A map of the evening sky in March 2026 noting the stars and constellations Harry Potter characters are named after.
Last night I was at the Chatham Public library talking to a bunch of enthusiastic kids about how to find stars and constellations in the sky that Harry Potter characters are named after.
We had a fun wide ranging discussion about a lot of different astronomy topics.
I spent a lovely hour this evening at the Chatham Public library, talking with a group of enthusiastic young people about their interest in astronomy.
Start parties table set up at Tri-City elementary science night
Start party host, John Martin Tri-City elementary science night
We will be at Tri-City Elementary Science Night this evening for 6-7:30 pm giving out Star Party posters and talking about the Artemis 2 Moon mission.
There is a total lunar eclipse tonight but between it being visible in Illinois from 3-6 am -and- the solidly cloudy weather, we have decided not to over-hype it for Central Illinois
www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/luna...
The Orion nebula image through the 14 inch telescope with a very short exposure at UIS star party on February 27
The Orion Nebula through the 14-inch at Star Party last night.
Not the most super spectacular image of this awesome nebula but closely approximating what the human eye sees through the telescope. This nebula is pretty bright so you can still see a pretty good amount even with pair of binoculars.
It was good to see the 104 ppl who showed up for Star Party ⭐️🎉 last night. Great weather and great crowd!
We will do it again on March 27.
Here is a link to the archived live stream from the 14-inch telescope dome:
www.youtube.com/live/b7whDSN...
A whiteboard informing people that the targets for the telescopes tonight at star party are the moon, Jupiter, and Orion Nebula
The waxing gibbous moon in the clear afternoon sky over the UIS campus Observatory on February 27, 2026
Star party is ON for tonight February 27!
We have skies and nice temperatures.
Doors open at 8 PM and you can show up anytime between 8 and 10 PM to get a look through the telescopes which will be focusing on the moon Jupiter and the Orion nebula tonight.
Info: go.uis.edu/starparties
Start a party at the UIS campus Observatory on Friday, February 27 from 8 to 10 PM. Weather permitting.
There’s a star party tonight!!! 🎉⭐️🎉⭐️⭐️
Join us at the UIS campus, Observatory between 8 and 10 PM for views of the Moon, Jupiter, and the Orion nebula.
Info at this link go.uis.edu/starparties
People who can’t make it in person can join our YouTube live stream at go.uis.edu/virtualstarp...
Thanks for the boost Kisha.
Fair disclosure: Kisha and I exchange Christmas cards every year. 🤣
An image of the moon taken with the UIS observatory Widefield camera on the evening of February 26, 2026 CST
We snapped this picture of the moon last night while we were using the 20 inch telescope to also take spectra of Epsilon Auriga and Kappa Draconis.
The moon as imaged by the UIS observatory wide field camera on February 23 CST
I almost forgot to share this awesome shot of the Moon that we took last Tuesday with the UIS Research Observatory wide field camera.
The first star party of 2026 is this Friday, February 27 at the UIS Observatory from 8-10 PM weather permitting.
The weather forecast is for clear skies and temperatures in the 50s.
The Orion Nebula,Pleiades star cluster, the moon and the planet Jupiter are up for viewing
go.uis.edu/starparties
This huge nebula is always a subject of discussion when we are imaging M33. Can’t miss it even from a distance of 3 million light years.
Image of epsilon Aurigae by the UIS observatory wide field camera on February 23 CST
Image of Kappa Draconis taken by the UIS observatory wide field camera on February 23 CST
We use the 20 inch telescope last night to take Spectra of two old friends: Epsilon Aurigae and Kappa Draconis.
Star party at the UIS campus Observatory on Friday, February 27 from 8 to 10 PM. Weather permitting.
The first Star Party ⭐️🎉 of spring 2026 is this Friday, February 27 from 8-10 pm at the campus observatory, weather permitting.
go.uis.edu/starparties
NASA is now targeting the next launch opportunities for the #ArtemisII lunar mission starting from 1 April.
🔗 www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
Artemis 2 might be delayed until April. Will know for certain if they start the rollback to the VAB and/or release the crew from quarantine.
www.nasa.gov/blogs/missio...
Mercury distorted by differential atmospheric refraction like a sunset near the western horizon on February 20, 2026
Saturn 🪐 imaged through the 14-inch telescope on February 20, 2026
The crescent Moon 🌒 image on February 20, 2026
Mercury, Saturn and the Moon seen through the 14-inch telescope at the Campus Observatory this evening.
Mercury is red and rainbow colored because of the atmospheric refraction near the horizon, like a sunset.
Looking at the Western Horizon at about 6:10 PM CST on February 20, 2026. Mercury visible above the horizon with Venus below it and Saturn above it
See Mercury tonight (Feb 20)! The weather in central Illinois may be clear.
Find a place with a flat western horizon. Mercury will be bright and visible once the sky gets dark enough around 6:10 pm.
Venus will be harder to pick out below Mercury. Saturn higher up will become visible as sky darkens
NASA leadership on Thursday outlined how 2024’s glitch-plagued Boeing Starliner mission jeopardized astronaut welfare and the space agency’s culture of safety and accountability
The moon and Mercury in the evening sky on February 18, 2026
The moon and Mercury in the evening sky on February 18, 2026
The moon and Mercury in the evening sky on February 18, 2026
Pictures of the conjunction of the Moon 🌙 and Mercury on the evening of February 18, 2026 CST.
The Moon moves on, but Mercury continues be above the setting Sun in the evening sky for the next week.
Mercury next to the crescent moon after sunset on February 18, 2026 with Venus below and Saturn above.
Tonight after sunset, the crescent moon 🌒 will appear in the western sky right next to the planet Mercury. Venus and Saturn may also be visible below and above Mercury.
Best time to go out is about 30 minutes after sunset. You’ll need a flat western horizon.
NASA is targeting 19 February to start the second Wet Dress Rehearsal for the #ArtemisII lunar spaceflight.
Mercury and Saturn visible in the evening sky after sunset on February 15, 2026
Mercury and Saturn visible in the evening sky after sunset on February 15, 2026
Mercury and Saturn were visible after sunset last night. Venus was too low and behind the trees from this vantage point.
Look for these all week long. The crescent Moon 🌙 joins them Tuesday and Wednesday.
youtu.be/cPrMQaFWPP4?...
Venus, Mercury and Saturn visible above the western horizon after sunset this week.
Three bright planets visible right after sunset in the western sky this week. Venus is really bright, but will be hard to pick out closest to the horizon. Mercury is above Venus and above that is Saturn.
The Moon 🌙 joins this trio on Tuesday and Wednesday.
When I was working at the US Naval Observatory, I spent a lot of time in their library while code ran on the main frame. With these spaces disappearing, I lament what we are losing.
The Fossil Nebula in color composed from images taken by the UIS research observatory 20 inch telescope
The Fossil Nebula in black-and-white composed from images taken by the UIS research Observatory 20 inch telescope
The Fossil Nebula imaged by the UIS research observatory wide field camera
These pictures of the Fossil Nebula are composed from images taken at the UIS Research Observatory on Wednesday night.
The 2026 Star Party posters are officially released! Free 13x19 copies to good homes that will display them. Contact us if you want one.
Info about upcoming Star Parties this Spring found here:
Go.uis.edu/starparties
A very good opportunity to see Mercury is coming up in mid-February 2026.
It reaches greatest elongation on Feb 19, appearing 18 deg from the Sun.
Best viewing is about 30-40 minutes after sunset on Feb 16-22 much brighter Venus will be below Mercury making it easier to pick out in twilight.
Just two days to the premier of the 2026 UIS star party poster!
Go.uis.edu/starparties
