Q-90.1's Backyard Astronomer

Many of our modern holiday traditions have their roots in the winter festivals of long ago, including the date we now call Christmas.

About 90 minutes after sunset, look south for "The Lonely One" in an area devoid of other bright stars.

With the Winter Solstice fast approaching, it's no surprise that December's full moon is called the Cold Moon.

One of the most recognizable star clusters is now gracing the eastern sky after dark.

With little or no moon in the sky this week, it's a good time to look for one of the most famous deep sky objects.

After more than a year, Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies.

On Monday, Nov. 11, the planet Mercury will pass in front of the Sun in a rare event known as a transit.

The brightest star of the fall sky is currently low in the northeast after twilight.

Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that looks like a big "W" in the sky and you'll see the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.

You might have noticed an increase in the number of "shooting stars" in the morning sky before sunrise. This is due to the Orionid meteor shower, which is peaking right now.

Each season has a notable group of stars to serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In autumn, we have the Great Square of Pegasus.

The dark plains on the Moon are called maria or seas because early observers mistook them for bodies of water.

The Delta College Planetarium will join schools, museums, and planetariums around the globe to celebrate the Moon Friday, Oct 4.

This year, the September equinox arrives September 23, marking the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere.

If you're up before sunrise, which is easier now that we're heading into fall, you can look for the return of Orion the Hunter.

September's Full Moon is often called the Harvest Moon, and this year it occurs after midnight on September 14.

Late summer is the best time to observe the Milky Way.

If you're out on a clear dark evening in September, you can look low in the south for Sagittarius the Archer.

The early evening sky will fill with more stars this week and, among them, a pair of bright planets.

The Algonquin People often referred to the August Full Moon as the Sturgeon Moon because the Lake Sturgeon were most often caught at this time of year.