https://chestertownspy.org Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:26:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/29/may-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/29/may-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:00:46 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183686 Planet highlights are somewhat reduced this month although Mars makes a nice addition to the dim Zodiac constellation, Cancer the Crab.  On May 1st use binoculars to find Mars quite close to M44, the “Beehive Cluster;” an open cluster of stars found in Cancer.  Cancer lies in the western sky between the Gemini twins and Leo […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/04/29/may-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 1 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/29/lyrids-and-morning-planets-april-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/29/lyrids-and-morning-planets-april-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Sat, 29 Mar 2025 10:00:24 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=183065 The annual Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks the night of April 22nd, is one of the main April highlights for sky-watchers.  This meteor shower, caused by debris left behind from a Comet with a 416 year orbit, will be best seen from 2 to 4 am looking East.  With 20 to 25 meteors per hour be likely, […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/03/29/lyrids-and-morning-planets-april-2025-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/02/28/march-2025-sky-watch-a-lunar-eclipse-and-springtime-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/02/28/march-2025-sky-watch-a-lunar-eclipse-and-springtime-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:00:04 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=182564 The biggest deal in the night sky this month is a total eclipse of the Moon on the night of March 13/14.  A total lunar eclipse happens when the Full Moon passes directly into the shadow cast by the Earth.  This doesn’t happen every month because of the Moon’s 5-degree orbital tilt around the Earth. The Moon […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/02/28/march-2025-sky-watch-a-lunar-eclipse-and-springtime-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2025/01/11/february-sky-watch-2025-bright-winter-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2025/01/11/february-sky-watch-2025-bright-winter-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:00:35 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=181804 Any clear winter night this month, look due south between 8:00 and 10:00 pm to spot the large “hour-glass” shape of Orion the hunter.  In its middle 3 equally bright stars mark the belt around the waist of this hunter.  Using those 3 stars as a pointer through them down and left to spot Sirius, the […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2025/01/11/february-sky-watch-2025-bright-winter-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/27/planet-highlights-in-december-december-2024-sky-watch-by-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/27/planet-highlights-in-december-december-2024-sky-watch-by-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:00:08 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/27/planet-highlights-in-december-december-2024-sky-watch-by-by-dennis-herrmann/ December 2024 sky – watch This December Jupiter will reach its best apparition in a decade for sky-watchers, offering loads of details for sky-watchers with telescope.  Mars will join Jupiter in the eastern sky on later December evenings; being just a month away from its own best appearance for us in two years.  Saturn will […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/27/planet-highlights-in-december-december-2024-sky-watch-by-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/02/improving-planet-views-november-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/02/improving-planet-views-november-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Sat, 02 Nov 2024 11:00:07 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=180598 Our views of several planets improve this month, most notably that of Jupiter, which approaches its closet approach to Earth in early December.  Already Jupiter is well up in the eastern sky by 10 pm and it is the brightest object there, among the stars of background constellation Taurus.  Jupiter will also gain in brightness […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/11/02/improving-planet-views-november-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/09/28/october-2024-sky-watch-maybe-a-bright-comet-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/09/28/october-2024-sky-watch-maybe-a-bright-comet-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:00:02 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=179632 I have rarely brought passing comets to sky-watchers attention through my column; not because they are rare, but because most comets remain too dim to be seen easily except through binoculars or small telescopes.  However mid-October brings a highly anticipated comet into view with its closest approach to Earth on October 12th.  The comet’s name […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/09/28/october-2024-sky-watch-maybe-a-bright-comet-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/08/30/opposition-and-equinox-september-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/08/30/opposition-and-equinox-september-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=178494 Saturn reaches opposition on September 8th this year, when it will be visible all night, rising soon after sunset in the eastern sky.  The word opposition refers to Saturn being in a position opposite the Sun in the sky to us; we on Earth are “in between” the two as we look at the sky.  