On April 1, 2026—yes, really, April Fool’s Day—NASA is scheduled to launch astronauts toward the Moon for the first time in 54 years.
The last time humans left low Earth orbit was during Apollo 17 in 1972. Since then, we’ve built space stations, launched telescopes, and sent robots across the solar system—but we haven’t sent people back to deep space.… Continue reading.
Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
March 23: Look for the waxing crescent Pink Moon above to the Pleiades and Aldebaran: see the bright open cluster (M45) along with red eye of the bull alpha star and the ice giant Uranus in the constellation Taurus in the west around 10:00 PM.… Continue reading.
Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
March 16: The Moon reaches perihelion: The moon’s closest point to the Sun in its orbit around earth at a distance of 0.9810 AU:. 2:07 AM March 17 (St Patrick’s Day): Look for a tiny sliver of a waning crescent Snow Moon next to Mercury to the east in the morning sky in the constellation Aquarius just before sunrise: 6:40 AM March 18: Boulder OSMP Dark Skies & Deep Space: Spring Prelude, Venus & The Crescent Moon: Free in-person stargazing at Beech Shelter (registration required): 7:00 PM SCStI The Solar System Cookbook: What Is Webb Revealing about How Solar Systems Like Ours Come To Be?:… Continue reading.
Colorado’s list of places protecting the night sky continues to grow. The rural community of Old Snowmass has officially been designated an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, recognizing years of local work to reduce light pollution and preserve the natural beauty of the night.… Continue reading.
Zodiacal light is a faint, glowing band of light that stretches across the night sky. It looks like a soft triangle of light rising up from the horizon. This glow appears along the path the Sun travels through the sky, called the ecliptic.… Continue reading.
Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
March 9: 🔭 Catch the Great Red Spot of Jupiter transiting the surface of the gas giant from the perspective of Earth high in the southwestern sky in the constellation Gemini from 10:15 PM until 2:10 AM.… Continue reading.
Charles Messier was a French astronomer who lived from 1730 to 1817. Working in Paris during the late 1700s, Messier was passionate about discovering comets. In an era when comet discoveries brought great scientific prestige, he spent countless nights scanning the skies with a 100 mm refracting telescope.… Continue reading.
Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
March 2: 👀 Look for the waxing gibbous Worm Moon near Regulus, the bright heart of the lion in the constellation Leo in the eastern sky around 6:30 PM 🌔 The waxing gibbous Worm Moon reaches its Descending Node (this alignment where the Moon’s angular orbit crosses the ecliptic makes it possible for the Total Eclipse in the early morning hours of March 3rd): 10:36 PM March 3: 👀 Check out the Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full Worm Moon: Partial eclipse begins at 2:50 AM, totality begins at 4:04 AM, and the greatest eclipse occurs at 4:33 AM 🌕 Full Worm Moon: 4:37 AM: Qdoba offers free chips and queso every full moon of 2026 with the purchase of an entrée.… Continue reading.
The upcoming total eclipse of the full Worm Moon on March 3, 2026, presents a remarkable opportunity for Denver skywatchers to observe this celestial event. Here’s a comprehensive guide covering the timing, phases, scientific background, and observing tips.
What Causes Lunar Eclipses and What’s a Blood Moon?… Continue reading.
Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.
February 23: 👀 Look for the waxing crescent Worm Moon near the Pleiades, the brilliant open star cluster also known as Messier 45 high in the southern sky in the constellation Taurus around 7:00 PM 🖥️ DAS E-Board Meeting: Virtual meeting via Zoom (check membership email and slack for details): 7:00 PM February 24: 🖥️ Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI): Discovering the Least-Massive Brown Dwarfs Known with the James Webb Space Telescope: Free virtual program on YouTube: 5:00 PM 🌓 First Quarter Worm Moon: 5:28 AM 🌓 The first quarter Worm Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to our planet in its orbit around us at 370,135km: 5:25 PM February 25: 🎤 60 Minutes in Space with Dr.… Continue reading.