The night of July fireworks, as the crowd gathers and darkness settles in, eyes are looking skyward in anticipation of a spectacle. Appropriately, America’s Semiquincentennial Star is among the first to appear in the deepening twilight. The day our founders were signing the Declaration of Independence, light left the star Spica in the constellation Virgo. Traveling at 186,000 miles per second, those photons are just now striking our retinas, for Spica is 250 light years a

Tell me of an astronomy experience in your life, big or small. How has astronomy intersected your personal life and all that has led up to where we are now as a country? I encourage you to attend the virtual conference Astronomy@250, which celebrates 250 years of astronomy in the United States on August 27-29, 2026. Hosted by the Astro Society, the Semiquincentennial event "brings together researchers, educators, amateur astronomers, and curious minds from across the commun

While stars and stripes will be prominent during America's 250th Anniversary celebration, one star in the night sky has special significance. Shining brightly at 250 light years away, Spica is America's Semiquincentennial Star . Light that left Spica in 1776--traveling at 186,000 miles per second --is just now reaching our eyes. For a visceral Semiquincentennial experience in 2026, find Spica, then contemplate your and America's place in the firmament. To find Spica, follo

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

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

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.

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...

The star Sheratan in the constellation Aries is the Anniversary Star for anyone turning 60 years old. The light that left Sheratan 60...