Astronomy

Lunar eclipses are very safe to observe and photograph. Photo: Gary Boyle

Look up to the Kootenay skies for the Full Flower Moon next week

“Eclipses are awe-inspiring sights that must be seen firsthand,” writes The Backyard Astronomer.

  • May 20, 2021
Lunar eclipses are very safe to observe and photograph. Photo: Gary Boyle
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Jupiter and Saturn align in our skies tonight, to form the Great Conjunction

Stargazers typically gather in groups at observatories or with backyard telescopes for such events

  • Dec 21, 2020
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Gary Boyle is Canada’s Backyard Astronomer. Photo: Gary Boyle

Look up into the Kootenay sky for ‘The Great Conjunction’

Astronomy is the oldest of the allied sciences and the night sky is a place of deep relaxation

Gary Boyle is Canada’s Backyard Astronomer. Photo: Gary Boyle
Photo: David Dudeck
Photo: David Dudeck
Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)

Mars jumps out from the night sky across B.C.

Mars is the brightest it’s been in 15 years this October

Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)
With a separation of 60 million kilometres on Oct. 6 Mars is big and bright. (Damian Peach photo)

Look for Mars in the Kootenay sky, tonight

With a separation of 60 million kilometres on October 6 Mars is big and bright.

  • Oct 6, 2020
With a separation of 60 million kilometres on Oct. 6 Mars is big and bright. (Damian Peach photo)
(Damian Peach photo)

Look for Mars in the Kootenay sky, tonight!

With a separation of 60 million kilometres on October 6 Mars is big and bright.

  • Oct 6, 2020
(Damian Peach photo)
Venus can be seen on the horizon northwest of Nelson around sunset, although not for much longer. Here’s where our sister planet should be at 9 p.m. on Thursday. Screencap: timeanddate.com.
Venus can be seen on the horizon northwest of Nelson around sunset, although not for much longer. Here’s where our sister planet should be at 9 p.m. on Thursday. Screencap: timeanddate.com.