Venus has been capturing the attention of stargazers for eons because of its brilliance — nothing is brighter in the night sky other than our Moon. For stargazers, Venus goes through a remarkable 584 day cycle in which it appears and disappears as both the Morning Star and the Evening Star. This article explains its bewildering apparitions. ➜

The Pleiades in Taurus is one of the most tantalizing targets for stargazers in Fall and Winter. Visible to the naked- eye, it has caught the attention of people all over the globe, from every culture and for thousands of years. Have you seen it? If not, it should be at or near the top of your list of celestial targets to explore. Tap to learn more. ➜

What a spectacular aurora we had on the night of May 10th. So often we see the news about auroras only to be disappointed, but not this time — it was awesome. Yes, we photographed it by making a video of the aurora above Mt Rainier.... take a look... ➜

On September 17, Saturn will be occulted by the Moon for nearly an hour. Watch the Moon approach Saturn in our sky and then cover it completely. This is a rare and 'not to be missed' event in the Starry Hill region. ➜

If you'd like an interesting challenge, then the Partial Lunar Eclipse on September 17, 2024 may be for you. At maximum eclipse, the Moon will be low in the sky, bathed in twilight with only a tiny part of the Moon turning red. This will be a difficult stargazing challenge indeed! ➜

On December 17, two wise -- very old -- worlds, Mars and the Moon, will arrive at the star cluster known since antiquity as the Praesepe, Latin for manger. How appropriate for this time of year. This rare event will be best viewed with a binocular or small telescope. ➜

On August 14, Mars will be passing Jupiter in our sky. Although this happens about every 27 months, this year they will appear incredibly close -- less than half the width of a Full Moon. They won't be this close again for over nine years. ➜

Remember the wonderful total solar eclipse in August of 2017? The good news is that the USA will be experiencing another one on April 8, 2024. Just like last time, to experience totality, one has to be within the path of totality. The not-so-good news for us in the Starry Hill region, the path won't be nearby. So, unless you are willing to travel a couple thousand miles east, this eclipse will be only partial. ➜