Editor’s Note: Summer Solstice is upon us this month and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten points to the Sun’s highest point in our sky. Saturn is in the southeast at dawn.    Mars is also in the morning sky, in the east at dawn.  Mars and Saturn easily outshine the very dim stars around them.  Venus […] The post June brings the Summer Solstice first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: Summer is on the horizon and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is explaining the signs in the stars above Houston’s skyline. Mars and Saturn are low to the east-southeast horizon at dawn.   Having overtaken Saturn, Mars pulls away from it each morning in May.  During May, Mars and Saturn appear slightly father from the […] The post Summer is Near | May 2024 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: The Total Solar Eclipse is emerging over Texas and HMNS Astronomer James Wooten is giving us the details down to the minute. Jupiter is low in the west at nightfall.  No star at night is as bright. Watch as Jupiter appears slightly lower in the sky each April evening until it sets in […] The post Eclipse Mania | April 2024 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

The New Moon of Monday, April 8, 2024, aligns with the Sun and the Earth well enough to cast its shadow onto Earth, causing an eclipse. Since the Moon is at perigee (closest approach to Earth) on April 7, its shadow does reach the Earth.  Anyone in that shadow sees the Moon block all of […] The post The Great Texas Eclipse–April 8, 2024 first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: Spring is upon us! HMNS Astronomer James Wooten reminds us to adjust our clocks and explains why we observe Daylight Savings Time. Jupiter is prominent high in the sky, high in the west at nightfall.  No star at night is as bright. Mercury also enters the evening sky this month.  Start looking west […] The post Spring Forward | March 2024 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: It is the Year of the Dragon and we continue to look up at the star-filled night skies with HMNS Astronomer James Wooten as he discusses the New Moon and the Earth’s rotation. Saturn is about to leave the evening sky.  Face southwest at dusk to observe it as February begins.  Each evening, […] The post Year of the Dragon | February 2024 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: We are looking up as HMNS Astronomer James Wooten jumps into the new year with January sky happenings, including perihelion. Saturn is well placed for observing in early evening.  Face south-southwest at dusk to observe it. Jupiter is prominent high in the sky, almost overhead at nightfall.  No star at night is as […] The post New Year, Clear Skies | January Sky Happenings 2024 first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: We are looking up as HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains the sky happenings for December before we jump into the new year. Saturn is now well placed for observing in early evening.  Face south-southwest at dusk to observe it. Jupiter was opposite the Sun, and up precisely all night long, a month ago.  […] The post Gazing into the New Year | December 2023 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: We are looking up as HMNS Astronomer James Wooten explains the sky happenings for the month of November, including Daylight Savings Time ending. Saturn is now well placed for observing in early evening.  Face south at dusk to observe it. Jupiter is opposite the Sun, and up precisely all night long, the night […] The post Daylight Savings Ends | Nov ’23 Sky Happenings first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more

Editor’s Note: HMNS Collections Technician of Anthropology Anna Dean details the victimization of the Osage people depicted in the film adaptation of the bestselling novel Killers of the Flower Moon. Killers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert DeNiro tells the story of an Osage family […] The post An Osage History in Killers of the Flower Moon first appeared on BEYONDbones ..read more