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In Autumn, Find Corona Borealis Left of Big Dipper
Finding Corona Borealis- -site of an upcoming nova --in late autumn gets more challenging, for the constellation is low in the evening twilight, dimming as it sets in the thick air mass near the horizon. You may not have the guide stars Arcturus and Izar to find Gemma, (a.k.a. Alphecca), the gem star of the Northern Crown. The Big Dipper comes to the rescue. Nights in October open with the Big Dipper appearing upright, resting near the horizon to keep its contents from spil
Oct 131 min read
Celestial Targets Transition From Evening to Morning Sky
Sometimes a stargazer's target transition from an evening sky to a morning sky. For example, from blog post October Comet Near Corona Borealis : Opening October, Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon is under the Big Dipper in the morning sky, but transitions mid-month to an evening target. In late autumn, Corona Borealis (CrB) starts the evening low above the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset. Through the darkness the sky appears to rotate anti-clockwise, or "starwise," aroun
Oct 111 min read
October Comet Near Corona Borealis
One of several comets passing through the inner solar system in October 2025 will be in the starfield containing the constellation Corona Borealis (CrB). So if you are regularly imaging CrB in hopes of catching an anticipated nova there, as I am , you may capture a bonus comet in the field of view. Opening October, Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon is under the Big Dipper in the morning sky, but transitions mid-month to an evening target. After October 20, its closest point of appro
Oct 42 min read
Cell-estial Photos
A newer cell phone can take excellent images of astronomical targets. As twilight segues to night, set your phone for 3- to 10-second...
May 82 min read
Six Clear Nights With Comet
A spate of good weather coincided with the appearance of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, allowing me to photograph the celestial interloper over...
Oct 24, 20241 min read
Evening Comet and More
Quick. With a cell phone camera or binoculars you can find and enjoy a comet in the western sky after sunset in mid-October, 2024. On a...
Oct 17, 20242 min read
Skywatching Trifecta in Early October
Casual skywatchers have at least three celestial events to seek and to photograph in early October--aurorae, a comet, and an imminent...
Oct 4, 20242 min read
Campfire Becomes Sun With Orbiting Planets
Group activity around "campfire" simulates the zodiac and earth's motion. From Big Dipper find Polaris, Arcturus, and Corona Borealis.
Sep 29, 20243 min read
Comet, Planets, and Eclipse in Winter Sky
Closing Out 2018 Comets are notoriously fickle, so predicting the brightness of an approaching celestial interloper can be a risky bet. ...
Dec 11, 20183 min read
Celestial Trifecta on Monday, Dec. 7
Monday, December 7, has three celestial highlights for observers in the South Bend, IN, region--a comet, an occultation, and satellite...
Dec 3, 20152 min read
