars”, the line of his three belt stars extending to the right toward the red star Aldebaran, the “eye” of Taurus, the Bull, and to the left,… Read More

December Astronomy

Posted: November 29, 2021| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

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

November Astronomy

Posted: November 2, 2021| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

November’s annual return to Standard Time, on the 7th, gives us a grand view of Milky Way, arching from the southwest, up and then overhead, with the Summer Triangle slipping into the west. As the dazzling Capella rises higher in the northeast, the red star Aldebaran shines in the east,… Read More

October Astronomy

Posted: September 30, 2021| 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 28, 2021| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, What's Happening

Summer’s constellations, Scorpio and Sagittarius, begin their departure, progressing from south toward the southwest through the month. At the same time, the planetary duo of Jupiter and Saturn climb higher from the southeast into the south. Extending up from the Teapot in Sagittarius, the broad, faint path of the Milky… Read More

May Astronomy

Posted: May 3, 2021| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

May welcomes the return of some of summer’s brighter stars, including Vega in the northeast, and Antares in the southeast. High in the south, Leo the Lion prowls toward the southwest through the month, while high above, the Big Dipper guides you with its handle to “arc” to Arcturus, then… Read More