Turning to the north, this week, we see the great bear rising from the northeastern horizon. In the fall, Ursa Major walks along the northern horizon seeking a den for hibernation. It spends the spring rising so that it’s at its highest with the bear’s back knee, marked by Psi Ursae Majoris ...

In this dark part of the year, a moonless sky can seem particularly deep. Part of the reason for this is the lack of bright constellations in the southern sky visible in the early evenings. There are very few bright stars between the Great Square of Pegasus and Orion. This is due to the fact ...

The Celestial Grid Places on Earth can be designated politically, with country, state, and city or physically, with latitude and longitude. The Adirondack Sky Center’s Roll-Off Roof Observatory is at 178 Big Wolf Road in Tupper Lake, NY, USA and at 44 degrees 15.303’ (44.255 degrees) North, ...

The coziest early evenings of the year are upon us. With over 15 hours of night beginning with sunset around 4:20 p.m. and ending with sunrise around 7:30 a.m., it is no wonder we love to decorate with strings of lights. Those of us who love these long nights seem to be in the minority so as ...

After adorning the evening skies for most of this year, Jupiter and Saturn are moving toward the sunset horizon. In fact, Earth, in its faster orbit, is leaving them on the far side of the sun. Venus, in its even faster orbit, passed behind the sun on Aug. 14 and has been slowly rising into ...

On Monday, Nov. 11, an event will occur that won’t occur again until 2032 — Mercury will transit the sun. This means that the tiniest, swiftest planet will be seen to cross the face of the sun. The event will begin at 7:36 a.m. EST as the planet appears to touch the southwest edge of ...