Astronomy Magazine https://www.astronomy.com/ Astronomy news, photos, observing events, and space missions. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:31:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://www.astronomy.com/uploads/2024/10/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpg Astronomy Magazine https://www.astronomy.com/ 32 32 2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases https://www.astronomy.com/observing/full-moon-calendar-dates-times-types/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:31:57 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=131492// The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

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]]> Hair of the Pleiades https://www.astronomy.com/picture-of-the-day/photo/hair-of-the-pleiades/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:37:07 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?post_type=potd&p=156029 Emanuele La Barbera, taken from Piano Battaglia, Sicily, Italy The Pleiades (M45) star cluster is one of the most famous naked-eye objects in the sky, but only deep photographic exposures reveal the complexity of the fine strands of dust surrounding the stars. This imager took 28 hours of exposure with a 3.4-inch scope with aContinue reading "Hair of the Pleiades"

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]]> How we might look for life in the universe — even if we can’t recognize it https://www.astronomy.com/science/how-we-might-look-for-unrecognizable-life-in-the-universe/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=156016// We have only one example of biology forming in the universe – life on Earth. But what if life can form in other ways? How do you look for alien life when you don’t know what alien life might look like? These questions are preoccupying astrobiologists, who are scientists who look for life beyond Earth. Astrobiologists haveContinue reading "How we might look for life in the universe — even if we can’t recognize it"

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]]> The largest space merch retailer in the world opens its first brick-and-mortar retail store in downtown Chattanooga https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/the-largest-space-merch-retailer-in-the-world-opens-its-first-brick-and-mortar-retail-store-in-downtown-chattanooga/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:25:15 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155982// PRESS RELEASEFor immediate release Contact:Erik Spangenberg(203)-550-3196erik@firecrown.com CHATTANOOGA, TN — The Space Store, an e-commerce retailer specializing in space-themed merchandise, has opened its first physical retail space in downtown Chattanooga. The Space Store got its start in 1996, as one of the first e-commerce businesses on the internet. For the past 28 years, The Space StoreContinue reading "The largest space merch retailer in the world opens its first brick-and-mortar retail store in downtown Chattanooga"

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]]> Best astronomy apps for stargazing in 2024 https://www.astronomy.com/observing/best-astronomy-apps-for-stargazing/ Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:38:54 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/best-astronomy-apps-for-stargazing-in-2022/ A longtime amateur astronomer shares his favorite apps for enjoying time under the starry skies.

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]]> A look ahead to the sky next year: Sky Guide 2025 https://www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-guide-2025/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155969// It’s back: Astronomy magazine’s free downloadable Sky Guide, your preview of everything happening in the sky next year.  Mars opens 2025 by reaching opposition the night of Jan. 15/16, when it shines brighter and appears larger through a telescope than at any time since December 2022. You’ll find it in Gemini, near the heads ofContinue reading "A look ahead to the sky next year: Sky Guide 2025"

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]]> Can you view Pluto in a backyard telescope? https://www.astronomy.com/observing/can-you-view-pluto-in-a-backyard-telescope/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155628// Is it possible to view Pluto from a backyard telescope? Ethan SpykerWadsworth, Ohio If I’m being honest, Pluto is difficult for an amateur astronomer to see. A standard 8-inch telescope just won’t do the trick. That’s because Pluto hasn’t been brighter than 14th magnitude since the fall of 2004. It reached perihelion (its closest approach toContinue reading "Can you view Pluto in a backyard telescope?"

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]]> This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: the Geminid meteor shower https://www.astronomy.com/observing/this-week-in-astronomy-with-dave-eicher-the-geminid-meteor-shower/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:20:21 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155947// In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the Geminid meteor shower, which will peak during the early morning hours of December 14. The best time to view them is after midnight, but you may see some in the evening hours as well. Get comfortable and look straight overhead for fast moving (and quicklyContinue reading "This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: the Geminid meteor shower"

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]]> The Moon as it never was https://www.astronomy.com/science/the-moon-as-it-never-was/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?p=155246// In 1874, James Nasmyth and James Carpenter published a remarkable book: The Moon: Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite. Lavishly illustrated with spectacular images of lunar features based on their own observations and exquisite plaster models, it served as a platform for the authors to advance their views on the nature andContinue reading "The Moon as it never was"

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]]> A dusty eagle https://www.astronomy.com/picture-of-the-day/photo/a-dusty-eagle/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 23:06:26 +0000 https://www.astronomy.com/?post_type=potd&p=155935 Santiago Ramos Avila, taken from Moratalla, Spain The dust clouds in this field near the border of Libra and Ophiuchus take on the appearance of an eagle, with a bright star (HD 142269) as its eye. The brighter emission in this field is associated with LBN 10, and the darker clouds — especially around theContinue reading "A dusty eagle"

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