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Skywatch: Lunar eclipse, Leonids highlight November sky
A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Hawaii from the late evening of Nov. 7 to the early morning of Nov. 8. Read more
A total lunar eclipse will be visible in Hawaii from the late evening of Nov. 7 to the early morning of Nov. 8. Read more
Have you ever noticed that the planets Uranus and Neptune are two distinct shades of blue? Read more
One of the top areas of research in astronomy in recent years has involved the study of exoplanets, planets discovered orbiting other stars. Read more
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Every summer, our sky is decorated with the beautiful Perseids meteor shower. This shower is active through August, with peak activity the evening of Aug. 12. Read more
On July 13, the full moon will take place while the moon is at perigee, the point of the moon’s orbit when it is at its closest position to Earth. Read more
Hokupa‘a, also known as Polaris or the North Star: We gaze at it and use it as a tool for navigation across the world, but what do we know about the star? Or should we say, stars? Read more
The Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa hosted its annual open house April 10 for the first time since lockdowns began in 2020, which also coincided with the celebration of Powehi Day — a state-recognized day celebrating the first image of a black hole ever captured. Read more
Researchers using the Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea have discovered a never-before-seen mechanism fueling enormous auroras in Saturn’s atmosphere. Read more
Kekaomakali‘i (the Canoe Bailer) is now filling the western region of the sky. In this starline we can make out the stars that make up Kaheiheionakeiki, also well known as Orion the Hunter. Read more
Kekaomakali‘i arcs overhead, rising on the Hikina horizon — east — and moving toward the Komohana horizon — west. Read more
Once again we return to the first of our four star families, Kekaomakali‘i (the Bailer of Makali‘i), as it makes its nightly east-to-west progression from horizon to horizon. Read more
The four stars that form the corners of Ka Lupe a Kawelo, the Great Square of Pegasus, are excellent pointer stars that show the direction of both the north and south celestial poles, and serve as an indicator of the path they take across the night sky as they move from the eastern to the western horizon. Read more
As Nahiku (the Big Dipper) sinks below the western horizon, Iwakeli‘i (Cassiopeia) and Kalupeakawelo (the Great Square of Pegasus) climb high into the northeastern sky, signaling the arrival of Makali‘i (Pleiades) in the star house ‘Aina Ko‘olau on the star compass. Read more
The twin stars in the bucket of the Little Dipper, Holopuni (Kochab) and Hokumau (Pherkad), are good clues for determining latitude in the Southern Hemisphere. Read more
Kalupeakawelo, the Kite of Kawelo, is the fourth and final star family to be featured. Read more
The circular star compass is divided into four quadrants. From north to east is the quadrant Ko‘olau; south to west is the quadrant Kona; south to east is the quadrant Malanai; and north to west is the quadrant Ho‘olua. Read more
Manaiakalani, the Chief’s Fishline, is the third of our four star families and is prominent in the sky for the summer months of July, August and September. Read more
The first half of this article, explaining the star family Kaiwikuamo‘o, is the last piece written by our beloved navigator-in-residence, the late Chad Kalepa Baybayan. Read more
It is with profound sadness to inform you, our valued Skywatch readers, that our dear friend and colleague, Kalepa Baybayan, died from natural causes while visiting and caring for ohana in Seattle on April 8. Read more
April announces the arrival of the second of our star families, Kaiwikuamo‘o, or “the Backbone,” back to the spring night sky. Read more
The equinox, mauiili, refers to equal nights — a day in which time is split equally between darkness and sunlight — and occurs twice annually, once in the spring and again in the fall. Read more
