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October 4, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

9 Brevities

Fall Planets October 2025 Sky-Watch By Dennis Herrmann

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October opens with Saturn, just about a week past opposition, high up in the eastern sky after dark and visible all night.  Look for it just below the nearly Full Moon on October 5th.  Full Moon is one night later.

This month the tilt of Saturn’s rings narrows so that only larger telescopes will reveal them clearly.  The variation of Saturn’s and Earth’s orbital planes around the Sun cause this.  Most of the time we, on Earth, are either above Saturn’s orbital plane, or below it.  But now we coincide with its plane from our point of view.

Saturn’s continues to be the guide for our finding Neptun through binoculars.  Centering the ringed planet in a binoculars field of view, Neptune may be seen at the outer edge of that field.  That would be at 11:00 o’clock if the field of view were a clock face.  Currently Neptune is 2.7 billion miles from Earth, while Saturn is 816 million miles away!

On the night of October 9/10 the Moon, just 3 days past Full, will appear to pass through the Pleiades open star cluster in the eastern sky.  It will temporarily block several of the Pleiades stars, especially between 11 pm and 1 am that night.

Jupiter comes up in the eastern night sky around 12:30 am local time on October 1st but will be well up in the east before midnight by October 31st.  Jupiter appears below and left of Gemini’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux.  The waning crescent Moon will be above Jupiter in the early morning hours of October 13th before dawn.

Jupiter always pleases sky-watchers with telescopes because of its colorful cloud bands.  Watching Jupiter with patience over several minutes through the eyepiece will reveal other swirling details in its active atmosphere.

Brilliant Venus continues to shine in the eastern sky before dawn, but its altitude is shrinking as its orbit is bringing it around between us and the Sun.  Next month it will be lost in the glare of the Sun for a while.  Note the crescent Moon near Venus on October 19th and near Spica, brightest star in Virgo on October 31st.

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Planet Conjunctions and Meteors August 2025 Sky-Watch by Dennis Herrmann

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Another opportunity to see Neptune with help from Saturn presents itself in August, following the conjunction of the two planets at the end of June.  This month Neptune and Saturn will appear very close on August 6th in the eastern morning sky between 4 an5 am.
Neptune is 1.9 billion miles beyond Saturn in the solar system and very dim because it is so far away.  But it can be seen with binoculars or small telescope just above Saturn on August 6th.
Saturn and Neptune rise together around 10:30 pm on August 1st, so by August 6th they will be well up in the eastern morning sky.  Saturn, among the dim star of Pisces, will be easy to spot with the unaided eye. Find Saturn and using binoculars find Neptune as a blue-green dot just above it.  This month, using small telescopes, the underside of Saturn’s ring system will be seen.
On February 15, 2026 there will be another close conjunction between Saturn and Neptune.
The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will head for a close conjunction of their own on August 11 and 12.  Venus at magnitude -4.0 rises around 3 am in the eastern sky on August 1st and will maintain an altitude of about 20 degrees most of the month by an hour before sunrise.  Jupiter will be rising a bit later and will appear to close in on Venus for the next 10 days.  By August 11th the two bright planets will be just 2 Moon widths apart and be side by side the next morning August 12th.  For a few days on either side of this closest approach Venus and Jupiter will be a dazzling sight!  And on August 19th a crescent Moon will be in the same area of sky!
August always brings sky-watchers the year’s best Meteor shower; the Perseids.  Unfortunately, August’s Full Moon is on the 9th and will impact the peak nights of the Perseids, August 11/12.  However,  the Perseids are often very bright so looking to the northeastern sky between 3 am and dawn is still worthwhile.  Focus your eyes about halfway up to the zenith (top of the sky).
The Perseids are debris from Comet 109P Swift-Tuttle which last passed through the inner solar system in 1992; and will return again in 2092.
August this year brings sky-watchers some really fantastic sights!

