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
Throughout February observers will be able to view the rusty red planet Mars high in the early evening sky. In mid-February, Mars will receive a special visitor from Earth. Read more
The Andromeda Galaxy is our closest galactic neighbor and contains about 1 trillion stars, much more than the estimated 200 billion stars within our home Milky Way Galaxy. Read more
Kalupeakawelo, “the kite of Kawelo,” is in the final month of this featured fall star family. Read more
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On the morning of Oct. 8, Hawaii’s astronomy community woke to some exciting news: UCLA astronomer Andrea Ghez, who has conducted research with the W.M. Keck Observatories for over 25 years, had just been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics. Read more
Manaiakalani, or Chiefly Fishing Line, the third of our four star families, is completing its westward journey back toward the horizon. Read more
August brings the third of the four star families to the eastern night sky. Read more
July brings to the night sky the third of the year’s four seasonal star families, Manaiakalani, the Chiefly Fishing Line. Read more
June signals the last month in our discussion of the star family Kaiwikuamo‘o, the Backbone. Read more
The Backbone is one of four star families that are modern heuristic devices for visually organizing the night sky around prominent stars and constellations. Read more
April welcomes the sun back to the northern hemisphere and the star family Kaiwikuamo‘o, the Backbone, back to the spring night sky. Read more
The sun continues its northward trek, crossing the equator and entering the Northern Hemisphere on March 19, the spring equinox. Read more
The winter starline is known as Kekaomakali‘i, the bailer of Makali‘i. Read more
From January through March, the featured starline returns to Kekaomakalii, The Bailer of Makalii. Read more
As the days get progressively shorter in the winter season, observers will be able to start stargazing as early as 6:30 p.m. Immediately after sunset, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible. Read more
Using the Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea, a team led by Scott S. Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science has found 20 new moons orbiting Saturn. Read more
