Jeff Wilkerson
@wilkerje.bsky.social
Astronomer. Professor of Physics at Luther College Decorah, Iowa, USA
A waxing gibbous Moon passes Elnath then Jupiter as the planet pulls away from Wasat. Compare binary Algieba to 39 Leonis. Bright galaxies M95, M96 & M105 are top targets in Leo but the Hickson 44 galaxy group: NGC 3190, 3193, 3185 & 3187, is also good. #LutherCollege youtu.be/4Z3_ZCAU9Jo
Night Sky for Week of January 26, 2026
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January 23, 2026 at 10:42 AM
A waxing gibbous Moon passes Elnath then Jupiter as the planet pulls away from Wasat. Compare binary Algieba to 39 Leonis. Bright galaxies M95, M96 & M105 are top targets in Leo but the Hickson 44 galaxy group: NGC 3190, 3193, 3185 & 3187, is also good. #LutherCollege youtu.be/4Z3_ZCAU9Jo
Jupiter and Saturn remain good targets with the Moon passing near Saturn & Neptune. The Orion Nebula, NGC 1990 & globular cluster M79 are highlights. Gamma Leporis, open cluster NGC 2017, galaxies NGC 1964 & 1993, and variable star R Leporis provide observing opportunities. youtu.be/i7oOmOGUN_k
Night Sky for Week of January 19, 2026
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January 16, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Jupiter and Saturn remain good targets with the Moon passing near Saturn & Neptune. The Orion Nebula, NGC 1990 & globular cluster M79 are highlights. Gamma Leporis, open cluster NGC 2017, galaxies NGC 1964 & 1993, and variable star R Leporis provide observing opportunities. youtu.be/i7oOmOGUN_k
Good morning everyone.
January 14, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Good morning everyone.
Jupiter passes Wasat, Saturn passes very near 24 Piscium. Hop Wasat open star cluster M35 with faint cluster NGC 2158. Nearby are galaxy NGC 2365, fine open cluster NGC 2420 & planetary nebula NGC 2392. Great open clusters M36, M37 & M38 are in the area. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VYZXN5Y2kAs
Night Sky for Week of January 12, 2026
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January 9, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Jupiter passes Wasat, Saturn passes very near 24 Piscium. Hop Wasat open star cluster M35 with faint cluster NGC 2158. Nearby are galaxy NGC 2365, fine open cluster NGC 2420 & planetary nebula NGC 2392. Great open clusters M36, M37 & M38 are in the area. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VYZXN5Y2kAs
The Moon pairs with Regulus then Spica. Jupiter approaches Wasat. Saturn nears 24 Piscium. Alnitak lies between beautiful nebulae M42 & M78. Binary star 52 Orionis is near Betelgeuse. Open star clusters NGC 2141 & NGC 2169 provide interesting, contrasting views near one another. youtu.be/mNHiinQE5Zs
Night Sky for Week of January 5, 2026
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January 2, 2026 at 12:13 PM
The Moon pairs with Regulus then Spica. Jupiter approaches Wasat. Saturn nears 24 Piscium. Alnitak lies between beautiful nebulae M42 & M78. Binary star 52 Orionis is near Betelgeuse. Open star clusters NGC 2141 & NGC 2169 provide interesting, contrasting views near one another. youtu.be/mNHiinQE5Zs
The Moon passes Hamal & Elnath before sliding between Pollux & Jupiter. Arcturus guides the way to bright globular star cluster M53 & globular NGC 5053. Globular M3 makes a nice triangle with M53 & Arcturus. NGC 5172 is the brightest of a faint group of several galaxies. youtu.be/PiObPrualAw
Night Sky for Week of December 29, 2025
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December 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The Moon passes Hamal & Elnath before sliding between Pollux & Jupiter. Arcturus guides the way to bright globular star cluster M53 & globular NGC 5053. Globular M3 makes a nice triangle with M53 & Arcturus. NGC 5172 is the brightest of a faint group of several galaxies. youtu.be/PiObPrualAw
The crescent Moon guides the way to globular clusters M2 and M15 before it passes Saturn and Neptune. A retrograding Jupiter is near planetary nebula NGC 2392. Sparse open star clusters NGC 2355 and 2395 are nearby. The old, faint Medusa Nebula is near NGC 2395. youtu.be/VYePk4YnS5w
Night Sky for week of December 22, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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December 19, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The crescent Moon guides the way to globular clusters M2 and M15 before it passes Saturn and Neptune. A retrograding Jupiter is near planetary nebula NGC 2392. Sparse open star clusters NGC 2355 and 2395 are nearby. The old, faint Medusa Nebula is near NGC 2395. youtu.be/VYePk4YnS5w
Good morning everyone.