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

July 25 Sky-Watch Planets and Meteors by Dennis Herrmann

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This July Mars appears low in our western sky for an hour or two after sunset.  Spotting it will be made easier if binoculars are used.  Mars’ orbital motion against out skies is taking it across southern Leo and towards Virgo.
On July 1st Mars is just right(west) of Regulus, brightest star in Leo, while a nice waxing crescent Moon is just below and left of the red planet.  Later,  on July 27th, a slender crescent Moon will be seen to the right (west) of Mars.  By then, Mars will have moved into Virgo.  On July 28th the Moon will be left and below Mars.  Look for them one hour after sunset in the west because they will be quite low to the horizon.
Little detail of Mars’ surface will be visible even through telescopes this month because Mars is quite far away from Earth just now.
Binoculars will, however, allow us to find very distant Neptune because it appears rather close to Saturn all month.  Neptune will appear as a bluish dot of light just above (1 degree) Saturn.  And on July 16th the waning crescent Moon is just above Saturn with Neptune in between the two planets.  Look for all these in the early morning eastern sky, well placed above the horizon 2 hours before sunrise.
At its peak of July 31st, the southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower should produce 15 to 20 meteors per hour.  Look for them in the southwestern sky 1 hour before sunrise.  We can look forward to next month’s Perseid meteor shower, always one of the year’s best , when it will peak.
Venus remains very bright and easy to spot in the eastern sky before dawn.  Its brightness will give us a chance to see another of the outer most planets of our solar system with binoculars.  Uranus will be close to Venus on the morning of July 4th.  Imagine a clock face with Venus at the center and look toward 10 o’clock with binoculars.  the Pleiades star cluster will be there, and Uranus may be seen between it and Venus.
Just knowing we can see Uranus and the already mentioned Neptune; both so very distant from us is thrilling, even though we won’t be able to see any surface details.
Watch Venus throughout the month:  on July 14th it will be very close to Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus; a crescent Moon will be just above it on the 21st; and on the 28th Venus will be up near one of Taurus; “horn” stars.
Finally, Jupiter begins to move into our eastern morning sky but remains fairly low.  Watch near the eastern horizon on July 23rd when it appears with a nice crescent Moon to its left.
July’s Full Moon is on the 10th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

June 2025 Sky-Watch Neptune May Be Seen by Dennis Herrmann

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Neptune, the farthest planet out from the Sun at 1.9 billion miles, cannot be seen without optical aid, and then only when one knows exactly where to look.  But on the morning of June 29th we will have a unique opportunity to be able to spot Neptune with binoculars.  On that morning in the eastern sky before dawn it will appear just one degree above the planet Saturn.
Saturn itself is rising in the eastern sky around 2:30 am on June 1st.  But it does not gain much altitude to be easily seen until an hour before dawn.  By June 29th however,  its altitude will have doubled, and it will be easier to see.  Point binoculars at it on the 29th around 4:30 am and you will see just above and slightly right of Saturn a bluish dot that will be Neptune.  Though other dim stars are in the region they are all in different locations around Saturn, so Neptune should be easy to find.  Seeing any details even with a small telescope will be difficult; but just knowing that you are seeing the real planet at its great distance from us will be a real treat!
By the way, Saturn’s rings have a narrow tilt currently as seen from Earth.  We will be looking at the southern face of Saturn’s rings for a while.  Thus we will have a clearer view of the entire disk of Saturn.  This happens because Earth and Saturn orbit the Sun on slightly different planes.  Over time we are “above” Saturn’s orbit, and later we are below it.  So our view of the ringed planet changes slightly.
The eastern morning sky also has the brightest planet we can see, and it is impossible to miss.  Venus at peak brightness lies among the sky region where the Pleiades and Hyades open star clusters are found (near Taurus); and the waning crescent Moon will be in this same area between June 22 and 24.
Mars will be the only planet visible before midnight that may be seen with ease.  It will be marked with a waxing crescent Moon just above it on June 1st.  This pairing will be seen well up in the western sky.  One June 16th Mars will appear in conjunction (very close to) with Regulus, the bright 1st magnitude star in Leo.  Mars’ reddish color contrasts nicely with the blue-white color of the hot star Regulus.
June’s Full Moon is on the 11th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

