By Mike Shanahan A video system that makes observers feel like they are flying through the rings of Saturn is part of an impending upgrade at the Bishop Museum's Watumull Planetarium. With a state appropriation of $1.5 million, we will install a hybrid system, in which a state-of-the-art star machine will work with a full-dome video system to provide a full astronomical educational experience.
By Mike Shanahan A total lunar eclipse will take place early on Dec. 10. As seen from the islands, the moon will be in total eclipse for about 45 minutes, from 4:10 to 4:55 a.m. So, you either need to stay up late on Dec. 9 or set your alarm for very early Dec. 10.
By Mike Shanahan Throughout November, the two brightest dots of light in the sky, Jupiter and Venus, face off at dusk. For the first weeks of the month, fainter Mercury hangs just below Venus.
By Mike Shanahan The planet Mars shines in the early morning sky, rising in the east at 2 a.m. at the start of October and by 1:30 a.m. at the end of the month. The planet is at first magnitude, as bright as a bright star. If you look closely, you can see that it does have a pale orange color.
By Mike Shanahan At the start of September, look for Saturn at dusk (7:30 p.m.) about 10 degrees above the western horizon — about the width of a fist held at arm's length.
By Mike Shanahan Each August brings the return of the year's most famous shower, the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseid shower is well-known because it's a reliable shower, and also because it occurs in mid-summer, when the weather is better.