Aberdeen Backyard Astronomy

Aberdeen Backyard Astronomy Sharing information about astronomy opportunities and activities in the Aberdeen SD area.

On Tuesday the 22nd the Sun will rise due east(90 degrees)and will set due west (270 degrees). So, if you want to know w...
09/21/2026

On Tuesday the 22nd the Sun will rise due east(90 degrees)and will set due west (270 degrees). So, if you want to know where due east and due west are from your location, get out and watch the sunrise/sunset and identify something on the horizon for later reference. Because of our planet’s axial tilt the Sun’s position on the horizon changes throughout the year. Around June 21 the Sun will rise at 55* ENE and each day will move farther south along the horizon until Dec 21 when it will rise at 124* ESE. Same thing happens for sunsets. If Earth had no tilt, the Sun would rise and set from the same point every day. BORING. Oh, and we wouldn’t have changing seasons either.

09/18/2026

No Star Party tonight. We’ll keep looking at next weekend, Sept 25th. Stay tuned.

Not looking good for this Friday’s star gazing at 12th Street Park. Conditions could change, check back here later in we...
09/15/2026

Not looking good for this Friday’s star gazing at 12th Street Park. Conditions could change, check back here later in week.

Will be heading to Senior Center Wednesday afternoon to share viewing tips with members.
09/15/2026

Will be heading to Senior Center Wednesday afternoon to share viewing tips with members.

08/31/2026

OCTOBER STAR PARTY IS BEING MOVED TO FRIDAY THE 9th.

With the coming of fall we see the appearance of Saturn in our southern sky. Over the next few evenings you can use the ...
08/29/2026

With the coming of fall we see the appearance of Saturn in our southern sky. Over the next few evenings you can use the Moon to help you find Saturn. (10:30pm and later)It will appear as a cream colored, non-twinkling light as the Moon passes by. As the night goes on it will follow the same path as the Sun across our southern sky. Through binoculars it may appear as an oval but you will need a telescope to distinguish the rings. Saturn is the most distant planet we can see easily with the naked eye.

Looks like good viewing conditions for lunar eclipse tonight. See previous post for info.
08/27/2026

Looks like good viewing conditions for lunar eclipse tonight. See previous post for info.

This Thursday night and Friday morning will give a chance to see a partial lunar eclipse. About 97% of Moon will be cove...
08/23/2026

This Thursday night and Friday morning will give a chance to see a partial lunar eclipse. About 97% of Moon will be covered with Earth’s shadow. Maximum coverage will be around 11:11 pm on Thursday. The reddish tint on Moon is caused by the Sun’s rays passing through the Earth’s atmosphere.

Had a great group for stargazing last night. Learned how to starhop to locate the Andromeda Galaxy which has a trillion ...
08/22/2026

Had a great group for stargazing last night. Learned how to starhop to locate the Andromeda Galaxy which has a trillion stars and is 2.5 million lightyears away. It appears as a smudge of light in telescope. We also spent time with the Moon’s mountain ranges that circle the Mare Imbrium. Next gazing is September 16th, we will take a look a Jupiter and Saturn.

September Stargazing Party will be Friday the 21st at the 12th Street Park. We will be checking out the half Moon, Andro...
08/17/2026

September Stargazing Party will be Friday the 21st at the 12th Street Park. We will be checking out the half Moon, Andromeda Galaxy, the “Teapot” asterism which will direct us to the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

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