On Monday August 21, 2017, millions of people in the United States will experience a unique event: a total eclipse of the sun. Below is a guide for planning a field trip to see this rare event. Why Travel to an Eclipse? Perhaps it seems silly to travel somewhere to watch a total solar eclipse, but […]
Planning for the August 27 Planetary Conjunction
What is a planetary conjunction? A planetary conjunction is when two or more planets converge very close together in the sky. What causes a planetary conjunction? During a planetary conjunction, the planets are not actually close to each other in space. It merely means the Earth (and thus our eyes) is in a position where […]
What is the Taurid Meteor Shower and When Can I See It?
The peak of the Taurid meteor shower is coming up in mid-November. Before you can understand what the Taurid meteor shower is, first it is important to understand… What is a meteor? What is a meteor shower? Why do we have meteor showers? Read more about meteor showers in general. The Taurids Once a year, Earth […]
The Astronomy Behind Halloween
I get that a lot of Christians have weird feelings about Halloween, but it has a fascinating history—and it relates very much to the subject of astronomy. Solstices and Equinoxes First, a little background… The sun does not rise and set in the same place on the horizon throughout the year. Of course the sun always […]
Get Ready for the September Lunar Eclipse!
Pray for clear skies on the evening of September 27 (or early morning of the 28th if you live in Europe). There’s a lunar eclipse coming! Full lunar eclipses are often called “blood moons” because the moon will appear red in the sky. Why this blood-red color? Have you ever seen the sky after sunset light up […]