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Mira Brightening
The variable star Mira is brightening after months of being out of sight in the constellation Cetus the Sea Monster. Mira, root word for miracle, is different in that it is a prominent star in Cetus but is sometimes not visible. Observers can record its rising brightness and compare it to nearby comparison stars, then submit their results to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). An infographic from the Astronomical League gives guidance on how to fi
Jan 84 min read
Predicting the Stars in 2026
Astronomy is in the business of making predictions. Not the predictions of astrology and horoscopes, but the insights of science. In a simple form, we watch the sun rise and set, so we anticipate it following that tradition on ensuing days. Yet some cultures conceived that around the winter solstice the sun might not come back with its life-sustaining presence. All it takes is one non-occurrence for a scientific theory to be thrown into the tumult of uncertainty. As we l
Jan 13 min read
Santa's Favorite Stars
How does Santa Claus find you? By the stars, of course! The stars help people navigate at night, and you can discover the constellations that assure Santa finds his way to your home and back to the North Pole. Print out the two pages ( stardisk and text-time) , then combine them to make the 2-part dial shown below. Click small images to enlarge and print. How Does Santa Find His Way Back... Left ( text-time) : All through the night the stars appear to move slowly ar
Dec 5, 20252 min read
Corona Borealis Nightly
Above video shows Corona Borealis (CrB) images in anticipation of recurring nova from 2024 JUN 14 through 2025 OCT 14. That's over three hundred clear-enough nights in 30 seconds. Images below show images from 2024 JUN 14 through last update: 2025 AUG 23, with most recent first. Note: Unable to delete last two images on bottom, which are repeats.
Aug 16, 20251 min read
Celestial Fireworks for Fourth of July
For a Fourth of July holiday highlight you can use the moon to prepare for next year's Semiquincentennial party. As fireworks celebrate Independence Day in 2025, the star Spica is just a few degrees away from the moon. In 2026, at 250 light years away the star Spica is America's Semiquincentennial Star . Light that left Spica in 1776 at the founding of the nation, traveling at 186,000 miles per second, will just be reaching our eyes in 2026! On July 3, 2025, find the star
Jun 27, 20252 min read
Dipper Scoops Ice Cream For Cone And Cup
For a summer vacation pursuit, launch a star watch to witness a rare visible nova . In the midst of summer ice cream, a new star may...
Jun 2, 20252 min read
Alderamin: 50th Anniversary Star
Consider the star Alderamin to be the "Golden Anniversary Star" for those who celebrate a 50th year. Alderamin, in the constellation of...
Mar 20, 20253 min read
See Goddess of Love in Valentines Daylight
Share with your Valentine a beautiful sight in early February as the Goddess of Love, as Venus is known, dazzles in the evening sky. ...
Jan 31, 20253 min read
Grandpa Makes A Mouse
When Grandpa Fred would make and greatly animate a mouse made from a handkerchief, his antics never failed to entertain. Everyone always...
Jan 20, 20251 min read
This Holiday, Dance With The Stars
Christmas began with a star. From Matthew 2:9: "And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood...
Dec 11, 20246 min read
