Kym @ The Evening Sky Map
LightNews LightNews
banner
skymaps.com
Kym @ The Evening Sky Map
@skymaps.com
1.5K followers 200 following 500 posts
Lifelong sky watcher • Publisher of The Evening Sky Map (PDF) each month since January 2000: skymaps.com/tesm/ • Interests: Astronomy outreach • Astro-imaging • Supernovae | Career scientist (retired)
Kym Thalassoudis PhD
Posts Replies Media Videos
skymaps.com
🌗 🌟 Over the next few hours, the Last Quarter Moon will pass near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. Best seen in the morning sky with closest approach at 0h UT on 11 January. Spica's position near the ecliptic makes for regular close encounters with the Moon.🔭
Sky Lore Books: skymaps.com/myths/
An illustration from an 1822 star atlas highlighting the constellation Virgo depicted as a winged female figure against a background of stars and constellations all of which are shown as line drawings. Brighter stars are indicated with larger star symbols. The more prominent stars are labelled with Greek letters, and a few are also labelled with star names. The position of the ecliptic is shown passing through the constellation Virgo. Image source: Plate 18, A Celestial Atlas by Alexander Jamieson (1822).
January 10, 2026 at 9:04 PM
skymaps.com
🌗 The Last Quarter Moon occurs on January 10th at 15:48 UT (now) marking the onset of moonless evening skies. This is an ideal time for stargazing over the next week or so. Go to skymaps.com/tesm/ to download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) and enjoy a night under the stars! 🔭
#stargazing
January 10, 2026 at 3:48 PM
skymaps.com
Venus was at superior conjunction a few days ago (January 6th). Mars is at conjunction today (January 9th), and Jupiter will be at opposition tomorrow (January 10th). The close timing of these events results in the planetary alignment depicted in this view of the Solar System.🔭
A simulated view showing the current location of the planets by looking down onto the plane of the Solar System.
January 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
skymaps.com
Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo (the Lion) and is located on the Ecliptic making for regular encounters with the Moon.
Sky Lore Books: skymaps.com/myths/ 🔭
An antique star map depicting the constellation Leo as a lion, with labeled stars and celestial coordinates marked across the chart. The location of the bright star Regulus (the King) is shown on the Ecliptic. Credit: Plate 17 (Leo), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822).
January 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
skymaps.com
🌓 ⭐ Over the next few hours, the Moon will once again pass near the bright star Regulus. Closest approach is around 17h UT on 6 January. An occultation will be visible from Russia, China, Mongolia and eastern Kazakhstan. 🔭
More info: in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=...
January 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
skymaps.com
🌕 The Full Moon this month occurs in a few hours time at 10:03 UT on January 3rd. Around this time, the Moon will be closer to us than average so it will also appear noticeably brighter. Step outside tonight and look up to see a large and bright Full Moon and the bright planet Jupiter nearby. 🔭
A telescopic photograph of the Full Moon. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis
January 3, 2026 at 6:26 AM
skymaps.com
🌟 The January 2026 edition of The Evening Sky Map is now available for download at skymaps.com/tesm/. The PDF features a Sky Calendar and easy-to-use sky maps for the northern & southern hemispheres, and for the equatorial regions. Please share, and enjoy exploring the Universe! 🔭
#stargazing #space
The Evening Sky Map is a 2-page monthly publication in the PDF format that features an all-sky map of the night sky, a calendar of celestial events, and a list of celestial objects visible to the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes.
December 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
skymaps.com
I sincerely thank everyone who has shared The Evening Sky Map in 2025. The aim of TESM is to help sky watchers globally to discover and enjoy the night sky, ultimately for the wide range of benefits that ensue. Your role in sharing this resource is invaluable. 🔭
#stargazing #nightsky
A photograph showing silhouettes of people at a star party with the blue and pink colours of an early evening twilight sky in the background.
December 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
skymaps.com
Ideal weather conditions on Boxing Day provided a great opportunity for Astronomy outreach, allowing us to share telescopic views of the Moon, Saturn, Neptune and even a red carbon star. 🔭
#stargazing #outreach
A photograph showing a small group of people around two telescopes set up on a lawned area. Two young adults are looking through the telescopes which are pointing skywards to the Moon.
December 28, 2025 at 12:40 AM
skymaps.com
The December solstice occurs at 15:01 UT (now) on December 21st 2025. This is the instant when the Sun reaches the point farthest south (–23.5°) of the celestial equator marking the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. 🔭
December 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
skymaps.com
🌟 While waiting to view the Geminid meteor shower, I took the opportunity to image two supernovae in a pair of distant galaxies. The supernovae were discovered just a few weeks ago soon after their light, travelling for ~200 million years, reached Earth. 🔭 🧪
#supernova #astrophotography
A monochrome telescopic image showing a star field and a few small fuzzy objects which are galaxies. The location of the supernova in the galaxy is indicated with a pair of lines. A monochrome telescopic image showing a star field and a few small fuzzy objects which are galaxies. The location of the supernova in the galaxy is indicated with a pair of lines.
December 16, 2025 at 12:18 AM
skymaps.com
Happening now: A massive prominence on the Sun...
#Sun #solarflare 🔭 🧪

Source: www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goe...
December 15, 2025 at 12:05 AM
skymaps.com
🌟 🌘 In a few hours, the waning crescent Moon will pass near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. Closest approach is at 15h UT on 14 December. The gathering will be visible in the early morning sky.

