Q-90.1's Backyard Astronomer

About two hours after sunset, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for the orange star Aldebaran. To the Greeks, Aldebaran was the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull.

Many of our modern holiday traditions have their roots in the winter festivals of long ago, and that includes the date we now call "Christmas."

During the week of December 13, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from First Quarter toward Full. We call this period the “waxing moon” as if we were “waxing” on more surface to the illuminated side.

For the next two weeks, you’ll get to enjoy a beautiful alignment of three planets in the southwest during evening twilight.

About 90 minutes after sunset, look low in the south for a medium bright star called Fomalhaut. It should be relatively easy to spot because it’s in an area devoid of other bright stars.

Look low the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature little dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades Star Cluster.

In the predawn hours of Friday, November 19, expect to be treated to a nearly-total eclipse of the moon. In this case, we’re talking over 97 percent eclipsed, which means the Earth’s shadow will cover all but a tiny sliver of the full moon.

The planet Venus is so bright that it appears low in the southwest just 30 minutes after sunset, long before any of the brightest stars. This is what sometimes gives Venus its nickname of “The Evening Star.”

As we approach mid-autumn, there is a bright yellowish star rising out of the northeast after dusk. This is Capella, the brightest star in the constellation of Auriga the Charioteer.

The autumn nights give us cooler, drier air which is ideal for observing the deep sky. Combine that with a moonless night, and it’s the best time of year to look for the Great Andromeda Galaxy.

Each season has that one notable constellation that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use the Summer Triangle, which is still visible high in the west, but in Autumn we have the Great Square of Pegasus.

This year's NASA-sponsored International Observe the Moon Night takes place on Saturday, October 16.

Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big "W" sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.

As we head into Fall, and with solar activity on the upswing, the chances of catching a display of Northern Lights increases.

This year, the September equinox arrives on the 22nd which marks the first day of Fall for the northern hemisphere. The term “equinox” means “equal day equal night” because the length of day and night are about the same on this date.

We begin the week of September 13 with the moon at First Quarter, which looks half illuminated in the south after sunset. That sets the stage for an excellent week of lunar observing.

About halfway up the southern sky in September is the prominent white star, Altair, marking the eye of Aquila the Eagle.

Late summer is the best time to observe the Milky Way. Under a clear sky with no moon or light pollution, you should see it as a faint band of light that stretches overhead from roughly north to south.

After more than a year, the planet Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies, but you’ll have to look low in the west during dusk to see it.

We say the Moon “waxes” this week because its oval shape grows to become Full on August 22. As it slips further eastward among the stars each night, watch for it to pass below the planet Saturn on August 20 and underneath the brighter Jupiter on the 21st.