December 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Good morning everyone.
Saturn, Jupiter and Ursid meteors are highlights. Double star Omega 2 Aquarii sits near famous variable star R Aquarii. NGC 253 and NGC 7721 are fine spiral galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/N-tW1LhmpaM
Night Sky for Week of December 15, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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December 12, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Saturn, Jupiter and Ursid meteors are highlights. Double star Omega 2 Aquarii sits near famous variable star R Aquarii. NGC 253 and NGC 7721 are fine spiral galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/N-tW1LhmpaM
The Moon wanes sufficiently to allow a good look at the Geminid meteor shower. Gamma Ceti is a fine binary system for the small telescope. Galaxies M77 and NGC 1055 are worthy targets while a nearby group of faint galaxies presents a challenge. #LutherCollege youtu.be/kNOxEMxSkPA
Night Sky for Week of December 8, 2025
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December 5, 2025 at 10:35 AM
The Moon wanes sufficiently to allow a good look at the Geminid meteor shower. Gamma Ceti is a fine binary system for the small telescope. Galaxies M77 and NGC 1055 are worthy targets while a nearby group of faint galaxies presents a challenge. #LutherCollege youtu.be/kNOxEMxSkPA
Even in the toughest of Moon weeks we find interesting things to see, including the retrograde motion of Jupiter, open star clusters M29 an NGC 6811, and double stars Albireo, Delta Cygni, Mu Cygni and Kappa Pegasi. The Veil Nebula is a late week stretch. #LutherCollege youtu.be/QE9mvhl8O3c
Night Sky for Week of December 1, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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November 28, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Even in the toughest of Moon weeks we find interesting things to see, including the retrograde motion of Jupiter, open star clusters M29 an NGC 6811, and double stars Albireo, Delta Cygni, Mu Cygni and Kappa Pegasi. The Veil Nebula is a late week stretch. #LutherCollege youtu.be/QE9mvhl8O3c
It's a good week to track the orbits of the Galilean moons of Jupiter. It's a short hop from Jupiter to Procyon and the nebulae and open star it guides the way to, including the Rosette Nebula, Thor's Helmet, M46, M47, M48, M56 and NGC 2244. #LutherCollege youtu.be/LVzd_Zf4OwY
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November 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
It's a good week to track the orbits of the Galilean moons of Jupiter. It's a short hop from Jupiter to Procyon and the nebulae and open star it guides the way to, including the Rosette Nebula, Thor's Helmet, M46, M47, M48, M56 and NGC 2244. #LutherCollege youtu.be/LVzd_Zf4OwY
Find Saturn's moon Titan and dwarf planet Ceres. The brighter stars of Cetus, including Diphda, guide the way to double star 37 Ceti, galaxies NGC 210 and NGC 255, and planetary nebula NGC 246. #LutherCollege youtu.be/oAOuONbJTYs
Night Sky for Week of November 17, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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November 14, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Find Saturn's moon Titan and dwarf planet Ceres. The brighter stars of Cetus, including Diphda, guide the way to double star 37 Ceti, galaxies NGC 210 and NGC 255, and planetary nebula NGC 246. #LutherCollege youtu.be/oAOuONbJTYs
The waning Moon provides little interference with the Leonid meteor shower. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) shine relatively brightly. Nearby galaxies NGC 777, NGC 404 and NGC 890 are interesting objects that provide a greater observing challenge. youtu.be/rWf0Mf7_FKM
Night Sky for week of November 10, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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November 7, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The waning Moon provides little interference with the Leonid meteor shower. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) shine relatively brightly. Nearby galaxies NGC 777, NGC 404 and NGC 890 are interesting objects that provide a greater observing challenge. youtu.be/rWf0Mf7_FKM
