When you want to see the stars, find someplace dark
Waxing and waning from new to full and back again
An annular solar eclipse will be visible from Australia, Antarctica and across the southern Indian Ocean today. This is a somewhat odd eclipse as the center of the Moon’s shadow misses the Earth entirely. The eclipse will be quite short and visible over a limited geographic area.
A total lunar eclipse will occur on this particular full Moon, visible across the western hemisphere.
Amateur astronomers love lists… The Messier observing list, the Hershel 400, the Hershel II, and on. Some lists can be complete on a night or two, some lists may take years, or even a lifetime to accomplish. Amateur astronomy is not the only avocation to use lists like this. Birders attempt to see all of the birds known to occur in their home country. Aircraft spotters love to see each model of aircraft in the air. Divers keep lists of species seen underwater.
Lists like these are not only fun, but allow the list chaser to sample the wonders our universe has to offer. The challenge of finding and observing each of the items is worthwhile. Each object is a lesson into the science, hunting each object allows skills to be practiced.
Most of the astronomy observing lists require a small telescope to accomplish, or at least a pair of binoculars. One list is a bit different, it does not require any optical aid at all… The Naked Eye 100.