The great winter constellation Orion appears in the eastern sky during early evening hours this month. Sun During January, daylight increases by nearly an hour. Throughout the month, the sun rises after 7 a.m. in the Chicago area. Early in the month, the sun sets around 4:30 p.m. and by month's end, it sets after … Continue reading Skywatching January 2013
Month: December 2012
The Planets This Morning, December 30, 2012
A clear sky returned to the Chicago area this morning as seen in this image captured at 6:30 a.m. CST. (Click the image to see it larger.) Brilliant Venus is rapidly plunging into morning twilight as it appears low in the southeastern sky during early twilight. It continues to move toward its superior conjunction in March … Continue reading The Planets This Morning, December 30, 2012
The Morning Sky, December 22, 2012
After several mornings of cloudy weather, clear skies return to the Chicago area this morning in this image made at 6:30 a.m. CST. (Click the image to see it larger.) Brilliant Venus is now rising during twilight as it appears low in the southeastern sky. Saturn is higher in the sky, about 30 degrees to the upper … Continue reading The Morning Sky, December 22, 2012
Jupiter, Aldebaran and Orion Tonight, December 21, 2012
After several cloudy, rainy, and snowy days, a clear sky returned this evening. This 30-second exposure shows the southeastern sky at 9:10 p.m. CST from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.) Bright Jupiter is in front of the stars of Taurus with its bright star Aldebaran. They are paired high in the sky. … Continue reading Jupiter, Aldebaran and Orion Tonight, December 21, 2012
Apollo 17: In Celebration and Honor
In honor and celebration of the last human spaceflight to the moon. Humans last walked on the moon 40 years ago today, December 14, 1972, a time when all the curves lined up.
Mars and Jupiter Tonight, December 13, 2012
Mars shines from evening twilight as seen this evening from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.) The Red Planet is difficult to see as it fades into bright twilight during the next four months. After Mars passes behind the sun (conjunction), it reappears in the morning sky next summer. On December … Continue reading Mars and Jupiter Tonight, December 13, 2012
Venus, Mercury and Saturn This Morning, December 13, 2012
Through a thin veil of clouds the Morning Planets shine in the southeastern sky during early morning twilight as seen from the Chicago area this morning. Brilliant Venus outshines all other celestial objects and is easily located. (Click the image to see it larger.) Elusive Mercury appears near the horizon, about 7 degrees to the … Continue reading Venus, Mercury and Saturn This Morning, December 13, 2012
Jupiter Tonight, December 12, 2012
After another day of sunny weather, the clear sky prevailed into the early evening today. The 30- second image above shows Jupiter high in the eastern sky among the stars of Taurus as seen from the Chicago area. Aldebaran, the constellation's brightest star, is nearby. Zeta Tauri and Elnath represent the bull's horns. The star … Continue reading Jupiter Tonight, December 12, 2012
Venus, Saturn and Mercury This Morning, December 12, 2012
Brilliant Venus, Saturn and Mercury shine in a clear sky this morning in this image made at 6:10 a.m. CST from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.) Venus is the brightest starlike object in the sky and it dominates this part of the sky with few bright stars. Elusive Mercury shines … Continue reading Venus, Saturn and Mercury This Morning, December 12, 2012
Jupiter, Taurus, and Orion Tonight, December 11, 2012
After this morning's grouping of planets and the moon, clear skies prevailed throughout the day and into the evening. The 30-second image above was made at 8:30 p.m. CST from the Chicago area. (Click the image to see it larger.) In the eastern sky bright Jupiter gleams in front of the stars of Taurus with … Continue reading Jupiter, Taurus, and Orion Tonight, December 11, 2012