Astronomy

At dusk on Saturday, October 9, clear skies in Santa Barbara revealed the arresting conjunction of the four-day-old crescent Moon shining only 2.5 degrees away from brilliant Venus. 

Mars is now in conjunction with the Sun, but will be back for a nice appearance at a decent altitude in December of 2022. 

The watery sky is now dominating the east and south, and familiar autumn constellations are returning, led by Pegasus

Mercury, Venus, and Mars are hanging out low in the western sunset sky in early August, but only bright Venus will be easily visible.

On Monday, July 5, we are at aphelion, our most distant from the Sun for the year, about 3.4% farther away than we were at perihelion in January.

Edhat readers share photos of a full strawberry moon rising over Santa Barbara

Chuck captured a photo of the recently launched Starlink Satellites floating through the skies.

The International Space Station will be making some bright visible passes through our evening skies in the first week of June, June Gloom permitting.

Edhat readers share photos of Tuesday evening's Flower Supermoon.

The International Space Station will say goodbye to May with a long series of visible appearances in Santa Barbara’s evening skies, if the May Gray stays away.

The International Space Station will be appearing in our evening skies from May 13 through June 6.

Fritz captured a timelapse photo of the International Space Station transit on Tuesday morning.

An edhat reader shares a photo of Monday's Pink Supermoon.

Ronald captured a photo of April's full "pink moon."

An edhat reader shares a photo of the bright twinkling lights of the International Space Station.

The International Space Station will be making a few visible passes through Santa Barbara’s early April evening skies, weather permitting.

Ronald shares a close-up photo of the moon being just 5 days old on March 18.

The International Space Station will be making a few visible passes through Santa Barbara’s evening skies in the next week, if the sky is clear.

Beginning on March 3, Mars was within 2.6 degrees of the Pleiades star cluster.

The International Space Station will be making a few visible passes through Santa Barbara’s evening skies in early February, if the sky is clear.

Ronald shares a photo of the first new moon of 2021 that debuted on January 13.

The International Space Station will be making a few visible evening passes through Santa Barbara’s skies in the next week, if the clouds are polite.

An edhat reader documents the next Solar Cycle for sunspots that are expected to peak in 2025.

Edhat readers share their photos of the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter on Monday evening.

Ronald shares a photo of a shooting star streaking through Orion's belt above Santa Barbara.

Chuck shares a video of the Moon occulting the planet Venus at 1:17 PM PST from Santa Barbara.

Chuck shares a shot of the International Space Station passing through the Pleiades from our point of view on Monday evening, just before it faded away into the Earth’s shadow. 

The International Space Station will be making a few visible passes through Santa Barbara’s evening skies in early December.

Edhat readers report an interesting ring around the moon.

Team Vandenberg and SpaceX are scheduled to launch the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite Saturday, Nov. 21 at 9:17 a.m., from Vandenberg Air Force Base.