Geoff Gaherty was Space.com's Night Sky columnist and in partnership with Starry Night software and a dedicated amateur astronomer who sought to share the wonders of the night sky with the world. Based in Canada, Geoff studied mathematics and physics at McGill University and earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Toronto, all while pursuing a passion for the night sky and serving as an astronomy communicator. He credited a partial solar eclipse observed in 1946 (at age 5) and his 1957 sighting of the Comet Arend-Roland as a teenager for sparking his interest in amateur astronomy. In 2008, Geoff won the Chant Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, an award given to a Canadian amateur astronomer in recognition of their lifetime achievements. Sadly, Geoff passed away July 7, 2016 due to complications from a kidney transplant, but his legacy continues at Starry Night.
Latest articles by Geoff Gaherty

By Geoff Gaherty Published
Step outside on any evening this month and look toward the south. You will see one of the best-loved constellations, Orion the Hunter, surrounded by a circle of six brilliant stars.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
The moon will pass in front of the bright star Aldebaran Tuesday (Jan. 19), in an "occultation" that will be visible throughout North America and Western Europe.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
On Friday (Jan. 8), the planet Venus will appear to pass close by Saturn, making this a rare opportunity to see two planets at the same time in a telescope's narrow field of view.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
See what's up in the night sky for December 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
Mercury is typically difficult to spot from Earth, but on Dec. 28, the innermost planet will be visible to skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere. Here's how you can spot it.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
Next Tuesday (or Wednesday, depending on where you live), the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky — an event known in the Northern Hemisphere as the winter solstice.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week. Here's how to see it.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
On Monday (Dec. 7), the planet Venus will do a vanishing act behind the moon, but you'll have to be in the right place on Earth to see it without the sun's interference.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
See what's up in the night sky for December 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

By Geoff Gaherty Published

By Geoff Gaherty Published
Look up into the sky this week to see why autumn is the favorite season for many skywatchers: You can get your last look at summer stars and, if you stay up late, your first look at winter stars.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
See what's up in the night sky for November 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
Venus has been dominating the morning sky for the past two months, and Monday (Oct. 26), it will form a vivid tableau with Jupiter and Mars as it reaches its farthest point from the sun.

By Geoff Gaherty Published

By Geoff Gaherty Published
If you’re delighted by the ever-changing sky, here are some of its brightest inhabitants to watch for this week just before dawn.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
See what's up in the night sky for October 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
The next two weeks provide an excellent opportunity to spot the brightest asteroid visible from Earth, Vesta — one of the best-known objects in the solar system.

By Geoff Gaherty Published
This Sunday night moon observers have the chance to see a lunar triple treat, weather permitting. Not only is it a Harvest Full Moon, but also a so-called supermoon and total lunar eclipse.
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