Tag

Skywatching

All articles tagged with #skywatching

space6 days ago•4 min saved

Rare Sunset Show: Moon Aligns with Jupiter Tonight

On May 20, 2026, a rare western-sky pairing brings the waxing crescent Moon into close view with Jupiter after sunset, with Venus also visible near the horizon; a small telescope can reveal Jupiter's cloud bands and its four Galilean moons, while the Moon's craters line up along the terminator. Timings are location-dependent, so check local sunset guides—nearly in the northeastern U.S. Venus sets about 2.5 hours after sunset, followed by Jupiter, with the Moon visible until around midnight.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #jupiter #moon

space7 days ago•77 min saved

Manhattanhenge 2026: Four Sunset Alignments Across NYC's Grid

Manhattanhenge 2026 offers four opportunities to see the sunset align with Manhattan's cross streets: May 28 (half sun, 8:14 p.m. EDT), May 29 (full sun, 8:13 p.m. EDT), July 11 (full sun, 8:20 p.m. EDT), and July 12 (half sun, 8:21 p.m. EDT). Best viewing spots are the east–west cross streets at 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th Streets looking west toward New Jersey, with the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building providing striking backdrops. The effect arises from Manhattan’s 1811 grid tilted about 30 degrees east of true north, so the alignments occur in late May and early July. A separate morning Manhattanhenge occurs around December 9–10 and January 1, though visibility is more hindered by buildings and colder air. Arrive about 30 minutes early to secure a good view.

via Space|

#astronomy #manhattanhenge #newyorkcity

science7 days ago•3 min saved

Three-Body Evening Show: Crescent Moon Meets Venus and Jupiter This Week

From 18 to 21 May 2026, a thin crescent Moon will meet Venus and Jupiter after sunset in the western sky, giving a three-body view that culminates in the Venus–Jupiter conjunction on 9 June; keep a clear western horizon and avoid looking at the Sun. The Moon will continue waxing toward a full Moon on 31 May 2026, a monthly blue Moon; if you observe or photograph the alignment, share your pics with Sky at Night.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#conjunction #jupiter #moon

space8 days ago•71 min saved

Twilight duet: Venus and a razor-thin Moon light up the western sky on May 18

On May 18, Venus will appear alongside a slender crescent Moon in the western sky after sunset. The Moon will be brighter than Venus (magnitude about -7.1 vs -4.0) because of its larger apparent size, though they’re not physically close; they’ll be roughly 3 degrees apart (about one-third of a fist at arm’s length). Venus’ evening visibility is improving in May, with the planet setting around 10:50 p.m. local time, and the close pairing offers a striking twilight sight for skywatchers.

via Space|

#astronomy #crescent-moon #moon

space9 days ago•71 min saved

Blue-whale-sized asteroid to skim Earth via May livestream

A newly discovered near-Earth asteroid, 2026 JH2, estimated at 16–35 meters, will pass Earth on May 18 at about 91,000 km (roughly 0.23 lunar distances). The Virtual Telescope Project will stream the close approach live on YouTube starting at 3:45 p.m. EDT, weather permitting; the flyby poses no threat to Earth.

via Space|

#2026jh2 #astronomy #livestream

science10 days ago•3 min saved

Aurora Alert: Northern Lights Possible Across 10 U.S. States Tonight

NOAA expects a minor G1 geomagnetic storm from a fast solar wind that could bring the northern lights to parts of the northern U.S. tonight into early Saturday, best seen after dusk in dark, rural areas. Potential viewing spans Alaska and northern states including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, aided by a new moon that darkens the skies. Auroras occur when solar wind energizes atmospheric gases.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#aurora-borealis #geomagnetic-storm #noaa

science11 days ago•51 min saved

Moon Meets Venus: A Night-Sky Rendezvous You Won’t Want to Miss

A rare Moon–Venus conjunction will light up the night sky this week, with Venus appearing close to the Moon and visible to the naked eye. To catch it, look toward the western horizon after sunset (or toward the eastern horizon before sunrise, depending on your location); binoculars can help you see the pairing more clearly. Check local sunset times and weather for the best view.

via Yahoo|

#astronomy #conjunction #moon

space21 days ago•72 min saved

Eta Aquarid 2026: Predawn meteor peak amid a bright Moon and horizon-wide viewing

Space.com reports the Eta Aquarid meteor shower should peak in the predawn hours of May 6, 2026. Southern Hemisphere observers could see as many as ~60 meteors per hour, while Northern Hemisphere viewers will see fewer because the radiant stays low in the southeast. The peak follows the May 1 full Moon (about 81% illuminated), so moonlight will wash out fainter meteors, though dramatic Earthgrazers can still appear under dark skies. The meteors originate from Halley’s Comet debris, radiate from Aquarius, and are best seen from a dark location before dawn. Allow 20–30 minutes for night vision to adjust, plan to watch for an hour or two, stay warm, and consider using a camera for long-exposure captures if conditions permit.

