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

September Astronomy

Posted: August 30, 2022| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Summer’s constellations, Scorpio and Sagittarius, begin their departure, progressing from south toward the southwest through the month. At the same time, Saturn edges higher from southeast into the south, and Jupiter rises into the east, joined by Mars before midnight. Extending up from the Teapot in Sagittarius, the broad, faint… Read More

August Astronomy

Posted: July 27, 2022| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

The evenings arrive a little earlier in August, 45 minutes-worth by month’s end. The Milky Way runs from between the Scorpion and the “teapot” in the south, up through the three bright stars forming the Summer Triangle, found nearly overhead, and fades as it heads toward the northeast horizon, home… Read More

July Astronomy

Posted: June 29, 2022| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

The southern skies host 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, crossing the “river of light” known as the Milky Way, is the “teapot” in Sagittarius. Climbing higher in the east,… Read More

June Astronomy

Posted: May 31, 2022| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Both the calendar and the skies transition to summer this month, appropriately featuring 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 wading within the returning Milky Way, climbing higher above the eastern… Read More

May Astronomy

Posted: April 30, 2022| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Mark Breen, Planetarium News, 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

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