Book Review: Incandescent
Incandescent by Anna Levin, The Quays, Salford: Saraband, 2019, ISBN 978-1-91223-531-5, softbound, $17.95, US This book came as a result of the […]
Skylights: August 2026
The skies of August present a 14% partial solar eclipse, a 96% partial lunar eclipse, and a favorable peak of the annual […]
Join us for Skyscrapers’ August Monthly Meeting
Join us for Skyscrapers’ August Monthly Meeting at Seagrave Memorial ObservatorySaturday, August 1, 2026 Featuring Dr. Vijay Varma, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Social […]
Giant Space Mirror Approved for Launch: 50,000 More on the Way
By now, most of you probably have heard of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to allow the company Reflect Orbital, Inc., […]
Skylights: July 2026
A close pairing of Mars and Uranus gives us a red and blue Independence Day treat, Venus passes Regulus in the evening, Mercury moves to the morning, Pluto at opposition, and a pair of Mooned-out meteor showers all highlight the night sky in July.
50 Years Exploring the Surface of Mars
2026 marks the semiquincentennial (literally “half of five centuries”) of the Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States of […]
Join us for Skyscrapers’ July Monthly Meeting
Saturday, July 11, 2026 Featuring Member Presentations Social hour at 6:00 pm, Presentation at 7:00 pm Lots of activities for a summer […]
Seagrave Observatory Night: June 27, 2026
In addition to the usual Public Night this Saturday visitors could also learn about HAM radio operation. The Blackstone Valley Amateur Club […]
President’s Message: July 2026
In July, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of this great nation. This momentous event occurred during, and because of, […]
Small Kuiper Belt Object May Have an Atmosphere
One of the joys of being an astronomy lover is that there’s always something new being discovered; there’s not much time around […]
Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos
by Lisa Kaltenegger, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2024, ISBN 978-1-250-28363-4, Hardbound, $30.00, US At first, this book begins with a series […]
A Rare Daytime Lunar Occultation of Venus
On June 17, 2026, a lunar occultation of Venus occurred which was visible from most locations in North America. Unfortunately, the occultation […]
Seagrave Observatory Night: The Shortest Night – June 20, 2026
Weather: Clear, calm, 65°Participants: Michael Corvese, Matt White, Jim Meltzer, John Kocur, Jim HendricksonAttendees: 5Observed: 6-day crescent Moon, M13, Alberio, M81 & […]
Seagrave Observatory Night: June 13, 2026
Weather: Clear, calm, 70°Participants: Bob Horton, Jim Hendrickson, Katie Chippendale, John Kocur, Mike Kerr, Laura Landen, Francine JacksonAttendees: 15Observed: Double Double, M5, […]
June 2026 President’s Message
Spring has finally sprung in New England, bringing with it opportunities to observe the night sky. Freezing, dreary nights are gone (for […]
Skylights: June 2026
The skies of June bring us the shortest nights, a trio of evening planets, a daytime lunar occultation of Venus, and the […]
111 Places in Space That You Should Not Miss
By Mark McCaughrean, Koln: Emons Verlag, 2025, ISBN 978-3-7408-0601-9, Softbound, $23.95, US Recently, I read Why Space Will Freak You Out: The […]
A Lunar Triple Header
May is Moon Month with three significant events occurring, namely two Micromoons and a Lunar X & V. There were two full […]
Rhode Island’s Artemis Moon Trees
We’re sure everyone was glued to their screens watching the Artemis II crew’s 10-day trek to the Moon, the first in many […]
The Great New England Bolide of 2026
You may have heard, perhaps even felt, or saw social channels light up with questions and speculation, or received a text from […]
Seagrave Observatory Night: May 16, 2026
I arrived at Seagrave Observatory during twilight, Venus and Jupiter had already dipped behind the trees to the west-northwest, and were out […]
Astronomy Night at River Bend: May 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026Weather: Clear, 50°, calm windParticipants: Francine Jackson, Jim HendricksonAttendees: 4Observed: Venus, Aldebaran, Sirius, Jupiter, MoonPhotos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCSWozReport by Jim Hendrickson […]
May 2026 President’s Message
Dear Members, I am honored to address you for the first time as the 62nd President of our organization. I hope to follow in […]
Welcome to the Artemis Generation
Do you remember when humans flew to the Moon? As a lifelong astronomy and space enthusiast in my early 50s, I didn’t […]
Starry, Starry Nite at Chase Farm: April 2026