via Space|

#astronomy #eta-aquarid #halleys-comet

space22 days ago•57 min saved

Eta Aquariid meteors: Halley’s dust to light up early May skies

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks overnight May 5–6, 2026, with fast meteors from Halley’s Comet debris. Activity runs April 19–May 28; rates are strongest in the Southern Hemisphere (up to ~50 meteors/hour) and lower in the Northern Hemisphere (roughly 10–30/hour). Meteors travel around 40.7 miles per second (65.4 km/s). A bright 84% full Moon will hinder faint meteors, so the best viewing is before dawn on May 6 with dark skies and naked-eye watching; photos are possible with a good astrophotography camera. The shower is tied to Halley’s debris as Earth passes through it each year, with Halley’s return in 2061.

via Live Science|

#astronomy #eta-aquariids #halleys-comet

space24 days ago•73 min saved

Worldwide Flower Moon Illuminates Landmarks in Awe-Inspiring Moonrise Photos

Space.com highlights May’s Flower Moon with a global gallery of moonrise photos over iconic sites and landscapes, from New York’s skyline to the Statue of Liberty, Istanbul’s Beyazit Tower, and more, as photographers capture the lunar glow behind landmarks. The piece also notes that May 2026 features two full moons, including a rare Blue Moon on May 31, and invites readers to share their own lunar shots and tips for photographing the Moon.

via Space|

#astronomy #flower-moon #moon

astronomy25 days ago•105 min saved

May 2026 Night Sky: Your Month-Long Guide to Celestial Highlights

Space.com's May 2026 night-sky calendar highlights the month’s key observing events—from the Flower Moon on May 1 and a Blue Moon on May 31, to planetary encounters with Venus and Jupiter, several notable deep-sky targets (including M64, M81/M82, and M51), meteor showers like the Eta Aquariids and Eta Lyrids, and prime Milky Way viewing on dark, clear nights. The guide also offers practical observing tips (dark adaptation, averted vision, filters) and a day-by-day calendar to help stargazers plan all month long.

via Space|

#astronomy #may-2026 #meteor-shower

science26 days ago•5 min saved

Eta Aquarids Peak Illuminates Dawn Skies, Echoing Halley’s Comet Legacy

A fast Eta Aquarid meteor shower—debris from Halley’s Comet—peaks overnight May 5–6, 2026, with best viewing just before dawn. Southern Hemisphere may see up to 50 meteors per hour; Northern Hemisphere 10–30. Moonlight will dim fainter meteors, so seek dark skies, scan broad areas away from the Aquarius radiant, and enjoy bright trails; no telescope needed.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #eta-aquarid #halleys-comet

space26 days ago•74 min saved

Eta Aquarids 2026: Catch the pre-dawn meteor shower from Halley’s debris

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower reaches a pre-dawn peak around May 5–6, 2026, with up to about 50 meteors per hour under clear skies, though bright moonlight will wash out fainter ones. The debris comes from Halley’s Comet, making the shower especially strong for the Southern Hemisphere or near the equator; observers farther north can still see roughly 10–30 meteors per hour at the peak. For the best view, head to a dark location, let your eyes adapt for about 30 minutes, and view around 2:00 a.m. local time up until dawn. No telescope is required, and you can enhance your experience with quiet, dark-sky observing and photography tips.

via Space|

#astronomy #eta-aquarids #halleys-comet

stargazing29 days ago•51 min saved

PanSTARRS Flaunts Dual Tails During Close Earth Approach

Space.com reports that Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS displayed its ion tail as it passed about 45 million miles (72 million km) from Earth, with a dust tail lagging behind. The comet heated as it neared the Sun (perihelion on April 19) and then reached its closest approach to Earth around April 26, with SOHO imagery capturing the ion tail brightening and pointing away from the Sun.

via Space|

#comet #ion-tail #panstarrs

space29 days ago•80 min saved

Where to watch the 2026 total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland

Space.com curates 15 expert-checked locations to view the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland, detailing each site's timing and duration of totality, sun height, and cloud odds, from Segovia and Mirador del Sablón in Spain to Saxhóll Crater and Hallgrímskirkja in Iceland to Nordvestfjord and Ella Island in Greenland, and emphasizes scouting sightlines the day before since visibility varies by location.

via Space|

#eclipse-viewing-spots #skywatching #solar-eclipse-2026