Topic: Backyard Astronomy

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20 essential Android tips and tricks

Several weeks ago, we highlighted 20 useful iPhone tricks everyone should know. We got such good feedback from that feature that we wanted to share the love with Android users – who, after all, make up the largest proportion of the smart phone community.
Quadrantid meteors and 11 other big skywatching events of 2012

What lies ahead sky-wise for 2012? Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist, selected what he considers to be the top 12 "skylights" for this coming year,
Ramadan 101: Five facts about the holy month of Ramadan

Throughout the month-long holiday, they will fast from dawn to dusk. Ramadan is happening at the heart of summer this year, posing a greater challenge than normal for those observing the fast.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the day 06/10
In Pictures: Space photos of the day: Looking deeper

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Supermoon, earth-grazing meteors, spring midpoint, and Cinco de Mayo: Okay, it’s officially a party!

The brightest, biggest moon of the year will grace an evening that offers lots to celebrate, including the midpoint of spring and Cinco de Mayo. The only downside may be that the supermoon will make earth-grazing fireballs from the Aquarid meteor shower harder to see.
Supermoon Saturday: Why it's the biggest, brightest of 2012 (+video)

Supermoon Saturday: It's also called the 'Flower Moon,' and 'Milk Moon.' The 'supermoon' will be only 221,802 miles from Earth, the closest to our planet this year.
Supermoon Saturday: Biggest moon of the year (+video)

Supermoon 2012 comes on May 5. The 'supermoon' is when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth. The supermoon will be 16 percent brighter than a normal full moon.
What does Easter have to do with the moon anyway?

Traditionally, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere.
20 essential Android tips and tricks

Several weeks ago, we highlighted 20 useful iPhone tricks everyone should know. We got such good feedback from that feature that we wanted to share the love with Android users – who, after all, make up the largest proportion of the smart phone community.
Mars, moon, and star form brilliant sky triangle tonight

The moon, Mars and the star Regulus will combine to form a very bright triple play Tuesday night.
Bright Venus to show in daytime sky

Effulgent Venus will show just beside the moon today. Also, some cues on how to observe this rare and beautiful event.
Venus, Jupiter to put on rare spectacle

The planets Venus and Jupiter will align on Monday and Tuesday night, appearing just 3 degrees apart in the western sky.
Jupiter and Venus to dance together this week

Beginning tonight, the two brightest planets in the sky will be so close together that you'll be able to block both of them out with a few fingers held at arm's length.
Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and moon to put on rare spectacle in sky

This past weekend, three planets joined the moon in a rare alignment. On Monday, these celestial bodies will be joined by Mercury.
Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks Weds, one of 2012's best

The Quadrantids are notoriously unpredictable, but if any year promises a fine display, this could be it.
Quadrantid meteor shower won't have to compete with moonlight

Quadrantid meteor shower peak could hit as many as 100 meteors per hour, says NASA. The Quadrantid meteor shower will peak at 2 a.m. on Jan. 4.
Quadrantid meteors and 11 other big skywatching events of 2012

What lies ahead sky-wise for 2012? Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist, selected what he considers to be the top 12 "skylights" for this coming year,
Winter solstice: time to celebrate brighter days ahead

Winter solstice occurred Thursday at 12:30 a.m., Eastern time. Throughout the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice celebrations help beat back winter's gloom and usher in longer days.
Comet's death-plunge into sun will be well documented

The ill-fated comet Lovejoy is on course to plow through the sun's blisteringly hot outer atmosphere - called the corona - making its closest approach to our star at around 7 p.m. EST Thursday.
Geminid meteor shower: why spectacular light show puzzles scientists

Gemenid meteor shower watchers can't figure out where all the material in the event comes from. Asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the apparent source of the Gemenid meteor shower, doesn't seem to shed enough rock and dust to account for the shower's intensity.
The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight. Don't miss it!

The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight, eager skywatchers may experience chilly temperatures.
German satellite to fall to Earth. Here's how to watch it.

German satellite: A decommissioned German X-Ray space observatory about the size of a minivan is falling to Earth. With a dark sky, you can see it as it gradually descends.
Moon, Jupiter to shine near each other tonight

Moon meet Jupiter, Jupiter meet moon. The two most brilliant objects in our current night sky will make for an eye-catching duo tonight, weather permitting.
Draconid meteor shower: Don't let daylight or nearly full moon stop you

Draconid meteor shower viewing is potentially much more exciting this year, as Earth is expected to hit some tendrils of comet dust head-on. But the peak is Saturday afternoon.
Asteroid Vesta features mountain bigger than any on Earth

Asteroid Vesta is currently in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists recently discovered a huge mountain on the asteroid Vesta.
Chapter & Verse
What are the toughest questions tossed at reference librarians?

Think it's easy being a librarian? Think again!
Harvest moon: Why does the moon look so big?

Harvest moon: This month's full moon appears low in the southeastern sky, traditionally offering extra light so that farmers could gather their crops later into the evening.
Supernova 'of a generation': how you can see it with binoculars

A supernova in the nearby Pinwheel Galaxy is the closest supernova in 25 years. Situated near the Big Dipper, the SN 2011fe supernova can be seen with binoculars this week.
The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire, and War in the West Indies

A rich narrative looks back at an era when sugar merchants were the power brokers of their day.