Saturn, Neptune and interesting double star 34 Piscium are found west of the Moon before it moves toward Elnath and Jupiter in the morning sky. It is a good week to catch two eclipses of eclipsing binary Algol in Perseus. NGC 7814 is a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/o7F2qWeB9iA
Night Sky for Week of November 3, 2025
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October 31, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Saturn, Neptune and interesting double star 34 Piscium are found west of the Moon before it moves toward Elnath and Jupiter in the morning sky. It is a good week to catch two eclipses of eclipsing binary Algol in Perseus. NGC 7814 is a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/o7F2qWeB9iA
The Moon passes Deneb Algedi & Saturn. The Double Cluster and Andromeda Galaxy are showcase features in Perseus & Andromeda, along with Gamma Andromeda but the region also holds superb open star clusters M34 & NGC 1245, & NGC 891, a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/zED6vy2xmHs
Night Sky for Week of October 27, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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October 24, 2025 at 9:42 AM
The Moon passes Deneb Algedi & Saturn. The Double Cluster and Andromeda Galaxy are showcase features in Perseus & Andromeda, along with Gamma Andromeda but the region also holds superb open star clusters M34 & NGC 1245, & NGC 891, a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/zED6vy2xmHs
Little Moon all week helps with Comet Lemmon and Orionid meteor observing. Saturn, Fomalhaut and globular star clusters M2 and M15 frame the stars of Aquarius, including binary Zeta. NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula, is a great example of a planetary nebula. #LutherCollege youtu.be/PXrkSWw7ptQ
Nigh Sky for Week of October 20, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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October 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Little Moon all week helps with Comet Lemmon and Orionid meteor observing. Saturn, Fomalhaut and globular star clusters M2 and M15 frame the stars of Aquarius, including binary Zeta. NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula, is a great example of a planetary nebula. #LutherCollege youtu.be/PXrkSWw7ptQ
The Moon starts near Jupiter and passes the Beehive Cluster. Squarely between globular clusters M15 and M71 sits Delphinus, with beautiful binary Gamma Delphini, faint globular star clusters NGC 6934 and NGC 7000, and planetary nebula NGC 6891. youtu.be/Y5odnvnh0N4
Night Sky for Week of October 13, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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October 10, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The Moon starts near Jupiter and passes the Beehive Cluster. Squarely between globular clusters M15 and M71 sits Delphinus, with beautiful binary Gamma Delphini, faint globular star clusters NGC 6934 and NGC 7000, and planetary nebula NGC 6891. youtu.be/Y5odnvnh0N4
The waning Moon is near Saturn then Jupiter near bright star Castor, a fine binary star. The stars of Cepheus guide the way to brighter nebula NGC 7023 & fainter nebula NGC 7129, with an embedded young star cluster, & NGC 7133 & nearby faint open star cluster NGC 7142. youtu.be/_fXpFyHxYaA
Night Sky for Week of October 6, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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October 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The waning Moon is near Saturn then Jupiter near bright star Castor, a fine binary star. The stars of Cepheus guide the way to brighter nebula NGC 7023 & fainter nebula NGC 7129, with an embedded young star cluster, & NGC 7133 & nearby faint open star cluster NGC 7142. youtu.be/_fXpFyHxYaA
Venus & Jupiter grace the morning sky. The Moon passes Saturn & Neptune. Uranus lies between Gamma Tauri & the Pleiades. Faint galaxy NGC 7785 is near Omega Piscium. Theta Piscium guides the way to galaxies NGC 7619, NGC 7626 & NGC7611 and many fainter galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/iknTyGVjIto
