SkyCaramba

Mars in the Beehive. The moon over Zavijava. A morning planet grouping includes two binocular solar system objects. And planetoid and asteroid are two words that can mean that same thing. When the first such objects were discovered, astronomers weren't sure what to call them. They had characteristics of planets and asteroids.

The moon moves into the evening sky. There's a record for seeing the youngest moon, but nobody seems to make a contest out of seeing the oldest moon. Vesta is at opposition. A cluster of planets adorns the morning sky close to the horizon.

Mars makes a beeline for the beehive. Virgo has been known by a variety of names. Mercury's at greatest elongation. And hats off--or hair's off--for the only constellation linked to a real person.

Two planets are at aphelion this week. Their aphelion and perihelion distances reveal just how elliptical their orbits are.

Two planets are moving eastward in the morning sky. But for now, the sun's moving eastward faster. The way things look, the stars are climbing the sky each morning faster than those planets or the sun. I'll explain this effect of the difference between the sidereal and solar days.

One more time, the moon reaches as far north as it can. Try to see Venus in the morning. Mars rides high at dusk. And sometimes, stars seem to change colors because of other stars next to them. You can try to make it happen in your own telescope!

Venus and Mercury are on the other side of the sun. A partial solar eclipse happens in the northern hemisphere. And some people keep count of how many lunar months have gone by since some moment.

The moon's heading toward the farthest south it will go for the next two decades. Venus and Mercury head to conjunction. And why is there an old tale about being able to stand an egg on its end only on the equinox?

Planets are disappearing from the evening sky, but Venus is a good guide for finding Mercury. There's a total lunar eclipse this week. You can usually still see some lunar features during totality. And Universal Time isn't universally understood.

Saturn's lost in the sun glow as it leaves the evening sky. Mercury and Venus are leaving soon. Last chance to see the moon as far north as it goes. Find out about next week's total lunar eclipse. And learn why we see nebulae.

Sometimes, Saturn appears ringless. We're about to cross the ring plane, from which we see--or don't see--the rings edge-on. Unfortunately, we won't get to see this phenomenon when it happens in a few weeks.

The same side of the moon is always facing us, so it seems like we should see just half of it. But we actually see more, thanks to the tidal lock not being super tight. Some evening planets are sinking into the sunset, while others still ride high at dusk.

Why do the planets seem to go back and forth in our sky when they're all going the same way around the sun? Mercury's about to emerge into the evening sky. No pre-dawn planet watching for now. So get to know the current morning stars. Is Cygnus flying in the right place?

Even though we see through air, it's not as transparent as we think. It gets in the way. Venus, Saturn, and Neptune are close on the celestial dome. They're fairly easy to see for now. Mars moves deeper into Gemini. Jupiter resumes direct motion this week.

Mars pushes into Gemini. Jupiter prepares to turn around. Venus enters Pisces. And with two dogs crossing the sky, why don't northern hemisphere residents call these the dog nights of winter?

Venus soars above Saturn. Jupiter and the Hyades are high at dusk. Mars passes Pollux. And how can scientists know when the Blaze Star in Corona Borealis will flare up?

The moon passes in front of Mars. Venus passes Saturn. The moon's near Pollux and Mars. And let's discuss how Gemini, the celestial twins, aren't full brothers.

Jupiter remains near the Hyades. The moon visits Venus and Saturn. Mercury continues on its way out of the morning sky. And Earth is getting farther away from the sun. But if you think that's why it's cold where you are now, you're wrong.

Venus is approaching greatest elongation and heading toward Saturn. Jupiter and Mars are good sights all night. Mercury's still a morning object. And this week is a good time to look for Quadrantid meteor showers.

Venus passes through Capricornus on the way toward Saturn in Aquarius. Jupiter heads toward the Hyades. Mars goes back toward Gemini. Mercury moves by the scorpion's head.

Lunistice and solstice in the same week. Venus approaches Saturn. The moon visits Jupiter and Mars. Mercury hovers near Antares. And these days, high noon to high noon takes the longest.

The moon occults Saturn. Mercury moves to the morning. Vesper Venus. Mars turns around. And it's Geminid meteor time. Some scientists think those meteors didn't come from a defunct comet's dust after all.

A new month and a new moon. Mercury at inferior conjunction. Jupiter at opposition. The moon passes by or in front of Saturn. and Mars turns around at the Beehive Cluster.

Mercury is hastily leaving the evening sky. Venus passes by the ladel. Saturn remains an evening wonder. Jupiter's up most of the night. Mars continues its trek toward the crab. And find out about Piscis Austrinis, the southern fish, and why it's only half the constellation it used to be.

Venus is in the archer's bow in Sagittarius and will pass by a couple stars it passed right in front of about four decades ago. Mercury begins its retreat from the evening sky. Saturn changes direction and Neptune is about to.