Category: StarGazing | Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium's Blog

New World Record Set!

Posted: August 13, 2018| Categories: Planetarium News, Programs and Events, StarGazing, What's Happening

What a day! What a party! What a tremendous event! August 10 is a day to remember. That’s when more than 1,701 people gathered on the green across the street from the Fairbanks Museum for the largest astronomy lesson ever. This extraordinary event started as an idea to do something… Read More

Space news of the week

Posted: May 15, 2018| Categories: Planetarium News, Space Science, StarGazing

Hi all, thanks for joining me! The following is an excerpt from my weekly space news and astronomy newsletter, and I’d love it if you joined in and subscribed! You can do so here. I take everything space related from the Museum, like StarStruck, Skywatch Almanac, and Eye on… Read More

Star Struck: Defunct space station falls from sky

Posted: April 9, 2018| Categories: Astronomy Camp, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, Space Science, Star Struck, StarGazing

In this Star Struck, Bobby Farlice-Rubio tells us all about the Chinese space station that was lost in space until it crashed into the Pacific Ocean Monday. Watch the video for the full interview. The experimental space lab Tiangong 1 was launched in 2011 and ended service in… Read More

April Astronomy

Posted: March 29, 2018| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Planetarium News, StarGazing

April starts with Venus climbing higher in the west, not setting until 2 hours after sunset by month’s end. Jupiter also rises earlier each night, close to sunset at the close of the month. Saturn and Mars, low in the southeast before the morning twilight, enjoy a close encounter as… Read More

Orionid Meteor Shower

Posted: October 20, 2017| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Fairbanks Museum, Planetarium News, StarGazing

The Orionid meteor shower peaks between October 20th and 22nd! This meteor shower is caused by the Earth passing through the path of Halley’s Comet, which returns to Earth’s vicinity every 75 years. The famous comet leaves a trail of icy debris, which makes up the meteor shower that can… Read More

June Astronomy

Posted: May 16, 2017| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

Our two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, make for great evening viewing, and each get a visit from the Moon (see above). Venus shines low in the east for early risers between 3 and 4 AM. Mars and Mercury remain lost in the glare of the Sun. The Summer Triangle… Read More

May Astronomy

Posted: May 1, 2017| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

May welcomes the return of some of the brighter summer stars, including Vega in the northeast, and Antares in the southeast. Leo the Lion prowls the southern skies through the month, with its bright star Regulus, while late in the month, the Summer Triangle begins its annual display, rising in… Read More

Full Supermoon

Posted: November 14, 2016| Categories: Planetarium News, StarGazing

Tonight! Let yourself enjoy the brilliance of a full “Beaver” moon tonight by stepping out after 5:00 PM, when the moon rises in St. Johnsbury. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, November’s full Moon was called the Beaver Moon by both the colonists and the Algonquin tribes because this was… Read More

August Astronomy Highlights

Posted: July 25, 2016| Categories: Eye on the Sky, Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

Mark Breen’s Stargazing Party: Aug. 10, 9 – 10 PM Tune in to VPR and turn your gaze toward the stars as Mark guides you through the stars, planets and constellations. All you need is a radio or access to vpr.net to join this statewide star party! August loses over… Read More

June Astronomy

Posted: June 3, 2016| Categories: Planetarium News, Skywatch Almanac Astronomy, StarGazing

Astronomy Highlights Our latest sunsets of the year mean that star-gazing doesn’t get going until late evening. Dominating those hours after 10 o’clock is the planetary pairing of Mars and Saturn, set amongst the stars of the Scorpion, climbing from the southeast into the south. Jupiter also offers some fine… Read More