May 2025 sky-watch by Dennis Herrmann

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Planet highlights are somewhat reduced this month although Mars makes a nice addition to the dim Zodiac constellation, Cancer the Crab.  On May 1st use binoculars to find Mars quite close to M44, the “Beehive Cluster;” an open cluster of stars found in Cancer.  Cancer lies in the western sky between the Gemini twins and Leo the lion which are brighter zodiac “bookends” to Cancer.  Mars is the brightest object in this area of the sky.
Leo has a 1st magnitude star (Regulus) at the bottom of the “backwards question mark” shape formed by the front of Leo.  Another 1st magnitude star (Spica) may be seen in the middle of the next Zodiac constellation to the left of Leo.  Both are blue-white stars and bright; but dimmer than Mars.
Jupiter is way over in the western sky appearing to draw closer to the Sun.  By 9:30 pm it will have set.  For the first half of May Jupiter will be seen close to the horizon and mostly in twilight.  However, it is still bright enough to be seen, especially through telescopes.  By June it will be lost in the glare of the Sun, but will return to view later in the summer in the eastern morning sky before dawn.
In the eastern morning sky now, Venus is very bright before sunrise.  On May 23rd look for it when the waning crescent Moon will be found just above and to the right of it.  Saturn will be found just to the right of the Moon.
Neptune lies in this same spot in the sky and on May 23rd it might be seen above and left of Saturn, but only with binoculars as a dim green dot.
Saturn will continue to gain altitude this month and into the summer eastern sky, and Venus’ orbit will appear to take in farther away from the Sun.  Both planets will be even easier to see into June and beyond this summer.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on May 5th.  Looking east from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, above where Venus and Saturn lie close to the horizon, may reveal several dozen very fast-moving meteors per hour caused by remnant dust particles from Halley’s Comet.
May’s Full Moon shines on May 12th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Lyrids and morning planets April 2025 sky-watch by Dennis Herrmann

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The annual Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks the night of April 22nd, is one of the main April highlights for sky-watchers.  This meteor shower, caused by debris left behind from a Comet with a 416 year orbit, will be best seen from 2 to 4 am looking East.  With 20 to 25 meteors per hour be likely, it is worth going out early to see them.
Brilliant Venus also graces the early morning eastern sky all month, and will guide the way to seeing dimmer Mercury and Saturn, standing side by side just below it.  Look for the this “planet triangle” on the morning of April 12th, 30 minutes before sunrise.
Jupiter is still a bright planet in the southwest, but the observing window for it closes dramatically.  Jupiter sets around 1 am on April 1st; but before 11 pm on April 30th.  A thin crescent Moon will be seen just above Jupiter on April 2nd; and again on April 30th.
 On April 1st the crescent Moon will be just to the left of M 45; the well-known Pleiades star cluster.  With binoculars, this will be a truly beautiful sight.
Saturn is a very dim object in the eastern sky; and very low to the horizon.  But on April 24th with a waning crescent Moon hanging just above the ringed planet, it may be easier to spot.
Mars is the only planet that will be well up above the horizon for any length of time this month.  It is now to the left and slightly above Castor and Pollux, the two first magnitude “head” stars of the Gemini twins constellation.  Mars won’t set until 3:00 am this month.  But before that we can see it gradually move into Cancer the crab and approach M 44, the “Beehive” Cluster of stars.  By April 30th Mars will appear just above and right of the cluster, and will make another beautiful sight through binoculars or a low power telescope.
Full Moon for April is on the 12th.

