Never miss a full moon, eclipse, or meteor shower with reminders from the Almanac Daily newsletter.
This Week's Amazing Sky
December 1, 2023
When you’re looking at a Moon that’s half-illuminated—like half a pie—why is it called a “Quarter Moon” instead of a “Half Moon”? Seems confusing, right? Bob Berman defines the Quarter Moon—and explains why it’s the most interesting Moon phase in his eyes.Why Do We Call It the Quarter Moon?We’ve all looked up at the night sky and seen half of the Moon’…
November 30, 2023
Want to be amazed? Look skyward on the next clear night. With your own eyes, you’ll be able to see which way you, Earth, the Sun, and the entire galaxy are moving in space.You don’t need dark country skies for this. Being in a city is okay. But you do need an open swath of sky, so get out in the open somewhere, and do this at 9 p.m.Nothing is Stationary in …
November 30, 2023
What is the biggest explosion that we humans have ever seen? It’s the supernova! Bob Berman’s newest piece is about supernovas, a truly super phenomenon with “star power.”Supernova!Any word that begins with “super” is supposedly remarkable. But it’s not always true. Some are visual duds, like the “supermoon” the media frequently hypes. Most look no different from every other…
November 14, 2023
Do you trust your instincts? Maybe you shouldn’t. It seems ancient Greeks and the old church doctrines were correct because it sure feels like we’re not moving. But we’re actually in wild, constant motion. How fast are we spinning—and why don’t we feel it?On Earth, we don’t notice that the Earth is spinning. In contrast, when we gaze into the sky, we see constant animation…
November 14, 2023
The next Blood Moon will occur on March 14, 2025. What exactly IS a Blood Moon? There are boatloads of celestial hype about this phenomenon, as well as the reference to a strange prophecy. I’ll help you separate fact from fiction.What Is a Blood Moon?In simple terms, a Blood Moon is another name for a total lunar eclipse—like the one taking place on March 14, 2025.During a…
November 8, 2023
It’s a new Moon! For astronomers, a new Moon means no Moon to look at. For many cultures, however, the new Moon carries special meaning. So, what exactly IS a new Moon, when are the new Moons in 2023 and 2024, and what does a new Moon look like? Let’s explore, fellow Moon lovers …What Is a New Moon?A new Moon is essentially the opposite of a full Moon. During a…
October 30, 2023
We’ve all been told that the “Sun sets in the west.” Actually, that’s a generalization. Bob Berman talks about the sunset in fall, and how the Sun rises and sets across the seasons. You can even do your own Stonehenge thing, without moving a single rock!The Sunset in AutumnBack in September, at the autumnal equinox, you could see the Sun rise due east and set due west. This…
October 25, 2023
It’s your annual opportunity to see Jupiter at biggest and brightest! The Giant Planet reaches “opposition” on November 2–3, 2023 as Earth passes between it and the Sun. Just one day prior, on November 1–2, Jupiter reaches its closest point to Earth. Learn more from Bob Berman.Jupiter in OppositionNotice planet Jupiter in the night skies? You can’t miss it. It’s…
October 12, 2023
Take your vitamins and stick around for the next century’s super-spectacles, including the longest total solar eclipse in U.S. history (2045) or the spectacular return of Halley’s Comet in 2061.The Magnificent Seven (Four for Canada) Total EclipsesTotality causes humans and animals alike to moan and babble, as normally invisible deep-pink prominences leap from the Sun’s edge like…
October 10, 2023
The winter solstice occurs on Thursday, December 21, at 10:27 p.m. Yes, this is the “shortest” day of the year, but let’s talk about how many minutes each day the daylight increases afterward. Plus, we’ll discuss other ways you can see and feel the solstice.What Happens on the Winter Solstice?Here are the most tangible factors affecting your everyday life. …
October 9, 2023
Can you look at a solar eclipse safely? Solar eclipses are rare so it’s truly incredible that we’ll experience two in the next six months—with the first event in October 2023. Find out if you can stare at the Sun and how protect your eyes. Pull up a chair: there’s a lot of misinformation out there.First, what are the upcoming eclipses? First, there’s the “Ring of Fire…
October 2, 2023
If you heard an “80% chance of rain,” would you assume that this meant you had an 80% chance of getting rained on? Not true. Bob Berman explains what a “chance of rain” really means!If you’re a sky watcher like yours truly, the first step in observing the sky is having decent weather. We probably all check the forecast from time to time. But relatively few of us know how to make…