Where I live in Virginia, the sun, moon, and planets actually coast through the sky to the south most of the year here, traveling along a line called the ecliptic. It’s this phenomenon which keeps the sun low during the winter…and it also plays a big part in our seasons!

With COVID and the pandemic having a hold on Earth’s social outings, it’s been more difficult than ever before to find opportunities to see our socially-distanced celestial neighbors! Here are my top 3 favorite astronomical computer programs designed to educate and inspire novices and experts alike, all from the comfort of your desktop.

This hypothetical fiery world was thought to orbit the sun even closer than Mercury. But why didn’t we find it? And what are the opinions of it today?

For all of human history, mankind has known about six of our eight planets. The other two, Uranus and Neptune, were only just discovered in the last 300 years. But did you know there could still be an undiscovered planet lurking in the reaches of our solar system, hidden from mortal eyes for millennia?

It’s well-known that objects in space are perpetually set in motion. But there are also some occurrences where objects will move together in sync like a choreographed dance. In other words, they create orbital resonance with one another.

Today it is understood that gravity is the invisible force that holds things together: it keeps us planted on the ground and rotating with the Earth at 700 miles per hour. Gravity keeps the moon from falling out of the sky. But how does it hold planets and stars together? And how can six stars orbit each other?

If you’ve ever had a hankering to check out Planet Mars in its Sunday best, you’ll get your chance during our celestial neighbor’s opposition during October later this year. But be prepared—miss it, and you’ll have to wait two years to see it again!

Has the year got you down? Want to know how to leave it all behind and escape into space? I’m glad you asked! But what is there to know?