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Use the Moon to Find America's Semiquincentennial Star
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
2 days ago2 min read
First Light of Smart Telescope
People ask, "What kind of a telescope should I get?" I don't have my fingers on the pulse of new telescope design and technology, so I defer to others with more experience. Lately they have steered me to smart telescopes, which connects directly to a cell phone app for digital imaging instead of visual observing through an eyepiece. Less expensive smart scopes reviewed by Space.com might be my recommendation for newcomers to telescopes in a light polluted world. Unsurpri
Feb 142 min read
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
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
Observing Variable Stars With AAVSO
If you're new to observing variable stars, which are stars that changes brightness over time, the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) has a useful on-ramp. Citizen Sky supports collaboration with professional astronomers by helping you to find variable stars, measure their brightness, and submit your observations. Start your pursuit of variable stars with the AAVSO's 10-Star Training Tutorial Available under the Online Resources in multiple languages,
Nov 21, 20254 min read
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 13, 20251 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 11, 20251 min read
After-Summer Triangle
The Summer Triangle defies its name, for the asterism is well-placed for autumn viewing. The triangle defined by the bright stars Vega,...
Aug 19, 20232 min read
Planets Dazzle In Western Twilight
When facing west after sunset in February 2023, look for two bright objects in the twilight. Mid-month, brilliant Venus moves higher in...
Feb 18, 20231 min read
