SATURDAYS AT 3 A.M. ON KTAR NEWS 92.3

Dr. Sky

(AP File Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

September skies will feature harvest moon, Venus, Jupiter

As the Earth moves around the sun, we move into the autumnal equinox and cooler weather for us here in Arizona. With that comes the promise of some great views of our skies.
3 years ago
Hubble Space Telescope (NASA File Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr Sky

Has the most distant object in space been detected?

The powerful Hubble Space Telescope helped astronomers to detect the star called Icarus, which many believe is some 9 billion light years from Earth.
3 years ago
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

The era of space warfare and the growing threat of EMP

The sad fact is that space is the growing battlefield of the near future.
3 years ago
An artist's rendering made available by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows the Juno spacecraft above Jupiter. (...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

An observer’s guide to Jupiter for remainder of August

August presents a most amazing view of the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter.
3 years ago
(Flickr Photo/Rocky Raybell)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Welcome STEVE, a strange ribbon of colorful light

A new and strange atmospheric phenomenon is being seen in the skies around the world. “STEVE” is acronym for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.
3 years ago
(AP File Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr Sky

The best meteor shower of year will head across the sky soon

Get ready for the arrival of what may be the best meteor shower in all of 2021 as we head toward the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
3 years ago
(Unsplash Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Watchers’ guide to the sights of July night skies

July brings on the summer monsoon and some additional sights in our Arizona skies!
3 years ago
(AP Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

An update on mysterious fast radio bursts from the cosmos

One of the most amazing phenomena in astronomy is the mysterious burst of energy known as fast radio burst.
3 years ago
(Unsplash Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Stars at the edge of solar system are light-years from reaching Earth

There are some 14 stars that may come dangerously close to Earth, but the good news is that that may not happen for at least 240,000 years or so.
3 years ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

NASA looking to protect astronauts from space-related health problems

Space can be a very dangerous place for astronauts on long missions. It has been known for some time that extensive exposure to the radiation of space will have a damaging effect on humans.
3 years ago
This composite image provided by NASA on June 30, 2016, illustrates auroras on the planet Jupiter. ...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Giant Jupiter, with its 79 moons, is king of the planets

Did you know that Jupiter has some two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in the solar system? With a diameter of some 88,000 miles, Jupiter is a gas giant that dwarfs Earth.
3 years ago
(...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Constellation Scorpius dominates skies late spring, most of summer

With the heat of the summer soon upon us, we get to look skyward and find the celestial replica of one of Arizona’s native arthropods, the scorpion.
3 years ago
Deneb. (Flickr Photo/JP Stanley)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Summer Triangle marks seasons from spring to winter

As we reach start of the summer season, it's a good time to share some of the secrets of the brighter stars of the summer season, as well as the details of these amazing stars.
3 years ago
Lagoon Nebula (Wikimedia Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

June skies will offer amazing sights of moon, Lagoon Nebula

The midpoint for 2021 is near and the summer offers up some interesting sights for all to see, including the Lagoon Nebula.
3 years ago
(AP Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Rare total lunar eclipse will excite skywatchers May 26

Eclipses come and go and some of the most amazing sights in nature are surrounded by these rare events. A total lunar eclipse will happen May 26!
3 years ago
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)...
Steve Kates/Dr Sky

Fast radio bursts make up the most powerful signals from space

One of the most amazing phenomena in astronomy is the mysterious burst of energy known as fast radio burst.
3 years ago
(AP Photo/Michael Euler)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

How the full moons got their names and a very special event set for May

The beauty of another full moon is just around the corner!
3 years ago
(Public Domain Image/ESA)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Millions of pieces of space junk are a growing problem in the sky

The world above our heads is becoming a celestial nightmare for the entire world and there are no quick fixes to the growing population of spacecraft and space junk in orbit.
3 years ago
(AP Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Meteor shower and lunar eclipse will highlight May skies

As the month of May opens up, get set for one of the best meteor showers of the entire year.
3 years ago
(AP Photo, File)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Lyrid meteor shower to become active over Earth for part of April

Get ready for the second major meteor shower of 2021. The Lyrids have had some amazing outbursts in the past. The time to start searching the skies is now.
3 years ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Where to celebrate International Dark Skies Week in Arizona

Arizona has always been known for having some of the best skies in the entire nation. When better to point out some of the best spots during International Dark Skies Week?
3 years ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr Sky

Follow the arc to Arcturus to see 4th-brightest star in sky

With the season of spring well underway, there is a bright and magical star to view in our Arizona skies in April. That star is Arcturus.
3 years ago
(NASA-ESA-STScl-Hubble Heritage Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Spring skies show off Whirlpool Galaxy in Arizona

With the season of spring upon us, this is a great time to explore the many wonders of our Arizona skies. Look for the Whirlpool Galaxy, 31 million light years away.
3 years ago
(Pexels Photo)...
Steve Kates

Solar cycle 25 is well underway in 2021 with sunspot action

Right now, we are at the end of one of the deepest of solar activity in some time.
3 years ago