Spica is located near the ecliptic making for regular close encounters with the Moon. 🔭
An illustration from a historical star atlas highlighting the constellation Virgo depicted as a winged female figure against a background of constellations shown as line drawings. The location of bright stars are marked and some are labelled with their names. The ecliptic is also shown. Image source: Plate 18, A Celestial Atlas by Alexander Jamieson (1822).
December 14, 2025 at 1:11 PM
skymaps.com
The Last Quarter Moon of December 2025 photographed a few moments ago from southern Australia. 🔭
#Moon #stargazing
A telescopic photograph showing the Last Quarter Moon surrounded by wispy clouds. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis
December 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
skymaps.com
🌗 Last Quarter Moon occurs on December 11th at 20:52 UT (now), marking the onset of moonless evening skies. This is a great time to enjoy stargazing for the next week or so. Go to skymaps.com/tesm/ to download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) and enjoy a night under the stars! 🔭
#stargazing
The Evening Sky Map is a 2-page monthly publication that features an all-sky map of the night sky, a calendar of celestial events, and a list of celestial objects visible to the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes.
December 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
skymaps.com
A test image of the Orion Nebula taken from my light-polluted home just a few metres from a streetlight. Will repeat on the weekend from a dark sky site. 🔭
Imaging rig: skymaps.com/ir0/
#astrophotography
December 11, 2025 at 6:55 AM
skymaps.com
On Saturday, I organized a Solar Astronomy event at the local Christmas Fair. Everyone, from children to adults, marveled at the up-close views of sunspots and solar flares. Even Santa and a few elves joined in! #SolarAstronomy #ChristmasFun 🔭
A photograph showing children looking at the Sun through two solar telescopes in a park. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis A photograph of Santa Claus standing next to a large refractor telescope. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis
December 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
skymaps.com
🌕 The Full Moon in December 2025 occurs on the 4th at 23:14 UT (now). A Full Moon within 24 hours of perigee (its closest point to Earth each lunar cycle) can appear up to 7% larger than average. Hence the title "Supermoon". 🔭

December 2025 events: skymaps.com/skycalendar/
A telescopic photograph of the Full Moon. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis
December 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM
skymaps.com
The massive sunspot complex 4294-4296 imaged a few hours ago with a 102mm achromat + Herschel wedge + solar continuum filter (540nm) + ASI462MC camera. These sunspots may produce a series of explosions on the Sun which in turn could trigger intense aurorae on Earth. 🔭 🧪
#Sun #sunspots
A closeup astronomical image of a sprawling complex of large sunspots on the Sun. A narrowband filter in the green part of the visible spectrum was used to take the image resulting in the Sun's surface appearing bright green in color. Credit: Kym Thalassoudis
December 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
skymaps.com
🌟 The December 2025 edition of The Evening Sky Map is available to download at skymaps.com/tesm/. The PDF features a Sky Calendar and easy-to-use sky maps for the northern and southern hemispheres, as well as equatorial regions. Please share, and enjoy exploring the Universe! 🔭
#stargazing #space
The Evening Sky Map is a 2-page monthly publication that features an all-sky map of the night sky, a calendar of celestial events, and a list of celestial objects visible to the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes.
November 28, 2025 at 11:17 PM
skymaps.com
🌓 28 November: First Quarter Moon at 6:59 UT (now).

The days around First Quarter are a great time to view and explore craters and many other lunar features. A telescope will provide spectacular views. 🔭
📖 Exploring the Moon (book): skymaps.com/a1/B0CGL3RN5F/
#stargazing #moon
A First Quarter Moon showing well defined craters along the terminator.
November 28, 2025 at 7:12 AM
skymaps.com
🌟Uranus reaches opposition at 12h UT on November 21st. Mag. 5.6.

The distant planet is currently located a few degrees south of the Pleiades star cluster (M45). Uranus is easy to spot with a set of binoculars. Refer to the chart and search for a pale blue "star".
#stargazing
A computer simulated view of the star clusters known as the Hyades and the Pleiades showing the current location of the planet Uranus. Credit: Sky Safari Pro
November 21, 2025 at 10:52 AM
skymaps.com
20 Nov: New Moon at 6:47 UT (now). Start of lunation 1273.

🌟 The next few days remain a great time for evening stargazing. Download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) (skymaps.com/tesm/) and enjoy exploring the Universe with your eyes, binoculars or a telescope! 🔭
#stargazing #space
A photograph showing 3 telescopes set up for visual astronomy on a large lawned area with some trees and a hillside in the distance.
November 20, 2025 at 6:47 AM
skymaps.com
🌗 ⭐ Over the next few hours the Moon will appear near the bright star Regulus in the morning sky. Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo (the Lion) and is located on the Ecliptic making for regular encounters with the Moon. 🔭
Lore: Skymaps.com/myths/
An antique star map depicting the constellation Leo as a lion, with labeled stars and celestial coordinates marked across the chart. The location of the bright star Regulus (the King) is shown on the Ecliptic. Credit: Plate 17 (Leo), A Celestial Atlas, Alexander Jamieson (1822).
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
skymaps.com
🌗 Last Quarter Moon occurs on November 12th at 5:28 UT (now), marking the onset of dark moonless evening skies. This is a great time to enjoy stargazing for the next week or so. Go to skymaps.com/tesm/ to download The Evening Sky Map (PDF) and treat yourself to a night under the stars! 🔭
#stargazing
The Evening Sky Map is a 2-page monthly publication that features an all-sky map of the night sky, a calendar of celestial events, and a list of celestial objects visible to the naked eye, binoculars and telescopes.
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 AM