Dr. Sky

Oumuamua -- a very unusual asteroid name, coming from a Hawaiian word meaning ‘Scout,’ may be the first observed asteroid body from another solar system.

The moon returns to its new phase on July 13 and, for a few evenings around this date, we hopefully will have a monsoon-free sky to view some of the summer's best sky objects.

Over the past month, the movements of these wandering stars, known as planets, now set the stage for you to actually be able to view five of the major planets of the solar system, with the naked eye.

Saturday will mark the 110-year anniversary of the Tunguska blast in Russia and will officially mark another holiday: Asteroid Day 2018.

Saturn, the ringed planet, is now near its best for all of 2018. The most distant planet known to the ancients, Saturn, is now moving to its annual opposition on June 27. 

Mars will be coming closer to Earth at any time since 2003. Observers who look due south at 3 a.m. local time will begin to experience the brightness of the planet Mars.

Our Arizona skies will once again be filled with many stars, just before the start of the annual summer monsoon, which gets going around June 15 or so. 

With the recent passing of Apollo 12 astronaut Capt. Alan Bean, it reminds us of the rarity of those who have actually “walked” on the moon.

China launched a communications satellite towards the far side of the moon, which will become a vital link in “talking” to a future lunar mission which will attempt to soft land a probe and rover.

With May nearly over, there are still many amazing objects to view in our Arizona skies. Get set for some great night sights before the summer monsoon season.