Astronomy

Stretching from the heaviest concentration of stars in the south all the way to the northeast is where we see the iconic “W” symbolizing Cassiopeia. Photo: Gary Boyle

Behold Cassiopeia, ‘The Queen’ in the Kootenay skies

By Gary Boyle - The Backyard Astronomer **************************************** As the sun sets…

  • Sep 2, 2021

 

Perseids will be best seen this year on the night of Aug. 12 and Aug. 13. Photo: Pierre Martin

Look up to the Kootenay skies for a grand meteor shower

The Perseid Meteor Shower is now underway from July 14 to August 14.

  • Aug 5, 2021

 

Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been interviewed on more than 50 Canadian radio stations as well as television in Canada and the United States. Photo: Submitted

Embrace the Kootenay summer night for all it has to offer

Sunday night look for the moon in a crescent low in the low western sky just after sunset

  • Jul 11, 2021

 

In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Jupiter and Saturn align in our skies tonight, to form the Great Conjunction

Stargazers typically gather in groups at observatories or with backyard telescopes for such events

  • Dec 21, 2020
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)

Mars jumps out from the night sky across B.C.

Mars is the brightest it’s been in 15 years this October

Mars will appear orange and distinct in the night sky this month. (Damian Peach photo)
With a separation of 60 million kilometres on Oct. 6 Mars is big and bright. (Damian Peach photo)

Look for Mars in the Kootenay sky, tonight

With a separation of 60 million kilometres on October 6 Mars is big and bright.

  • Oct 6, 2020
With a separation of 60 million kilometres on Oct. 6 Mars is big and bright. (Damian Peach photo)