Weather: Mostly clear, 45°, wind NEParticipants: Francine Jackson, Bob Janus, Jim Hendrickson, John KocurAttendees: 22Observed: Moon, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, M45Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCRYY4Reports by […]
Seagrave Observatory Night 2026 Season Opener
Weather: Clear, 45° calmParticipants: Bob Janus, Jim Hendrickson, Francine Jackson, Jay Baccala, Mike Kerr, John KocurAttendees: 12Observed: Moon, Mars, M44, M64, M104, […]
Celebrating Goddard’s First Launch Centennial in Worcester
One of the most important, but often forgotten, persons in history is Robert Goddard, whose time and incredible patience led to his […]
Skylights: March 2026
The arrival of spring brings some notable changes to our nights. During March, we will see rapidly decreasing darkness, as the hours […]
Why Space Will Freak You Out – The Scariest, Strangest Parts of the Universe
By Kimberly Arcand and Megan Watzke, with illustrations by Robert Ball, Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Kids, 2026, ISBN 978-1-4642-2709-7, Softbound, $12.99, US If you’ve […]
Bill Weber: 1954-2025
With sadness, I report the passing of Skyscrapers member Bill Weber. I spoke with his wife, Mary, this afternoon and she provided […]
Book Review: The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light
The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light by Craig Childs, Salt Lake City: Torrey House Press, 2025, […]
Book Review: Night Magic
Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion, New York: Algonquin Books of Chapel […]
Introducing Asteroid 15022 Francinejackson
On February 24, 2025, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN) recognized Francine Jackson’s contributions to astronomy education […]
In Loving Memory of David A Huestis (1953-2024)
It is with sadness that I write this in memory of my friend, traveling companion, confidant, and, eventually, my brother, David A […]
David Huestis: A Remembrance
On October 27, 1985, while browsing through the Sunday Providence Journal newspaper I noticed an article entitled: Halley’s Comet Coming at You. […]
Remembering Dave Huestis
by Joyce Towne, Planetarium Consultant & Francine Jackson It’s always difficult to write about a person known for many years, and Dave […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context: 1900 – 1910
Frank Evans Seagrave continued his astronomical endeavors as the beginning of the 20th century approached. Throughout the next 34 years his prolific […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context: 1860 – 1899
The Early Years : 1860 – 1874 Frank Evans Seagrave was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on March 29, 1860, son of […]
I Remember Pat Armitage
Pat Armitage was a force in Skyscrapers for many years. My first meeting with her was at a total solar eclipse site […]
Book Review: Losing the Sky
Losing the Sky by Andy Lawrence, Edinburgh: Photon Productions, 2021, ISBN 978-1-8383997-2-6, softbound, $7.38 U.S. When I first received this book, I thought it […]
In Memory of Althea Doodson
Sadly, I must report the loss of one of our newer members. Althea Doodson passed away on October 19; she was 89. […]
Remembering Dave Rose
Dear Friends, On Monday Oct 10th Dave Rose passed away after a long battle with cancer. He chose not to share his […]
Remembering Dave Hurdis
As many of you know, on May 31, 2022, Skyscrapers, Inc. lost a dear member, David A. Hurdis. Dave was born in […]
Frank Evans Seagrave: A Timeline of His Life & Contributions in Historical Context
Preface Over the years I have realized that while many folks may know about historical events in general, they are clueless as […]
In Memory of Michael Ambrose
To all Skyscrapers, I am deeply saddened to have learned of the sudden passing of our member, Michael Ambrose. Michael is the […]
Memories of Frank Dubeau
I was shocked to learn about Frank Dubeau’s passing last week. Frank was a long time Skyscraper. I think he joined about […]
Frank Dubeau
Francis I. “Frank” Dubeau 76, of Blackstone, MA, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, April 16, 2020 at home. He was the husband of […]
William S. Penhallow: 1933 – 2020
A major force in astronomy in Rhode Island has left us: William Scott “Bill” Penhallow died January 15, 2020, at age 86. […]
In Memory: Kent Cameron 1938-2017
One of our most avid members, Kent Cameron, passed on Thursday, November 30th. Well-known as one of the first to volunteer for […]
In Memory: Roger Menard and Minka Wescott
It’s very hard to lose a friend, but to become aware of two in one day is very difficult. This week the […]