Dave Dickinson
Universe Today
Tampa, FL, United States
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Past articles by David:
Dawn Patrol: Following this Month's 'March of the Planets'
Are you hanging out at home this week, and looking to observe some naked eye planets? As we mentioned last week, while Venus is shining bright in the dusk sky, all of the other four naked eye planets of Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury are skulking in the early dawn sky. → Read More
Following the Inner Worlds: Mercury and Venus in 2020
Where have all the planets gone in early 2020? While all of the naked eye planets are hiding in the early dawn sky, one world dominates the evening: brilliant Venus. → Read More
Introducing Analog Sky's 3D-Printed Giant Binoculars
Update: we’re happy to announce that Analog Sky is making a special offer just for Universe Today readers for its new giant binoculars. A unique, crowd-sourced, 3D-printed telescope is poised to revolutionize how we look at the sky. Late last year, we announced Oregon-based innovator and amateur astronomer Robert Asumendi’s plans to release the Analog … Continue reading "Introducing Analog Sky’s… → Read More
Comet Y4 Atlas in Outburst: First Good Comet for 2020?
Good news: Though we’ve been going through a cometary dry spell as of late, we may have our first good naked eye comet for 2020: Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS. → Read More
Catch Comet T2 PanSTARRS This Spring
Ready for the next great comet? First, the bad news. there is not (as of yet), a good naked eye comet in the cards, for 2020. The good news is… there is a fine binocular comet well placed for northern hemisphere viewers: Comet C/2017 T2 PanSTARRS. → Read More
Stalking Starlink's 'DarkSat'
By now, you've no doubt heard of (or seen) Starlink. SpaceX’s mega-satellite constellation has become a permanent fixture in our skies as of late, with several routine passes on any given week. But have you seen the supposed 'black sheep' of the flock, DarkSat? → Read More
A Twilight Tryst: Venus Meets Neptune in the Dusk Sky
Never seen Neptune? It’s time you should, and this weekend offers a fine time to try, as the faintest planet in the solar system approaches the brightest in the dusk sky, for a splendid conjunction of the pair. This approach culminates as a fine conjunction of the two planets Venus and Neptune on January 27th … Continue reading "A Twilight Tryst: Venus Meets Neptune in the Dusk Sky" → Read More
ESA Recruits Amateur Astronomers Ahead of Hera Asteroid Mission
The European Space Agency is looking to recruit amateur astronomers to help characterize possible secondary targets for the upcoming Hera asteroid rendezvous mission. → Read More
Binocular Astronomy
Explore the night sky with your own two eyes and a touch of magnification. → Read More
Our Guide to this Friday's Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Ready for the first lunar eclipse of the year? The first eclipse season of 2020 comes to an end Friday, with a penumbral lunar eclipse. This season overlaps with 2019, when it kicked off with the Boxing Day annular solar eclipse of December 26th, 2019. → Read More
Top Astronomical Events for 2020
Ready for another amazing year of sky watching? Hard to believe, were already a fifth of the way into the 21st century. 2020 rounds out the final year of the second decade, promising an amazing year of skywatching to come. → Read More
Waiting for Betelgeuse: What's Up with the Tempestuous Star?
Have you noticed that Orion the Hunter—one of the most iconic and familiar of the wintertime constellations—is looking a little… different as of late? The culprit is its upper shoulder star, Alpha Orionis, aka Betelgeuse, which is looking markedly faint, the faintest it has been for the 21st century. → Read More
Conjunction Alert: Jupiter Meets Venus at Dusk
Get ready: The queries are inbound. “Did you see those two bright things in the sky last night?” Says a well meaning family member/friend/coworker/random person on Twitter that knows you’re into astronomy. “They were HUGE!” → Read More
A 3D Printed Telescope: The Analog Sky Drifter
A unique 3d printed telescope named the Analog Sky Drifter may spark a revolution in amateur telescope making. → Read More
Our Complete Guide to the July 2019 Total Solar Eclipse
You couldn't order up a geekier celestial scene from the cosmos. Next Tuesday on July 2nd, the second of three seasons begins for 2019, with the only total solar eclipse of the year spanning the southern tip of South America, including the nations of Chile and Argentina. As an extra-special part of the spectacle, however, the path of totality for the eclipse passes right over the La Silla… → Read More
Is Jupiter's Great Red Spot Vanishing as We Near Opposition 2019?
Jupiter observation season is neigh, and with it, the largest planet in our solar system is as mysterious as ever. → Read More
Mars Odyssey Reveals Phobos Using THEMIS
NASA's aging 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter recently snapped some unique views of the twin moons Phobos and Deimos, in an effort to better understand their texture and surface composition. → Read More
The International Space Station Rides High Through the May Sky
May is graduation month, and with it, school star party season is about to conclude. If you happen to be out this coming weekend showing the sky off to the public, keep an eye out for one of the top celestial sights that you won't see at the eyepiece, as we're in for a slew of good visible passes of the International Space Station worldwide. → Read More
Watch the Moon Buzz the Beehive
Been following the Moon this week? The first sighting of the waxing crescent Moon this past weekend not only marked the start of the Muslim month of Ramadan worldwide, but also sets us up for an interesting Friday night encounter, as the waxing crescent Moon crosses the Beehive Cluster. This month’s meeting of the Moon … Continue reading "Watch the Moon Buzz the Beehive" → Read More
Keep an Eye Out for the Eta Aquarid Meteors This Weekend
Never heard of the Eta Aquarid meteors? 2019 offers a good chance to check out this normally obscure meteor shower. 2019: The Prospects This year offers an especially good chance to spy these fast-moving meteors. First off, the peak for this shower arrives on the morning of Monday, May 6th less than 40 hours after … Continue reading "Keep an Eye Out for the Eta Aquarid Meteors This Weekend" → Read More