Northern Sky

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

The last days of August and the first days of September are full of activity that you need no more than binoculars - or even just a clear sky - to see. In this edition of Northern Sky, Deane gives us the lowdown and what's worth catching, including a thin crescent moon which points us to Venus, Saturn and Spica, in Virgo. You can also catch the "beehive" star cluster.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

This month, see the full sturgeon moon, Venus in the west, and the star Vega.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

During mid-May, the main attractions are Jupiter and Saturn. In this edition of Northern Sky, Deane explains the best time to see these fascinating planets, as well as some of the other eye-catching sights to see astronomy-wise in the next few weeks.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

During the last part of April and beginning of May, Saturn reaches opposition, catch the Spring constellations, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower and more.

Read this month's Starwatch column.

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

In March, we get a new moon on the 11th, and you can catch Jupiter near the first quarter phase of the moon. Saturn is rising late in the evening and it's getting brighter, so it's a good time to see it with a telescope near Spica. You can also see comet PanSTARRS on Tuesday the 12th. Learn more in this edition of Northern Sky.

Read this month's Starwatch column.

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

In mid-February, you can catch Mercury (the "messenger") near a waxing moon. It's also a great time to catch Saturn and the Andromeda galaxy. Learn more in this edition of Northern Sky.

Read this month's Starwatch column.

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

In the last week of January and first week of February, a waning moon means a better view of the winter stars (Capella, Aldebaran, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux and Castor, Betelgeuse and more). Jupiter is fading, but Saturn is coming into its own, and it will be at west quadrature on January 30. Learn more in this edition of Northern Sky.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column. In this edition of Northern Sky, Deane explains how you can catch perihelion, Venus and Saturn in the morning sky, the Orion complex and much more at the beginning of the new year.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column. In this edition of Northern Sky, Deane explains what to expect in the sky over the holidays, including the winter solstice and the cluster of winter constellations that are coming into their own.

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Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column. In this edition of Northern Sky, Deane explains what stands out in the sky this December (Perseus & Algol, a waning crescent moon, and the Geminid meteor shower) and the latest in astronomy news (the discovery of ice on Mercury and the findings of the first soil analysis from NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity).

Read this month's Starwatch column.