Night Sky for Week of September 29, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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September 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Venus & Jupiter grace the morning sky. The Moon passes Saturn & Neptune. Uranus lies between Gamma Tauri & the Pleiades. Faint galaxy NGC 7785 is near Omega Piscium. Theta Piscium guides the way to galaxies NGC 7619, NGC 7626 & NGC7611 and many fainter galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/iknTyGVjIto
The September equinox is on Sep. 22. Jupiter sits about 1 degree above very nice planetary nebula NGC 2392. A wing of Pegasus guides the way to galaxy NGC 7331. Find Stephan's Quintet just south of 7331 and many fainter galaxies in the region. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VhNyK1YvtAs
Night Sky for Week of September 22, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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September 19, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The September equinox is on Sep. 22. Jupiter sits about 1 degree above very nice planetary nebula NGC 2392. A wing of Pegasus guides the way to galaxy NGC 7331. Find Stephan's Quintet just south of 7331 and many fainter galaxies in the region. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VhNyK1YvtAs
The Moon slides from Jupiter to Venus. In Hercules we find globular clusters ranging from stunning to challenging: M13, M92, NGC 6229. Faint galaxy NGC 6207 lies near M13 & Zeta Herculis provides an observing challenge & a bit of interesting history. #LutherCollege youtu.be/z7e4x3LVg5U
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September 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The Moon slides from Jupiter to Venus. In Hercules we find globular clusters ranging from stunning to challenging: M13, M92, NGC 6229. Faint galaxy NGC 6207 lies near M13 & Zeta Herculis provides an observing challenge & a bit of interesting history. #LutherCollege youtu.be/z7e4x3LVg5U
The Moon starts near Saturn then occults Elnath for some. Epsilon Lyrae, the Double Double star, is observable all night. Galaxies and globular clusters mingle in and near Pegasus. Find M2, M15, NGC 7132 and NGC 7479. #LutherCollege youtu.be/lxUW8nvuT3o
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September 5, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The Moon starts near Saturn then occults Elnath for some. Epsilon Lyrae, the Double Double star, is observable all night. Galaxies and globular clusters mingle in and near Pegasus. Find M2, M15, NGC 7132 and NGC 7479. #LutherCollege youtu.be/lxUW8nvuT3o
The waxing gibbous Moon slides past Nashira & Deneb Algedi. Saturn is near variable star BU Piscium & binary 27 Piscium. Venus is between open star clusters M44 & M67. Jupiter is near Wasat with galaxy NGC 2365 & excellent planetary nebula NGC 2392 also nearby. #LutherCollege youtu.be/aHsPl-qmakQ
Night Sky for Week of September 1, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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August 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The waxing gibbous Moon slides past Nashira & Deneb Algedi. Saturn is near variable star BU Piscium & binary 27 Piscium. Venus is between open star clusters M44 & M67. Jupiter is near Wasat with galaxy NGC 2365 & excellent planetary nebula NGC 2392 also nearby. #LutherCollege youtu.be/aHsPl-qmakQ
The waxing crescent Moon moves from near Mars in Virgo to Antares in Scorpius. Venus, now almost 20 degrees from Jupiter, ends the week near M44, the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. Double star Albireo, star clusters M52 & M56 and nebulae M8, M20, M27 & NGC7635 shine. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VnTpoCjfQS8
Night Sky for Week of August 25, 2025
YouTube video by Jeffrey A. Wilkerson
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August 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
The waxing crescent Moon moves from near Mars in Virgo to Antares in Scorpius. Venus, now almost 20 degrees from Jupiter, ends the week near M44, the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. Double star Albireo, star clusters M52 & M56 and nebulae M8, M20, M27 & NGC7635 shine. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VnTpoCjfQS8