Non-Fiction

Meet Castor and Pollux, two guys who rose from the lowliest of births to achieve celestial prominence.

What do you think of when you think of physically challenged goatherding demigods? Why, Auriga, of course.

The biggest, baddest of the winter constellations struts his stuff.

You don't need thousands of dollars to get started in astronomy, no matter what the author's husband says.

Half a constellation is better than none. No bull? Yes, Bull.

How can one little star cluster carry so much cultural baggage? Everyone, but everyone, has something to say about the Pleiades.

Was it an omen to steer two boys clear of a life of crime, or just an interdimensional rift that made this ghost appear?

Born, died, buried. Now what ghost could be content with that kind of story?

The year's second lunar eclipse will occur next weekend. Find out when to see it, and what else to look for in the early evening.

There's something fishy going on in the zodiac. Learn about gods and monsters in the night sky.

October is a strange month for stargazers. Great weather, same old constellations. Revisit your nighttime favorites, and get the morning report on planets.

As summer fades, taking Sagitarrius and the summer Milky Way with it, let's turn our attention to the north. The constellations are so-so, but the story attached to them is first rate.

A look at the neighborhood where Mars hangs out. You might say this article is the dawning of the page of Aquarius.

This week is the one Mars buffs have been waiting for. On Wednesday, Mars will be closer to Earth than it has been in almost 60,000 years. Whenever an astronomical event catches the attention of the mass media, as this one has, myths swirl around it like a nebula. We're going to set straight some of those misunderstandings.

Cassiopeia, the Ethiopian queen chained to her throne in the heavens for daring to brag about her own beauty.

Sagittarius. Kinder, gentler centaurs. Charles Messier's lists of things that are not comets.

This week we look at the other constellations in the Summer Triangle. Is Cygnus the Swan a joyriding youth in a stolen vehicle, or a philandering god in animal drag?

Gaia gets even with Orion, Romans demonstrate justice, and doctors wield snakes and fling poisonous insects about the sky. Scorpius, Antares, Libra, Ophiuchus, Serpens and the latest in July's on-going moon watch.

A last chance to enjoy the features of the spring sky as we welcome the stars of summer. A closer look at the constellation of Virgo.

Notes from a man without a country and without a camera. What did you expect to see while sitting in a German sidewalk cafe?

Summer constellations are taking over the night sky, and you will want to brush up on your geometric shapes for this tour. Learn to identify Lyra, the Summer Triangle, the Northern Crown, and the Keystone.

What causes the changing seasons, and why do our nearest neighbors appear in such radically different places in the sky at different times of year? A little bit about how our neck of the solar system is arranged.

This is one of those moony weeks, when the moon is up longer and growing larger each night, until it is full on Saturday. What can a backyard astronomer do with such a bright night sky? Get up early and look for Mars, of course.

An essay for Memorial Day, recalling a time when all of Mifflintown knew its veterans by name.

Late night Bootes calls in Greek mythology and modern-day astronomy.

Thursday's event provides an opportune time to discuss the ins and outs of lunar eclipses.

Exerpted from the "Filthy Piker Cook Book and Survival Guide", invaluable advice you can't afford not to know.

Easy tips to help you identify and locate the constellation of Leo.

How big is the sky? How large is the moon? Learn to estimate degrees to measure objects in the sky and their respective distances from one another - without equipment.

Get familiar with the world above you. This week we take a look at Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Polaris. The only fancy equipment you need is at the end of your hand.