Durham Region Astronomical Association (DRAA)

10/26/2026

Grab your binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens tomorrow evening approximately 7pm EST and watch the Moon occult the Pleiades. Best to watch for re-emerging stars on the dark side of the limb.

09/26/2026

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09/21/2026

https://spaceweather.com/?tab=news

AURORAS LOVE EQUINOXES--BUT WHY? Autumn begins this week, and so does aurora season. The northern autumnal equinox arrives on Sept. 22nd. That is the cue for Arctic lights to switch on.

The reason is the Russell-McPherron effect. In 1973, UCLA researchers Christopher Russell and Robert McPherron figured out why geomagnetic activity has seasons. During the days and weeks around equinoxes, Earth's tilt lines up our planet's magnetic field with the sun's, and the two fields connect. This creates pathways and portals in the magnetosphere where solar wind can enter.

In forecasting jargon, we say "BsubZ has tipped south." South-pointing magnetic fields from the sun partially cancel Earth's north-pointing field, and the door opens.

Because of the Russell-McPherron effect, Sept/Oct and March/April are the most geomagnetically active months of the year. Aurora-producing storms are about twice as likely around equinoxes as they are around the solstices of summer and winter.

Indeed, at this time of year, high-latitude auroras can appear for little apparent reason. A portal opens, ordinary solar wind enters, and voila--auroras!

Autumn darkness helps, too. The midnight sun has finally set on the Arctic, and nights there are long enough to see the show. The season runs until spring.

Solar flares, geomagnetic storms, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids.

09/03/2026

September 8th. A daytime occultation of the Moon and Jupiter. Approximately 14:50 EST. Jupiter reappears approximately 15:52.

A daytime occultation to whet your appetite for next month's spectacular show.

08/31/2026

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NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope officially launched into space yesterday, riding on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket — and now it's flying on its own, all by itself in space.

It has already passed the Moon, and its solar panels and sunshade have opened up successfully. It's sending signals back to NASA the whole way.

But Roman isn't ready to take photos yet. It still has a 3-month journey ahead before it reaches its final spot in space, about a million miles from Earth. Once it gets there, a special shield will block light and heat from the Sun, Earth, and Moon — keeping it cool and steady so it can see deep into space clearly.

When it's finally ready, Roman will be able to see 100 times more sky than Hubble in a single picture, even though its mirror is the same size.

For now, it's just quietly flying through space... getting closer every day to changing what we know about the universe. 🌌

What do you think Roman will find first once it starts working?

📸 Credit: NASA

08/29/2026

The weather wasn’t looking to promising Thursday night but at the last minute skies cleared for the eclipse. Taken under dark skies near Orono Ontario. Seestar S50.

08/23/2026

The history behind naming the poor planet with the oddball name.

http://www.cgpgrey.com/Images by: http://www.jackfusco.com/ht...

08/21/2026

Unlike a solar eclipse a lunar eclipse is totally safe to look at with the naked eye, no special filters required if you’re going to use a telescope or binoculars.

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One week to go! 🌕🔴

On the night of August 27th into the 28th, the Sturgeon Moon will slip almost entirely into Earth's shadow for a deep partial lunar eclipse lasting more than 3 hours, with 93% covered at maximum.

The eclipse is visible across most of the Americas, plus parts of Europe and Africa. And, unlike a solar eclipse, it's completely safe to watch with just your eyes.

Subscribe for more observing guides, astronomy news, and skywatching tips: https://bit.ly/4uUYIJ4

Read more: https://bit.ly/4gogrT8

08/19/2026

Wrong on so many levels, not just astronomy.

By 2035, Reflect Orbital aims to launch up to 50,000 satellites equipped with mirrors to provide sunlight to Earth-based solar panels. Critics are concerned about impacts on wildlife, astronomy research and human health

08/07/2026

https://spaceweathergallery2.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=235400