Mercury in Pisces, traditionally speaking, is a muddle. Check a table of essential dignities and you’ll see that throughout Pisces, Mercury is both in its detriment and its fall. The planet’s nimble wit becomes bogged down by the rainstorm. But for several hours on Sunday, Mercury has a powerful ally to assist it. Mercury transits [...]

Get a good look at Saturn, thanks to the Big Picture photo blog from boston.com. These photos are fantastic.

I saw four of Jupiter’s moons through a telescope last night. First time ever! I also got a good look at constellations Lyra, Cygnus, and Aquila. I “followed the arc to Arcturus and sped on to Spica” – that’s when you follow the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle until you reach Arcturus in the [...]

The three fruit trees in our backyard are producing fruit like mad right now. That’s Jupiter for you: more abundance, more optimism, more grace – whether we deserve it or not.

I’ve tried a few times, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mercury for myself, with or without a telescope. Now Yahoo! News has picked up a column by Space.com astronomer Joe Rao that beautifully describes how Northern Hemisphere observers might be able to spot our swift neighbor if the view is unobstructed and the atmosphere cooperates.

In Summer 2008, Jupiter retrograding in Capricorn will be easy for the Northern Hemisphere skywatcher to spot. Notes on Jupiter’s essential debility, astrologically, in Capricorn, and on its retrograde period.

If you live in the northern hemisphere, look up at the sky any clear evening this month to see the approaching dance between the glowing heart of the Lion and the cold planet of lead.

Each month’s full moon has a name to some folks, did you know that? I was vaguely aware of the prettier-sounding ones such as Full Strawberry Moon and Full Harvest Moon. But seeing that March 21st this year brings the Full Worm Moon made my nose crinkle a bit in confusion. How does a worm [...]