A full wolf moon rose over Park City the other day. Known as the Full Wolf Moon by native Americans (likely) because of the sound of hungry wolves howling in the distance, this full moon was a bit extra special. This was also a perigee moon. Perigee is the point in the Moon’s eliptical orbit [...]

Spectacular indeed! This stunning image of Saturn was captured by the incredible Cassini spacecraft in 2006 as it passed behind the ringed gas giant in the 9th year of its mission. Color-contrast exaggerated, this image displays the uniqueness of the rings, allowing scientists to discern the different sizes of particles based on the color of [...]

The first of NASA’s twin Mars Rovers, Spirit turned 5 the other day (Jan 3). It’s twin, Opportunity arrived about 3 weeks later, and so will celebrate its incredible 5th year of exploration on Jan 21st. Considering that NASA was hoping to get 3 months worth of performance out of these guys, I’d say it [...]

The Hubble Space Telescope snapped this exquisite shot of the planet Jupiter. Note the incredible details visisble in the giant planet’s surface, including the Great Red Spot. Also note, one of Jupiter’s moon’s peaking out from behind the planet. Impressive views of Jupiter are done for the season. The planet is now sitting low in [...]

Skywatchers are encouraged to head out after dark this weekend for a special gathering of our nearest celestial neighbors. Starting on Saturday night (12/28/08), a tiny waxing crescent moon will be found low above the western horizon shortly after sunset.  Use the bright planet Jupiter as your guide. The moon will sit just a few [...]

40 years ago this week, astronauts aboard Apollo 8 travelled where no one had gone before, the Moon. As they circled around the back side of the moon, they saw the very first ‘Earthrise’; planet Earth rising above the horizon of another celestial body. At that moment, they were able to see Earth as it [...]

The orbiting Hubble Space Telescope (HST) snagged this amazing image of the planet Jupiter and it’s largest moon, Ganymede, as the latter was drifting behind the giant planet. Astronomers use images like this to study the upper reaches of Jupiter’s atmosphere. Earth based astronomers will need to wait until spring before they can do much [...]

Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis relative to its orbit around the sun, we experience seasons, and today (about 5am MST, actually) is the Winter Solstice, the point in the earth’s orbit when those of us in the northern hemisphere are smack dab in the middle of winter (of course, that means our [...]

The annual Ursid Meteor Shower is approaching, and it’s timing couldn’t be better. It peaks on the night of December 22nd -> 23rd, a night on which a tiny, waning crescent moon will rise around 3:30am. The small phase of the moon, along with its late arrival will frame the meteor shower under the darkest [...]

Here’s a quick shot I took the other night shortly after moonrise. I caught the moon just after it appeared above the eastern horizon. It is a couple of days prior to last quarter (when the moon is 1/2 illuminated). Still, catching the moon low to the horizon is always a bit interesting… with the [...]