By the 1970s amateur astronomers realized that the Sun it located right in a “Messier object gap” around the dates of Vernal Equinox (Spring) in late March. This means all 110 Messier objects are on “either side” or “north” of the Sun and available for observation throughout the night — if an observer worked fast enough. Hence, the phrase “Messier Marathon” was invented to describe the all-night attempt.
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2024 Oct 2nd Eclipse Livestream!
The clock is winding down on 2024 with just three months left. But our clockwork universe has many astronomical events in store for us stargazers.
Increased solar activity around “solar max” can contribute to more frequent and intense sunspots, flares, coronal mass ejections, and intensified auroras at lower latitudes, offering stunning visual displays. All “good news” for amateur observers!
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In the days before the April 8, 2024 North American Eclipse, eclipsophiles panicked when Texas skies were predicted to be
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Solar events dominate the year with a major total solar eclipse over the Americas coinciding with the peak of Solar Cycle 25. On the other side of Earth’s terminator the nighttime sky features a brightening spring comet with hopes that other comets will brighten in summer and fall.
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On October 14th, an Annular solar eclipse crossed the Americas with a central path that was mostly over land and
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Messier’s ListYou’ve probably heard of Charles Messier’s catalog of celestial deep-sky objects compiled for use by 18th-century comet hunters. When
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IntroductionAlong with the nice planetary conjunctions early in the year, the major events this year will be the rising solar
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The great lunar eclipse of 8 November 2022 coincided with a lunar occultation of the planet Uranus. The occultation event
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In the northern hemisphere, rapidly lengthening night at the expense of daylight is a clear reminder that the year is
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