Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

About halfway up the southern sky in September is the prominent white star, Altair, marking the eye of Aquila the Eagle.

Late summer is the best time to observe the Milky Way. Under a clear sky with no moon or light pollution, you should see it as a faint band of light that stretches overhead from roughly north to south.

After more than a year, the planet Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies, but you’ll have to look low in the west during dusk to see it.

We say the Moon “waxes” this week because its oval shape grows to become Full on August 22. As it slips further eastward among the stars each night, watch for it to pass below the planet Saturn on August 20 and underneath the brighter Jupiter on the 21st.

The famous annual Perseid Meteor shower reaches its maximum this week. While peak activity occurs on the evening of August 11 and morning of the 12th, the shower will remain active for the entire week.

If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright star that doesn’t seem to twinkle very much. It’s the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it's currently at its closest approach to Earth.

The northernmost star in the Summer Triangle marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross.

The waxing gibbous moon will end on Friday, July 23, when it becomes the Full Buck Moon. On that same night, you can see Saturn to its left. Look again on July 26 and the moon will be just below Jupiter.

Early in the week of July 12, the Waxing Crescent Moon makes its appearance in the west after sunset. But when the moon looks like a thin crescent, there’s another feature to look for called Earthshine.

The three bright stars of the Summer Triangle are one of the best ways to star hop around the summer sky.

During early summer, the Full Moon will rise far to the south of east and take its lowest path across the southern sky. The thicker atmosphere there sometimes gives the Moon an orangish or even rose color.

June is when the constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion begins to emerge in the southeast. As twilight ends around 10:30pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star – this is Antares, the heart of the Scorpion.

During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east, almost overhead for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.

At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, and it’s another sign that summer is on its way.

This year, the Full Flower Moon takes place on May 26 and coincides with several other lunar events on the same day.

As the moon becomes more illuminated, several dark round features will come into view. These are known as the Lunar Maria, the Latin word for "seas."

Spring is when the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky.

Twice each year the Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet. Each time we do, a meteor shower is created from the tiny flecks of ice and dust the comet leaves behind in its orbit.

The week of April 26 begins with the Super Pink Moon. This is also the best time to look for the splashes of material emanating from craters called "rays".

After three months of what people call the meteor drought, the annual Lyrid meteor shower comes to a peak this week.

If you look high into the northeast after dark, you can find the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper. One of the most famous double stars in the sky is there, too.

The giant planets Jupiter and Saturn are making their return into the morning sky this month.

Each season has that one constellation that serves as a signpost to the sky. In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion.

All this week, the phase of the moon grows as the nearside becomes more illuminated by the sun. Look for the large impact basin in the upper left portion of the moon called the Sea of Rains.

While many sky wonders can be observed in suburban skies with binoculars and telescopes, there are several things you can do to improve the view.