SkyCaramba

Orion is one of the biggest and most recognizable constellations. This is a great time of year to see it. Learn about some of the stars and a stellar nursery in it.

Mars is passing close to Uranus. Uranus is harder to see, but having something familiar close by can help you identify it. Unfortunately, another familiar object--the first quarter moon--is going to cast a lot of light into the view and make things hard. Listen here for a workaround and to find out more about the red planet and the blue one.

Most planet viewing will be a challenge this month. But you may see Mars close to Uranus. You can also get to know some of the winter constellations at their best.

Did you get a new telescope for the holidays? Get to know it so you can get the most out of it. Here are some tips.

Many people ask this time of year what the Star of Bethlehem was. Most of the explanations don't consider it as a star at all. A comet, a conjunction of two planets, and a lunar eclipse are all considered in this podcast.

The December solstice is the winter solstice to some, the summer solstice to others. Learn why solstices happen and how they relate to certain lines on maps and globes. Also learn about the corresponding lunar phenomenon called the lunistice.

A century ago, universe and galaxy were interchangeable words. And most scientists thought the entire universe was only 30,000 light years across. Then an astronomer noticed something everyone else had missed in photographs of a particular nebula. When he calculated how far away it is, minds were blown. And it turns out, what he saw is even farther away than he thought. And today, a telescope named after him enables us to see many times farther than that.

Events this month include a total solar eclipse, the Great Conjunction of 2020, a couple meteor showers, Earth at solstice, and more.

There'll be a penumbral lunar eclipse on November 30th. Here's a reminder about what to look for and when. The moon will be near an orange star called Aldebaran. And a reminder about the great conjunction of 2020 coming in December.

A stellar kite flies high during the evening this time of year. Most people see just six Pleiades with the naked eye. But legends from around the world tell of seven people or other beings represented there. Some cultures have explanations for why one is hiding or missing. Find out what the first nations people of North America and Australia, as well as the Greeks and others say about these stars.