Driftless Dark Skies: Spring Eclipses
Usually this month, I would be sharing a preview of all the public stargazing happening this summer at state parks and with local astronomy clubs. But we’re not quite there yet. I am grateful that stargazing is something we can safely do together apart. And that...
Driftless Dark Skies: Moons and Mars
October begins and ends with Full Moons. On October 1, the Full Harvest Moon rises in the east around 7:05pm right after the sun sets in the west at 6:45. The Harvest Moon is the one closest to the Autumnal Equinox on September 22. And because lunar cycles are 29 ½...
Driftless Dark Skies: Comet Tales
We’ll carry with us many memories of the Summer of 2020, but one of my favorites will be the three weeks in July when Comet NEOWISE had so many of looking up together/apart being awed in a dark time by this visitor from far beyond. It was wonderful to hear from so...
Driftless Dark Skies: Reliable Perseids
Every year in August, our planet passes through the debris stream left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle and our starry skies are streaked by Perseid meteors. Meteors from this and other showers will be visible all month, but the peak is predicted for the night of August...