Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. At 162 million miles away, light from the Red Planet takes fourteen minutes to reach us. According to NASA, the iron materials in Mars’ soil oxidize, which means the planet is literally a rusty rock. While sky gazers have recorded Mars’ existence and movement across the heavensContinueContinue reading “Mars: Enjoying the View of the Red Planet”
Category Archives: Solar System
Comet Neowise (C/2020 F3)
I’m forever grateful for comet Neowise as it offered a brief summertime reprieve from the darkened days of 2020.
Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)
Provides overview of Comet Atlas.
Venus: The Bringer of Light
Venus, the morning and evening star, dazzles with bright reflection from sulfuric acid clouds. Discover the history and science behind Earth’s sister planet.
Comet 46P / Wirtanen
Provides overview of Comet Wirtanen, the short-period comet that was viewable in December 2019, including photos I took of it from Bortle 8 skies south of Seattle.
Saturn: Breathtaking Light of the Night
Saturn, the second-largest planet in our solar system, is a breathtaking sight to behold. I’d be willing to bet many amateur astronomers fell in love with astronomy because someone showed them Saturn in a telescope. Like the gas planet Jupiter, Saturn has captivated astronomers and stargazers for centuries. In fact, the earliest recorded observations ofContinueContinue reading “Saturn: Breathtaking Light of the Night”
Mercury: On Finding the Elusive Planet
An amateur astronomer shares how he finally found the elusive planet Mercury, 29 years after first searching for it on the morning of Ted Bundy’s death.
The Garden Astronomer 