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Category Archives: Solar System

Blood Moon: March 2025 Lunar Eclipse

This post covers my observation of Lunar Eclipse in March 2025. In the deep stillness of this early morning, the last sliver of white on the moon turns a copper red, marking the first time in many years that I’ve watched a total lunar eclipse. Photos included.

Posted byWayne McGrawMarch 14, 2025March 21, 2025Posted inSolar SystemTags:Astrophotography, Lunar Eclipse, Moon, Winter1 Comment on Blood Moon: March 2025 Lunar Eclipse

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Graces Autumn Skies

This comet, first discovered by astronomers from the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and the ATLAS survey in Hawaii, promised to be one of the brightest comets since Neowise. And sure enough, it actually got a little brighter than Neowise.

Posted byWayne McGrawNovember 17, 2024November 7, 2025Posted inSolar SystemTags:Astronomy, Astrophotography, Comet, Notable, science, space1 Comment on Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Graces Autumn Skies

Jupiter: King of the Nighttime Sky

Jupiter is not just a planet. It’s a dreamland of astronomical proportions. From its giant storms to its mysterious moons, something about Jupiter captures our imagination and fuels our sense of wonder. I show what the planet looks like through a backyard scope and includes an astrophoto of the planet using a DSLR camera.

Posted byWayne McGrawSeptember 16, 2023December 2, 2023Posted inSolar System4 Comments on Jupiter: King of the Nighttime Sky

The Sun: Our Powerhouse

Our Sun, situated at the center of our solar system, serves as the gravitational anchor around which Earth and other celestial bodies revolve. Right now it is experiencing great solar activity.

Posted byWayne McGrawJune 3, 2023March 10, 2024Posted inNotable Stars, Solar SystemTags:Spring2 Comments on The Sun: Our Powerhouse

Ceres: The Largest Object in the Asteroid Belt

Ceres is a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is the largest object in the asteroid belt. Giuseppe Piazzi discovered Ceres on January 1, 1801.

Posted byWayne McGrawMay 12, 2023June 22, 2025Posted inSolar System1 Comment on Ceres: The Largest Object in the Asteroid Belt

The Green Comet of 2023 (C/2022 E3 ZTF)

Just when I thought it would be many years for another bright comet to appear after 2020’s Neowise, Comet ZTF arrived on the scene in early 2023. The comet is known as C/2022 E3 ZTF.

Posted byWayne McGrawJanuary 29, 2023March 29, 2023Posted inSolar SystemTags:Comet, Notable3 Comments on The Green Comet of 2023 (C/2022 E3 ZTF)

Finding Neptune: Viewing My Favorite Planet for the First Time

The fuzzy sapphire floating on the firmament was finally mine.

Posted byWayne McGrawOctober 8, 2021November 11, 2025Posted inSolar System, Top ObjectTags:Prime2 Comments on Finding Neptune: Viewing My Favorite Planet for the First Time

Uranus: On Seeing the Planet for the First Time

There it was—Uranus—no longer a point of light but a small disc colored pale green. It seemed to float among the dim stars.

Posted byWayne McGrawNovember 6, 2020January 3, 2026Posted inSolar SystemTags:Autumn, Prime7 Comments on Uranus: On Seeing the Planet for the First Time

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