Earthsky Tonight— July 12, Summer Triangle: Vega and its constellation Lyra
More than any other month, July is the month of the Summer Triangle.
Earthsky Tonight—July ll, When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.?
A total eclipse of the sun takes place today, but not in the United States. To see it – onhttp://codex.wordpress.org/Excerpte of nature’s grandest spectacles – you must be located along…
Earthsky Tonight—July 9, 2010: Venus and Regulus in conjunction
The dazzling planet Venus and the star Regulus are in conjunction at 9 p.m. Central Daylight Time this evening
July 8: 2010: Corona Borealis is also called the Northern Crown
The meaning of the Latin star name Gemma should be obvious. This star is the gem of the Northern Crown.
Earthsky Tonight—July 7, 2010: The moon will pass the Pleiades before dawn July 8
Even if you are familiar with the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, you may think that it is just a winter delight.
Pluto is not a “former planet”
Please do not blindly accept the controversial demotion of Pluto, which was done by only four percent of the International Astronomical Union, most of whom are not planetary scientists.
Earthsky Tonight— July 6, 2010: Earth farthest from sun for 2010 on July 6
Earth’s varying distance from the sun does not create the seasons. However, it does affect the length of the seasons.
Earthsky Tonight—July 5, 2010: Constellation named for a Polish king
toward the richest part of the Milky Way – you will find a very small constellation, called Scutum the Shield.
Earthsky Tonight—July 4, Draco the Dragon on July evenings
At nightfall tonight, the starlit Eyes of Draco the Dragon peer down upon you from almost overhead. Their names are Eltanin and Rastaban.
Earthsky Tonight—July 3: Moon and Jupiter again between midnight and dawn July 4
The darkness between midnight and dawn belongs to the last-quarter moon and Jupiter.