SATURDAYS AT 3 A.M. ON KTAR NEWS 92.3

Dr. Sky

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

2 meteor showers will play across the Arizona skies this week

As October moves forward, we get to see two interesting meteor showers with some moonlight. The month opens up the fall meteor shower season with the annual Draconid shower.
5 years ago
(Public Domain Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Explaining the solar minimum of 2019 and how it affects planet Earth

With the return of the fall season for 2019 in the northern hemisphere, it is time to look closer at our nearest star, the sun. We are now at the deepest part of what we call solar minimum.
5 years ago
(NASA/International Astronomical Union Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

It’s the perfect time for a preview tour of October skies in Arizona

With the arrival of the autumnal equinox Sept. 23, we now look forward to the new season, along with the cool and clear nights of October.
5 years ago
(Max Pixel Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Second interstellar object heading towards the sun

In August, a Russian astronomer captured a visual of what might be the second interstellar object. It's thought to be a comet. How exciting!
5 years ago
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Get ready for Friday the 13th harvest moon in Arizona’s skies

Cue the Neil Young music and get ready for the harvest moon, one of the most amazing and romantic full moons of the year.
5 years ago
(Public Domain Image)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Look for some amazing September sunset skies over Arizona

With the arrival of September and the soon to be end of the monsoon season, look for some amazing colorful sunsets.
5 years ago
(Getty Images Photo/Matt Cardy)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Harvest moon to rise above Arizona in September

With the seasons about to change once again in September, we have some great events to look for - the capper being the harvest moon.
5 years ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
STEVE KATES/DR. SKY

What lies at the exact center of the Milky Way galaxy?

The center of our Milky Way galaxy is located some 26,000 light years away, in the constellation of Sagittarius. What do astronomers say lies there?
5 years ago
(AP Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

There’s time to prepare for the next major total solar eclipse

With the second anniversary of the Aug. 21, 2017 total solar eclipse just a week or so away, many wonder when they will get to see another eclipse like that?
5 years ago
(NASA-ESA Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

It’s the time of year to see the amazing stars of the Summer Triangle

As we reach midpoint of summer, it's a good time to share some of the secrets of the brighter stars of the season - known as the Summer Triangle - as well as the details of these amazing stars!
5 years ago
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter (NASA Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

August skies offer some great Arizona views of Jupiter

August skies offer some amazing sights, as we move deep into the summer! Look for the mighty planet Jupiter as it remains bright in the sky at sunset.
5 years ago
Ethan Reynolds browses a display of archival newspaper front pages announcing the first moon landin...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

50 years after first landing, when will mankind return to the moon?

With the world's attention focused on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, what lies ahead with both robotic and human exploration of the moon?
5 years ago
Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit is unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum...
STEVE KATES/DR. SKY

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing

As you may already know, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing is coming on July 20th! Were you a witness to this event?
5 years ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
STEVE KATES/DR. SKY

Summer is best time to view Milky Way galaxy in Arizona skies

With the summer season underway, it’s time to search our Arizona skies for one of the most amazing sights in the entire night sky: the Milky Way galaxy.
5 years ago
(NASA-JPL-Space Science Institute Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Get out the telescopes, Saturn returns to visibility in the night sky

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and one of the most memorable, with its amazing ring system. The best views will occur in just a few days, as the ringed planet will come to opposition the night of July 9.
5 years ago
(Getty Images/Patrick Smith)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Large impactor identified beneath surface of the moon

The most amazing part of a new theory is that an asteroid-like body 200 kilometers in diameter may still be embedded in the mantle of the moon.
5 years ago
(Wikimedia Commons Photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Watch for strange ‘night shining’ clouds appearing in our Arizona skies

With the summer season about to begin, there are now sightings of some very unusual cloud formations being observed by millions of people around the world.
5 years ago
(Getty Images Photo/Ethan Miller)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Beta Taurid meteor storm is on its way across the skies in Arizona

One of the most powerful meteor showers occurs in mid-August, with the famous Perseid meteor stream at night. But look for a daytime meteor shower, too - the Beta Taurids.
5 years ago
In this image provided by NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team, the planet Jupiter is pictured Ju...
STEVE KATES/DR. SKY

Is Jupiter’s long-lived ‘Red Spot’ storm unraveling?

It appears that the great storm in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter, the “Red Spot,” is going through some dramatic changes.
5 years ago
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

SpaceX starts launching Starlink satellites for global internet system

The project is known as Starlink, as SpaceX hopes to place some 12,000 small satellites into orbit for a new global internet system.
5 years ago
(Wikimedia photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Jupiter to begin its reign in the Arizona night sky

Jupiter is a very bright planet and will now become an easy late evening planet in our Arizona skies.
5 years ago
(Flickr/Goulven Champenois)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Spring is in the air: Viewing May skies in Arizona

Spring is in the air and there are some amazing sights to be seen in our May skies in Arizona!
5 years ago
(Flickr/ume-y)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Eta Aquariid meteor shower to pass through Arizona skies in May

As the month of May opens up, get set for one of the best meteor showers of the entire year: The Eta Aquariid shower.
5 years ago
(Wikimedia photo)...
Steve Kates/Dr. Sky

Arizona stargazers should look for bright globular cluster, Omega Centauri

As we move deeper into spring, we proudly introduce to you one of the most amazing globular clusters in the night sky: Omega Centauri.
5 years ago