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

March 2025 sky-watch: A lunar eclipse and springtime by Dennis Herrmann

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The biggest deal in the night sky this month is a total eclipse of the Moon on the night of March 13/14.  A total lunar eclipse happens when the Full Moon passes directly into the shadow cast by the Earth.  This doesn’t happen every month because of the Moon’s 5-degree orbital tilt around the Earth.
The Moon will enter the lighter penumbral portion of Earth’s shadow at 11:56 pm EDT on March 13th. (we will have changed to daylight saving time on March 9th); and the Moon will enter the umbra (Earth’s darker main shadow) ay 1:09 am EDT on March 14th.  Crater by crater, plain by plain, the Moon’s surface will darken and take on a deep reddish-orange glow.  Sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere will scatter blue light and let red light continue onto the Moon’s surface.
Totality begins at 2:26 am EDT – – – – maximum eclipse at 2:59 am – – – – with totality lasting a full 66 minutes; ending at 3:32 am.  The final partial phase of the eclipse ends at 4:48 am.
Lunar eclipses last much longer than Solar Eclipses because the earth’s shadow is so much larger than the Moon’s shadow.  So we do not need to be poised to see a totality of a Solar Eclipse that will last for only 1 to 7 minutes at most.  The entire lunar eclipse from partial through totality to end of partial lasts over 3 1/2 hours.  This allows plenty of time to see it anywhere along the way through the late night/early morning of March 13/14!
This is a special treat for sky-watchers even though it is late during the overnight.  It is worth getting up to see; but as always, we always have to hope for clear skies!
Venus’ orbit begins to take it lower in our skies and down toward the western horizon all month, but it will remain the most obvious planet to see this month because it is so bright.  Indeed on March 1st, the slim crescent Moon will be found just below and left of Venus; and will also be joined by Mercury just below this Moon, 40 to 60 minutes after sunset.
Venus will appear to descend to the horizon fairly quickly.  By March 22nd it will be pretty much lost in the Sun’s glare, but it will quickly re-appear in the eastern morning sky by April 1st.
Before that Mercury will gain some altitude after March 1st, so that it will be side by side with Venus on the 13th.
Jupiter continues to shine brightly among the stars of Taurus the Bull all month, high in the southwestern sky.  It will set by 1 am by March 31st, but telescopic view of the giant planet will yield many good sights of its moons and colored cloud bands (atmosphere).  Jupiter will also get just slightly dimmer all month’
Saturn is invisible this month but will re-appear later in April in the eastern morning sky before sun-up.
Mars is visible all month starting high up in the eastern sky at sunset.  On March 8th look close to Mars where a gibbous Moon will be seen; both among the stars of Gemini, the twins.  Mars loses some brightness this month as it moves farther from Earth in its orbit, but some surface features and the northern polar ice cap may be seen by sky-watchers with telescopes.
Finally, the Vernal (Spring) Equinox arrives on March 20th at 5:01 am EDT, with day light hours and night-time hours about equal; with daylight continuing to increase moving forward.
 The March Full Moon (in eclipse), as noted earlier, is on March 14th.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

February sky-watch 2025: Bright winter stars and planets by Dennis Herrmann

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Any clear winter night this month, look due south between 8:00 and 10:00 pm to spot the large “hour-glass” shape of Orion the hunter.  In its middle 3 equally bright stars mark the belt around the waist of this hunter.  Using those 3 stars as a pointer through them down and left to spot Sirius, the brightest star in the sky as seen from Earth, and part of the the constellation Canis Major; Orion’s bigger dog.  Then using the 3 belt stars as a pointer in the opposite direction will lead our eyes to Taurus the bull; a distinct “V”-shaped zodiac constellation with a bright star, Aldebaran, of its own.  This whole region around Orion is filled with many bright stars; fully 8 of the top 20 brightest stars we can see, making it perhaps the brightest sky of the year.
Though Saturn will begin to move out of sight this month, setting just 1 hour after sunset by the end of February, it will be close to Mercury on February 24th making a nice conjunction of 2 planets.  Find a good clear view to the western horizon that night and look 30 to 45 minutes after sunset.  Saturn will be just left of Mercury.  Both will be very close to the horizon.
Venus is hard to miss above both Saturn and Mercury and may be seen for 3 hours after sunset.  On February 1st look for a slim crescent Moon very close to Venus.
Jupiter is also very bright and can be seen all month high in the sky just above Aldebaran.  A waxing crescent Moon will appear to form a line with Jupiter and Aldebaran on February 6th
If you have a telescope take the opportunity this month to study Jupiter as often as possible. Views of the giant planet will be rewarding.
Mars in the eastern sky will form a triangle with the top two stars of Gemini, Castor & Pollux, on February 1st.  Mars itself will be visible all night and during the month Mars’ retrograde orbital motion will make it appear to move into the center of Gemini until late in the month; when it will appear to move backup toward Pollux.
This apparent reversal of motion is due to Earth’s faster orbital speed making Mars appear to move “backwards” for several weeks.  It is a temporary illusion.  In reality Mars always moves slower than Earth around the Sun in an elongated orbit counter-clockwise around the Sun.
Ground Hog day is on February 2nd and has no astronomical significance despite what the ground hog sees, but February 2nd does mark the exact mid-point between the Winter Solstice (Dec. 22nd) and Vernal Equinox (first day of spring March 23).  Just a bit of trivia. February’s Full Moon is on February 12th.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Planet highlights in December: December 2024 sky watch by by Dennis Herrmann

