Skywatch: Hawaii’s royal historian provided calendar source
Kekaomakali‘i arcs overhead, rising on the Hikina horizon — east — and moving toward the Komohana horizon — west. Read more
Skywatch
Skywatch: Traditional star compass assists navigators at sea
Once again we return to the first of our four star families, Kekaomakali‘i (the Bailer of Makali‘i), as it makes its nightly east-to-west progression from horizon to horizon. Read more
Skywatch: Watch meteors zoom by and days change length throughout December
The four stars that form the corners of Ka Lupe a Kawelo, the Great Square of Pegasus, are excellent pointer stars that show the direction of both the north and south celestial poles, and serve as an indicator of the path they take across the night sky as they move from the eastern to the western horizon. Read more
Skywatch: Lunar eclipse, meteors enliven November sky
As Nahiku (the Big Dipper) sinks below the western horizon, Iwakeli‘i (Cassiopeia) and Kalupeakawelo (the Great Square of Pegasus) climb high into the northeastern sky, signaling the arrival of Makali‘i (Pleiades) in the star house ‘Aina Ko‘olau on the star compass. Read more
Skywatch: Fall arrives with bright planets, meteor shower
The twin stars in the bucket of the Little Dipper, Holopuni (Kochab) and Hokumau (Pherkad), are good clues for determining latitude in the Southern Hemisphere. Read more
Skywatch: Think of fall equinox as midpoint of season
Kalupeakawelo, the Kite of Kawelo, is the fourth and final star family to be featured. Read more
Saturn, Jupiter, Perseids shine brightly in August
The circular star compass is divided into four quadrants. From north to east is the quadrant Ko‘olau; south to west is the quadrant Kona; south to east is the quadrant Malanai; and north to west is the quadrant Ho‘olua. Read more
Skywatch: Lahaina noon across isles will erase shadows
Manaiakalani, the Chief’s Fishline, is the third of our four star families and is prominent in the sky for the summer months of July, August and September. Read more
Skywatch: Look for star family’s iconic constellations in its final month
The first half of this article, explaining the star family Kaiwikuamo‘o, is the last piece written by our beloved navigator-in-residence, the late Chad Kalepa Baybayan. Read more
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‘Imiloa mourns the loss of navigator Kalepa Baybayan
It is with profound sadness to inform you, our valued Skywatch readers, that our dear friend and colleague, Kalepa Baybayan, died from natural causes while visiting and caring for ohana in Seattle on April 8. Read more
Skywatch: Celebrate spring with meteors and supermoon
April announces the arrival of the second of our star families, Kaiwikuamo‘o, or “the Backbone,” back to the spring night sky. Read more
Mauna Kea scope offers new look at Crab Nebula
The equinox, mauiili, refers to equal nights — a day in which time is split equally between darkness and sunlight — and occurs twice annually, once in the spring and again in the fall. Read more
Skywatch: Ring in Lunar New Year, monitor new Mars rover
Throughout February observers will be able to view the rusty red planet Mars high in the early evening sky. In mid-February, Mars will receive a special visitor from Earth. Read more
Astronomers use Gemini Observatory to study ‘fingers’ of Orion Nebula
The Andromeda Galaxy is our closest galactic neighbor and contains about 1 trillion stars, much more than the estimated 200 billion stars within our home Milky Way Galaxy. Read more
Dwarf planet is named through teacher program
Kalupeakawelo, “the kite of Kawelo,” is in the final month of this featured fall star family. Read more
Skywatch: Isle-based astronomer earns Nobel accolades
On the morning of Oct. 8, Hawaii’s astronomy community woke to some exciting news: UCLA astronomer Andrea Ghez, who has conducted research with the W.M. Keck Observatories for over 25 years, had just been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics. Read more
Skywatch: Tales of constellations have survived centuries
Manaiakalani, or Chiefly Fishing Line, the third of our four star families, is completing its westward journey back toward the horizon. Read more
Comet, meteor shower light up August nights
August brings the third of the four star families to the eastern night sky. Read more
Skywatch: Observe shadow magic during Lahaina Noon
July brings to the night sky the third of the year’s four seasonal star families, Manaiakalani, the Chiefly Fishing Line. Read more
Skywatch: Hawaii observatory is used to glimpse rare galaxy
June signals the last month in our discussion of the star family Kaiwikuamo‘o, the Backbone. Read more
Skywatch: See comet mid-month — if it holds its brightness
The Backbone is one of four star families that are modern heuristic devices for visually organizing the night sky around prominent stars and constellations. Read more
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