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

June Astronomy

Posted: June 3, 2019| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Our shortest nights still feature some great star gazing, starting 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 wading within the returning Milky Way, climbing higher above the eastern horizon, stretching… Read More

May Astronomy

Posted: May 1, 2019| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

May welcomes the return of some of the brighter summer 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, identified by the “backwards question mark” that forms his head, mane, and shoulders. High above,… Read More

Skywatch Astronomy

Posted: March 28, 2019| Category: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

This April starts with Orion and his companions the Big Dog and Taurus, the Bull, standing on the western horizon to start, but will be sinking through the month. The spring stars may not dazzle in comparison, yet the Big Dipper is placed high in the northeast, Leo, the Lion… Read More

Skywatch Astronomy

Posted: March 4, 2019| Categories: Eye on the Sky, 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. Venus sits quite low in the east… Read More

February Astronomy

Posted: January 30, 2019| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

February evenings feature the great Orion, 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 8, 2019| Categories: Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

This month’s highlight, a total Lunar Eclipse on the night of the 21st into the 22nd. 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,… Read More

December Astronomy

Posted: December 4, 2018| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

Through the month, Orion rises earlier each evening, and dominates the eastern sky, often identified by his line of three “belt” stars. Extending this line to the upper rights leads to the red star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the Bull, while looking to the lower left, the brilliant star… Read More

November Astronomy

Posted: November 2, 2018| Categories: Fairbanks Museum, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy

November’s annual return to Standard Time, (on the 3rd), gives us a parting view of Saturn during the earlier evenings, inching lower in the southwest. The Milky Way arches high overhead, with the Summer Triangle slipping into the west, while the dazzling Capella rises higher in the northeast. Lower in… Read More

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

September Astronomy

Posted: August 28, 2018| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

The summer skies, like the weather, are in transition through September. The Scorpion lowers into the southwest through the month, followed by the Teapot in Sagittarius. Still dazzling, though low in the skies, Mars shines a pale rusty color to the lower left of the Teapot, while the fainter Saturn… Read More