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December 2024 sky – watch
This December Jupiter will reach its best apparition in a decade for sky-watchers, offering loads of details for sky-watchers with telescope.  Mars will join Jupiter in the eastern sky on later December evenings; being just a month away from its own best appearance for us in two years.  Saturn will be visible in the early southwestern sky, while Venus dazzles soon after sunset in the western sky.
On December 4th look for the crescent Moon just below Venus.  We can’t miss either one because they are both so bright.
On December 7th a slightly fuller Moon will be seen below and right of Saturn; the ringed planet being visible until it sets in the west around midnight at the start of December, and around 10 pm at the end of the month.
Jupiter reaches opposition on December 7th; rising in the East as the Sun sets in the West ( they are opposite each other in the sky as we see them).  Jupiter is visible all night lying among the stars of Taurus the Bull, and above well-known constellation Orion.  Jupiter will be highest in the sky at midnight and will be bright.  In fact it is the brightest thing in that part of the sky, until a nearly full moon stand above and right of it on December 13th.
Mars opens December quite bright in the eastern sky rising around 8:30 pm, and brightens noticeably throughout the month.  By midnight it will be well up among the stars of Cancer the Crab in the eastern sky and it will reach opposition in January 2025.
On the morning of December 28th Mercury and a very slim crescent Moon appear very close, rising together around 6 am; and very close to the horizon.
Full Moon in December is on the 15th.
The Annual Planetarium Christmas program will be presented for 5 nights at 7 pm at the Kent County High School Planetarium beginning Friday December 13th.  The program continues on Monday and Tuesday December 16th and 17th; and again on Thursday and Friday December 19th and 20th.  There is no admission price and seasonal refreshments are available,
Join us for the show; and have a Merry Christmas!!

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Improving planet views: November 2024 sky-watch by Dennis Herrmann

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Our views of several planets improve this month, most notably that of Jupiter, which approaches its closet approach to Earth in early December.  Already Jupiter is well up in the eastern sky by 10 pm and it is the brightest object there, among the stars of background constellation Taurus.  Jupiter will also gain in brightness throughout the month.  A bright Moon will be seen just above Jupiter on November 17th.
Venus is easy to find just after sunset in the western sky and remains visible for two hours after the Sun goes down.  On November 4th a waxing crescent Moon is just above Venus; making a nice opportunity to make a photograph of the two.
Saturn continues high in the southern sky among the star of Aquarius.  In a telescope, Saturn’s rings appear very thin this month as Saturn’s tilt is widest to our line of sight right now.  So we see the rings almost edge on.  Indeed they almost disappear, and by the end of the year, they will.  Saturn will be seen just above a ten day old Moon on November 10th.
Mars is growing brighter in the eastern morning sky all month and by the end of November will actually be seen about 40 degrees up in the East by midnight.  Mars will move closer to Earth and be at is best in two years early in 2025.  On November 20th the Moon (waning gibbous) will be near Mars.
Mercury makes a brief appearance below and right of Venus and will be visible for about an hour after sunset; although pretty close to the horizon.  Best evenings to look for it will be from November 16th to the 20th.  Binoculars and a clear view down to the western horizon will help.
Remember this is the month we return to Standard Time, so when we retire of Saturday night (November 2nd) we set our clocks back one hour.  This means that night descends earlier in the evening; by 5:00 to 5:30 pm.  More opportunity to het our earlier and become a “Sky-Watcher!”
Full Moon for November is November 15th.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.