Seeing Red The opposition of Mars is a sight not to be missed. By Steve Kates June brings us the annual summer solstice, the true high point of the sun on the ecliptic path. This year, the summer solstice occurs at 3:07 a.m. local time on June 21. The sun then occupies the domain of the constellation of Gemini the twins and remains intense throughout the month. The latest sunsets here in Arizona occur betwe ...

The Great American Total Solar Eclipse  Get ready for an amazing event in the August sky. By Steve Kates Get ready for an amazing experience The Great American Total Solar Eclipse is coming to the skies near you on Aug. 21. Here in Arizona, however, we get to see a deep partial solar eclipse. Not since 1979 has a total solar eclipse been visible in the continental United States and this is a big event for f ...

Jupiter Rising   The largest planet in our Solar System dominates spring skies. By Steve Kates   The night skies of Arizona are above for your viewing and enjoyment. We’re lucky to be located in this most amazing location, where the dark of the night sky is just a short drive away. April offers us some amazing treats in the sky. This is the month of Jupiter, the king of the planets. Jupiter is the larg ...

Wonders Above Winter skies include meteor shows––and more. By Steve Kates The skies are rich with signs and symbols of this great universe. You are just a few moments away from experiencing this for yourself, all you need to do is head outside. The good news is that December marks two major sky events. First, we get to see one of the year’s best meteor showers, the Geminids, peak on the night of Dec. 13 int ...

August Showers Get set for a thrilling sight in the early morning skies––the Perseids meteor shower. By Steve Kates The heat of summer continues. With no end to triple-digit temperatures in sight, the only reprieve we can expect is in the form of monsoon showers. While there’s no guarantee of a monsoon, we’re in store for a far more reliable type of shower––the Perseids meteor shower. The Perseids are one o ...

Get set for one of the most dramatic and beautiful of all astronomical events. By Steve Kates A scorching August leads us to September and hopefully cooler weather. As the heat slowly retreats, the night skies of August and September offer up some celestial gems. Get set for one of the best meteor showers of the entire year as the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of Aug. 12. With the special ...