This image by Michael Watson of Toronto shows the beautiful and large Elephant Trunk Nebula, and the massive, red star Mu Cephei, aka Herschel’s Garnet Star, on its northern edge. The area of sky shown here covers about six by 12 times the diameter of the full moon, with north (towards Polaris) on the left.…
Read more
This simulated view of Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows, and the Golden Handle that envelops its western perimeter, was made using Starry Night software. Every month, a few days before full moon, the handle effect is visible with sharp, unaided eyes, and very easily through binoculars and backyard telescopes. The latter might also reveal…
Read more
As shown above, on Sunday, August 30 from 5:39 to 5:44 am EDT, the International Space Station will fly overhead of the GTA in a very bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow over the western horizon, and then skimming the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl before setting below the northeastern horizon. Artificial satellites are visible…
Read more
This amazing photograph by Sergio Scauso of Cordoba, Argentina shows the moon occulting Mars on August 9, 2020. NASA APOD for August 15, 2020. Since the moon travels within the same band of sky surrounding the ecliptic that the planets do, its large angular size allows it to pass in front of the planets from…
Read more
The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57, in Lyra is visible in backyard telescopes as a small, grey ring. This image was taken by Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario on July 25, 2012. Ron’s gallery of astro-images can be accessed at www.astrodoc.ca Hello, August Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of…
Read more
This simulated view of Jupiter shows the double shadow transit, with the Great Red Spot, that will occur on Friday night, August 14. This view is for 1 am EDT on Saturday morning. Ganymede’s shadow is cast by the large moon to the lower right of Jupiter. The event will be observable anywhere in the…
Read more
This image of Mars, captured using a camera affixed to his 8″ SCT telescope, was taken by my friend Claudio Oriani at his home in Richmond Hill on July 28, 2020. It features some Mars’ most prominent features, such as Hellas (bright area to the left), Syrtis Major (dark area) and the southern polar cap…
Read more
As shown above, on Sunday, August 2 from 9:25 to 9:31 pm EDT, the International Space Station will fly over of the GTA in a very bright pass, rising over the west-northwestern horizon, passing very close to the bright star Arcturus, and then disappearing into the Earth’s shadow over the southeastern horizon, very close to…
Read more
This simulated image of Saturn for Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 pm EDT shows several of the larger moons labelled and the distinctive Cassini Division that splits the rings. Hello, Late-July Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of July 26th, 2020 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to pass this along to your…
Read more
As shown above, on Thursday, July 30 from 10:10 to 10:15 pm EDT, the International Space Station will fly high overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, rising over the west-northwestern horizon, and then passing very close to the bright star Vega in the Summer Triangle before disappearing into the Earth’s shadow over…
Read more