Top 5 Dark Sky Sites Within 2 Hours of Portland
Here is a list of the Top 5 Dark Sky Sites within a 2 hour drive/radius of Portland, Oregon. To make the choice, we chose 1 spot in each cardinal direction of the city, (North,…
Articles by Mike R
Piscis Austrinus
Located in the southern hemisphere, the constellation Piscis Austrinus is Latin for “the southern fish.” This is different than the larger constellation of Pisces, which represents a pair of fishes. Before the 20th century, the constellation was also…
Puppis
Located in the southern sky, the constellation Puppis was originally part of the larger constellation Argo Navis. Argo Navis was broken into 3 parts, with Puppis being the largest constellation in square degrees. It is…
27 Interesting 2024 Solar Eclipse Facts
Here are 27 interesting facts specifically about the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse. In addition to the usual weird activity during these events, there are some interesting things about the 2024 event that make…
Top 5 Things To Never Do When Stargazing
Here are a bunch of things to NEVER do when you’re stargazing, as they will upset the host(s), other observers, and others around you. That said, most of these rules fall under of “if you…
Unique Astronomy Site: North Cascades National Park
A wonderfully dark sky away from the cities, the North Cascades National Park is a wonderful dark sky place. Diablo Lake Overlook, Washington Pass Overlook, and Ross Lake Overlook serve as great places to go…
Constellation Visibility In The Pacific Northwest
Although the IAU created 88 modern constellations, it is not possible to view all 88 from the Pacific Northwest. Some of them are only partially visible, while others are completely visible. As part of the…
Spruce Goose Post Flight History
As part of the 75 year anniversary of the flight of the Spruce Goose, we are taking a look at the Spruce Goose in a 3 part series. This is the third and final article…
Microscopium
Microscopium is a constellation that lies in the Southern Hemisphere. It was created in the 18th century by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. The name is a Latinised form of the Greek word for microscope. The stars in the constellation are of…
3 Spooky Space Facts: Halloween Edition
Since Halloween is coming up, lets take a look at some of the spookiest space science available and why it is so spooky. Some traditional Halloween themed stories of Vampires and Zombies are not just…