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This Week's Amazing Sky

Dewpoint explained!

What Is Dewpoint? The Real Reason Air Feels Hot and Sticky

When folks grumble about feeling uncomfortable in July, they often say, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity.” And sure, it’s humid—but the dewpoint is what really tells you how muggy and sticky the air feels. Whether you’re tending your garden, heading out for a run, or just trying to survive a summer day, let’s break down what humidity really means—and why dewpoint matters more than you might…
A very bright bluish star named Vega or Alpha Lyrae in the constellation Lyra taken with CCD camera through medium focal length telescope

10 Facts About Vega, Summer's Bright Star

In early summer, night falls at its latest hour—around 9:30 to 10 PM. High in the east shines summer’s bright star—the famous Vega. Learn fascinating facts about Vega, a favorite of stargazers and astronomers, and its fascinating folklore.Away from city lights in mid-July, one could see as many as 2,500 naked-eye stars. But if you look east, only one star stands out because it’s…
digital image of the earth spinning

How Fast Does Earth Spin (and Why Don't We Feel It)?

Do you trust your instincts? Maybe you shouldn’t. It seems that ancient Greeks and the old church doctrines were correct because it sure feels as if we’re not moving. But we’re actually in wild, constant motion. How fast are we spinning—and why don’t we feel it?On Earth, we don’t notice that the Earth is spinning. In contrast, when we gaze into the sky, we see constant…

What's the Slowest-Spinning Planet?

Space is famous for zippy activity, like streaking meteors that sail through the night sky. But space has another face—a slow-and-easy side. In reality, Venus, the Moon, and many of our most beloved sky objects are as slow as molasses. What’s the slowest-moving planet? Slowest-spinning star? Read on for some fun space facts.What is the Slowest Planet?Venus, which is floating…

What is Earthshine?

Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up? The dark portion of the Moon (the area unlit by the Sun) seems to glow. This phenomenon is known as “Earthshine.” Historically, this was called “the new Moon in the old Moon’s arms.” Learn more about Earthshine.What is Earthshine?When you can see the dark, unlit portion of the crescent Moon (the area unlit…
The Pinwheel Galaxy by David Rankin

How to See Galaxies in the Night Sky

Did you know that spring is galaxy time? More galaxies are visible from March to mid-May, early in the evening. Find out more about famous galaxies and how to see a galaxy this spring!What Is a Galaxy?It may help the novice sky watcher to understand the definition of a galaxy: A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems,…
how to see saturn at it's brightest for the year, saturn in opposition

Saturn at Opposition in 2025: See Ringed Planet at Its Brightest

Get up close and personal with Saturn! The Ringed Planet will be its brightest, reaching its opposition (its closest point to Earth) on September 21, 2025!  In our culture of publicity and hard sell, it’s tempting to exaggerate. But Saturn never disappoints. Here are Bob Berman’s tips on how to see it.Through any telescope with more than 30x, Saturn elicits gasps. Yet, oddly, photos of the…
sunset

After the Summer Solstice, How Fast are We Losing Daylight?

Summer, bring it on! After the summer solstice (June 20, 2025), we start to lose daylight. How fast? Bob Berman talks about solstices and sunsets—and finding out how rapidly the times change where you live.First, here is a refresher: The summer solstice is the first day of summer, according to astronomy. The word solstice comes from the Latin words “sun” and “stoppage.” It makes sense: The…

A Chance of Rain: What Does This Really Mean?

When the local weather station (or your weather app) says that there is an “80% chance of rain,” do you assume that this means you have an 80% chance of getting rained on? Not true. Bob Berman explains what a “chance of rain” really means!If you’re a sky watcher like yours truly, the first step in observing the sky is having decent weather. We probably all check the forecast from time…

Dark Matter! Did Most of the Universe Go Missing?

Back in 1933, most of the universe went missing. According to many astronomers, it’s still missing. We’re talking about dark matter which can’t be seen. So, how do we know that dark matter exists? Bob Berman explains what dark matter is—and isn’t.Dark matter was coined by the famous Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky. He worked most of his life at the California Institute of Technology in the U.S…

Planet Neptune at Opposition! Close Visit by a Strange Planet

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, planet Neptune reaches its closest approach to us for the year. Why should we care about the only planet that cannot be seen with the naked eye? Well, if size matters, then it deserves attention on that basis alone; since it’s such an enormous blue ball, 58 planet Earths could fit inside it. Discover the “other” blue planet.Discovering NeptuneWe really…
Photograph of a clear blue wave and a yellow/orange sky

How Does the Moon Affect the Tides and Weather?

Learn how the Moon affects planet Earth. From tides to weather, there are many ways that our one and only natural satellite works in tandem with our planet. Plus, let’s dispel some myths about powers that our Moon does NOT have!How the Moon Affects TidesOcean TidesOf course, high tides and low tides are caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull. People have always…

Welcome to “This Week’s Amazing Sky,” the Almanac’s hub for everything stargazing and astronomy. Bob Berman, longtime and famous astronomer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, will help bring alive the wonders of our universe. From the beautiful stars and planets to magical auroras and eclipses, he covers everything under the Sun (and Moon)! Bob, the world’s mostly widely read astronomer, also has a new weekly podcast, Astounding Universe!

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