Monthly Archives: December 2009

Our first full moon this month occurred on December 2, and tonight it returns for an encore. Watch for the Blue Moon to rise up in the northeastern sky in the constellation Gemini.  One outstretched fist to the left are … Continue reading →

With all the astronomers, telescopes and robotic probes making discoveries at a furious pace, it wasn’t easy to narrow the list to just ten stories this year. We’ll start with #10 and end with what I consider the top story … Continue reading →

Illustration: Bob King Like the planets, I’m traveling today and can’t stop for very long in one place. Highlights in the coming week include Mars in retrograde motion (moving to the west instead of east) and the moon passing by … Continue reading →

Andrew Kirk of Bishop, Calif. shot this photo last week of the first-quarter moon through a bit of architecture. The moon tonight will be near the Seven Sisters cluster. Credit: Andrew Kirk The waxing gibbous moon will pass through the … Continue reading →

A snowman made by my daughter’s boyfriend reflects the light of the 10-day moon last night. Taking time exposure photos on a tripod by moonlight can make night scenes appear as bright as day. The three bright objects across the … Continue reading →

Merilla Guillen of Duluth lifts a heavy shovelful of snow as she tries to clear her driveway of snow left by the plow for the second time Friday afternoon. Photo: Bob King Wow, that was a lot of snow and … Continue reading →

From Astro Bob to everyone out there – I hope you’re all enjoying the holiday and I wish you a feast of good things for the heart and mind in 2010! The ornament above is from our Christmas tree while … Continue reading →

The Cassini spacecraft imaging team got into the holiday spirit and produced this charming video showing the dance of Saturn’s moons. The photos were compiled between August and November this year, knit together and set to the music of the … Continue reading →

Mars normally moves eastward (to the left as you face south) in our sky as it orbits the sun, but about every two years, near the time of one of its close approaches to Earth, the planet appears to stop … Continue reading →

Orion the Hunter rises over Lake Superior as participants in the winter solstice gathering in Two Harbors warm themselves by the fire. All photos: Bob King I hope you celebrated the first day of winter yesterday with at least a … Continue reading →