All articles tagged with #night sky
A Bristol photographer, Josh Dury, captured a planetary parade from Worth Matravers, Dorset, featuring Earth and six other planets (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) plus the Moon in a single wide shot, after a long journey and timing with sunset; another view is expected after Saturday sunset.
A rare planetary parade will bring Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter into the western evening sky after sunset on Feb. 28, with Venus and Mercury near the horizon and Saturn/Neptune nearby; binoculars may help spot Neptune. The Moon will accompany the Beehive Star Cluster that night, and a total lunar eclipse (the “Blood Moon”) is expected on March 3, visible from parts of the western U.S., Pacific, New Zealand, Australia and East Asia. The window to view this alignment is brief and best with a clear, unobstructed western horizon.
SpaceX filed for a megaconstellation of up to a million satellites to power space-based data centers, joining a boom of proposals that could raise the number of active satellites from about 14,000 today to millions. The article warns this will permanently alter the night sky, disrupt astronomy and Indigenous cultural practices, and raise environmental and regulatory gaps, noting the lack of unified space traffic management. It advocates a Dark Skies Impact Assessment to document cumulative effects, explore mitigation, and inform licensing—aiming to improve decision-making rather than veto space development.
A weekend sky-guide recommends dark, rural skies to spot the zodiacal light in the western sky after sunset (Feb. 13–15), notes that Jupiter is at its best for evening viewing on Feb. 15, and highlights accompanying Moon/Earthshine observations and other winter sky features for enthusiasts.
On Feb. 3, Jupiter anchors the evening sky after sunset, shining at magnitude -2.6 and rising high in the east-southeast in the Gemini constellation about 30 degrees above the horizon, making it the brightest object in the night sky and an excellent target for naked eye, binoculars, or telescope; the article also notes other February sky events, such as the Moon’s occultation of Regulus on Feb. 2 and various nightly sky-watching highlights.
On Feb 2, 2026, a near-full Moon will pass in front of Regulus—the brightest star in Leo—creating a brief occultation visible from eastern North America, parts of Africa and southwestern Europe. In eastern North America, Regulus will disappear and reappear roughly between 8:40 and 10:05 p.m. EST (times vary by location). Regulus is about 79 light-years away with magnitude +1.4; the event is best seen with binoculars or a small telescope, though it can be enjoyed with the naked eye as the Moon covers and reveals the star in a recurring monthly sequence through 2026.
A bright streak appeared over Wellington on Jan 30, 2026 and was captured by a webcam, with experts debating whether it was a meteor or re-entering space debris, a reminder of the growing issue of space junk visible from Earth.
After sunset on Jan. 22, a 17%-illuminated waxing crescent moon will appear about six degrees below Saturn in the west-southwest, with Earthshine making the dark limb faintly visible; a small telescope or binoculars helps you spot Saturn (rings may be visible under good skies) as both objects grace the early evening sky.
January 18, 2026’s new moon will yield dark skies ideal for skywatchers: Jupiter and Saturn will dominate the January night, with Jupiter rising around 4 p.m. and visible for hours in the east, and Saturn high in the southwest after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere; Mercury, Venus and Mars remain too close to the Sun to see that month. In the Southern Hemisphere, the inverted sky highlights southern constellations with Jupiter as a reference point. The article also offers tips for spotting bright stars and constellations like Orion, Sirius, Aldebaran, the Pleiades and the Hyades, and notes that deep-sky observing is best away from light pollution during a new moon.
Jupiter will be at its brightest and most spectacular in 2026 during opposition on January 10, when it appears larger and brighter in the night sky, especially in the constellation Gemini, offering a great opportunity for observation with telescopes and the naked eye.
This weekend, Jupiter reaches opposition, making it the brightest and most visible in the night sky all year, especially near the constellation Gemini, offering a prime viewing opportunity with binoculars or telescopes to see its moons and cloud bands, and it will remain visible throughout January and into February.
Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, will be at its closest approach to Earth in 2026, making it highly visible and bright in the night sky, especially in Gemini, and can be observed with binoculars or small telescopes.
The article features images of the Wolf supermoon observed worldwide, highlighting its spectacular appearance and significance in astronomy.
The article highlights stunning photos of the Wolf Supermoon, the first full moon of 2026, captured around the world on January 2, 2026, showcasing its appearance over various iconic locations and during different activities.
The first supermoon and meteor shower of 2026 will occur in January, with the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking and coinciding with a supermoon, though the bright moonlight may reduce the visibility of meteors. The event is mainly visible from the Northern Hemisphere, and the next major meteor shower will be in April.