My first telescope was a surprise Christmas gift. I’ll never forget my delight and also my frustration with early attempts to use it. It took time to acquire the knowledge […]
Million Year Picnic
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Our Second Moon, for a Little While
An asteroid falls into step with Earth
This article was updated on Oct. 24, 2024. Maybe you’ve heard: Earth recently gained a second moon. On Sept. 29, a small asteroid with the prosaic name 2024 PT5 wandered […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
In Space, We See What Was
Where distance is time, the light from Sagittarius and Saturn spans ages
Distances in space are enormous. Look up on any night and pick a star, any one you like. Then consider this: the sparkling light you see began its journey tens, […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
The Naked Moon
How to get to know our satellite more intimately
The Moon is the biggest, brightest object in the night sky, the most recognizable and familiar — and the most underappreciated. Over years of observing the stars with friends and […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
A Calendar of Celestial Sights for Summer Nights
A dusk-to-dawn itinerary for seasonal skywatchers
Whether you’re an early riser, twilight stroller, nighttime stargazer, Moon lover, planet fan, or meteor enthusiast, there’s something for you in the night sky this summer. Here’s a suggested itinerary, […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Catching a Glimmer of Mercury’s Magic
Just after a July sunset, the chance to spot an apparition that’s elusive
Our solar system has eight planets, including Earth. Of these, five are visible to the unaided eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune require a telescope. Of […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Reflections on Totality
Awed by the spectacle, strangers fleetingly become friends
Last month I watched the solar eclipse from a park in Westport, N.Y. by Lake Champlain. The lake and mountains beyond were a beautiful sight — a proper setting for […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Send in the Robots
Crewed space exploration is on our minds, but Earth should be our priority for now
Strangers see me standing next to my telescope on the street in New York or on First Encounter Beach in Eastham and think I might know the answers to any […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
When the Moon Eclipses the Sun
Totality will miss the Cape on April 8, but we’ll still get 90 percent of its magic
The solar eclipse on April 8 is America’s headline astronomical event of 2024, but Cape Cod isn’t in the path of totality. That means we won’t experience the otherworldly twilight […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Saving the Dark Sky
From national parks to neighborhoods, there’s hope for reducing light pollution
We finally had a string of clear nights after what seemed like weeks of clouds and cold rain. Sunshine is nice, but what I was waiting for was the joy […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
What Leap Day Does for Us
The dance that keeps us in sync with the orbits of the Earth and Sun
Everybody knows that one day — the time it takes Earth to rotate once around its axis — is 24 hours. And one year — the time it takes Earth […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Seeing Light Pollution for What It Is
When artificial illumination intrudes, it’s not just about looks
The winter cold can be challenging for stargazers, but it offers rewards to the warmly dressed. That’s because cold air can’t hold as much water vapor as warm air, so […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Seeing the Light Under a Dark Sky
A first unforgettable look at a glorious three-dimensional mess of stars
On the Outer Cape, far from the lights of shopping centers, interstate highways, and urban downtowns, we’re used to seeing bright stars sparkle amidst hundreds of fainter ones. The ghostly […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
Seeing the Light Under a Dark Sky
A first unforgettable look at a glorious three-dimensional mess of stars
On the Outer Cape, far from the lights of shopping centers, interstate highways, and urban downtowns, we’re used to seeing bright stars sparkle amidst hundreds of fainter ones. The ghostly […]
MILLION-YEAR PICNIC
The Gas Giant That Rules the January Sky
Observing the storms stirred by Jupiter’s strange chemistry
Step outside after sunset this month and you’ll see a brilliant gold-white star high, far brighter than any other, high in the east. It’s not the legendary star in the […]