Saturn is also […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/08/30/opposition-and-equinox-september-2024-sky-watch-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/07/30/august-2024-sky-watch-the-perseids-and-the-planets-by-denis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/07/30/august-2024-sky-watch-the-perseids-and-the-planets-by-denis-herrmann/#respond Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:00:53 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/?p=178011  The planets remain the big feature for sky-watchers throughout August this year. However, favorable conditions for dark skies will offer us good viewing for the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.  The result of debris left behind by the passage of Comet 109P Swift Tuttle, the Perseids are one of the most productive meteor showers annually.  The maximum […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/07/30/august-2024-sky-watch-the-perseids-and-the-planets-by-denis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/06/25/july-2024-sky-watch-summer-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/06/25/july-2024-sky-watch-summer-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:00:56 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/06/25/july-2024-sky-watch-summer-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/ Last month several planets appeared to line up across the eastern morning sky, but this month,  each planet’s own orbital speeds have caused a change in their positions as we see them.  This month only Mercury and Venus will be visible in the evening western skies briefly after sunset. Venus will set first and even […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2024/06/25/july-2024-sky-watch-summer-stars-and-planets-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/05/21/june-2024-sky-watch-planets-line-up-as-summer-arrives-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/05/21/june-2024-sky-watch-planets-line-up-as-summer-arrives-by-dennis-herrmann/#respond Tue, 21 May 2024 10:00:07 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2024/05/21/june-2024-sky-watch-planets-line-up-as-summer-arrives-by-dennis-herrmann/ https://chestertownspy.org/2024/05/21/june-2024-sky-watch-planets-line-up-as-summer-arrives-by-dennis-herrmann/feed/ 0 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/12/31/spy-watch-new-years-planets-and-stars/ Sun, 31 Dec 2023 12:59:46 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/12/31/spy-watch-new-years-plants-and-stars/ Our New Year of Sky-Watching begins with Jupiter and Saturn visible most of the evening, while Mercury, Venus, and Mars show up in the morning sky before sunrise.  Looking back to December we enjoyed presenting our annual planetarium Xmas program to record crowds; averaging 67 for 6 showings —- 381 total.  Thank you all! Saturn […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/12/03/giant-planets-and-winter-stars-by-dennis-herrmann/ Sun, 03 Dec 2023 12:55:16 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/12/03/giant-planets-and-winter-stars-by-dennis-herrmann/ Winter season officially arrives on December 21st at 10:27 pm.  Night-time darkness is at its greatest this time of year, and we can begin to look for night sky sights at an earlier time.  The December Full Moon is on the 26th, the day after Christmas.  And the Geminid meteor shower peaks on the 14th. […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/08/31/planet-watch-and-summer-triangle-by-dennis-herrmann/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:35:10 +0000 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/08/31/planet-watch-and-summer-triangle-by-dennis-herrmann/ Peak viewing season for the “naked eye” giant planets continues this month, with Saturn visible all night, Jupiter, rising later, dominating the eastern sky before dawn. Meantime, Venus becomes even brighter in the early morning sky, and by the end of September will be joined by Mercury. Saturn, which just passed opposition August 27th, remains […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/06/27/july-2023-sky-watch/ Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:00:36 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=169479 The entire month of July will offer opportunities for Sky-Watchers to enjoy observing the planets; not only at dusk and evening, but also at dawn. Innermost planet MERCURY will join brilliant VENUS, which may be spotted just after sunset in the western sky. Fainter MARS will also be nearby. SATURN will come into prominence in […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/05/27/june-2023-sky-watch/ https://chestertownspy.org/2023/05/27/june-2023-sky-watch/#comments Sat, 27 May 2023 10:00:15 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=168750 The brightness of Venus captures our attention for more than 3 hours after sunset this month, reaching its greatest angle from the Sun as we see it on June 4th. Already very bright at the start of June, Venus brightens even more by the end of June. Looking west; it is unmistakable! On June 1st […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/05/27/june-2023-sky-watch/feed/ 1 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/04/25/may-2023-sky-watch/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:00:36 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=167558 Venus is at its best and brightest for all of 2023 in May this year. It will remain visible in all its unmistakable brilliance until quite late —— well after sunset in our western sky. Venus will appear to move from the bottom to the top of the tall constellation Gemini. Mars continues as an […]]]> https://chestertownspy.org/2023/03/23/april-2023-sky-watch/ Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:00:07 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=166337 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/02/27/march-2022-sky-watch-2/ Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:00:28 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=165495 https://chestertownspy.org/2023/01/22/february-2023-sky-watch/ Sun, 22 Jan 2023 11:00:21 +0000 https://cs.spycommunitymedia.org/?p=164477