Geoff Gaherty
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
![Jupiter Daylight April 2013 Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FETbA7R4zxjGGiGKVX5non-320-80.jpg)
Weekend Plans? Try Spotting Jupiter in Daylight
By Geoff Gaherty published
Want to see Jupiter in daylight? Here's how:
![Position of Sun Aril 6, 2013 Chart](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zM2TBBtn34iWpZs7XszedV-320-80.jpg)
Spot 100 Deep-Sky Objects This Weekend in 'Messier Marathon'
By Geoff Gaherty published
You can see all but a few of the 110 Messier objects in a single night this weekend.
![March 2013 Galaxies Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ANtKKAGXWLvf2deWsayggA-320-80.jpg)
Cosmic Easter Eggs: Start Your Spring Galaxy Hunt This Weekend
By Geoff Gaherty published
Spring is the season for hunting galaxies. Look eastward around 10 p.m. this weekend to explore 'the realm of the galaxies.'
![The vernal equinox, which marks the first day of the northern Spring season, occurs at 7:02 a.m. EDT on March 20, 2013.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xv8C7KyuNjUuKByD7q5siJ-320-80.jpg)
Vernal Equinox Marks First Day of Spring Today
By Geoff Gaherty published
The day and night are exactly the same length during today's equinox.
![Comet Pan-STARRS and the Moon Over Salem, Missouri](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fThJKguTfGYuZffbaP3Nxg-320-80.jpg)
See Jupiter and Moon Shine with Comet Pan-STARRS This Week
By Geoff Gaherty published
A close conjunction of the moon and Jupiter is sure to dazzle stargazers this week.
![Comet Pan-STARRS Over Tucson, Arizona](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e5XTyt74SyaZ67rjAwmGHF-320-80.jpg)
Comet Pan-STARRS or PANSTARRS: What's In a Celestial Name?
By Geoff Gaherty published
Is it PANSTARRS, PanSTARRS or Pan-STARRS?
![Comet Pan-STARRS C/2011 L4](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Bs9hXbdRBcL4dRDZpZWcjm-320-80.jpg)
Bright Comet Pan-STARRS in Night Sky: How to See It
By Geoff Gaherty published
Comet Pan-STARRS is currently the brightest comet in the night sky in recent years, but only the opening act for 2013.
![Gibbous Moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kayV4QuC63YjRXP5J39AnW-320-80.jpg)
Rare 'Zodiacal Light' Visible in Night Sky Soon
By Geoff Gaherty published
Made of interplanetary dust, the Zodiacal Light is a faint haze in the night sky.
![Gibbous Moon Skywatching Sights](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7ahvw87hJoUNAXQ7tHovS-320-80.jpg)
The Gibbous Moon: A Skywatching Guide
By Geoff Gaherty published
There's plenty to see now on Earth's nearest neighbor.
![Comet Pan-STARRS Photo by John Drummond: January 2013](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uNNcyTXvEtN7UJ5cQKGZH5-320-80.jpg)
Bright Comets Grace Earth's Night Sky in February and March
By Geoff Gaherty published
Two comets in the Southern Hemisphere will light up the sky in late February before moving north in early March.
![Mercury and Mars Conjuction, February 2013](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6w5beghCNfBBnySAzAnsuG-320-80.jpg)
Best Chance to See Elusive Planet Mercury Is Now
By Geoff Gaherty published
February offers the best opportunity to spot Mercury in the night sky.
![Moon's Craters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oKGBBX4VbVdjQMaxteTTXQ-320-80.jpg)
Moon's Craters at Their Best in Night Sky
By Geoff Gaherty published
The moon looks strangely different in a telescope around last quarter.
![Comet Wainscoat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rwo2HpBWwMpdBZ9YEtMoqF-320-80.jpg)
Year of the Comets: 2 Dazzling Comets Heading Our Way
By Geoff Gaherty published
Two comets possibly bright enough to be seen by the naked eye are nearing the sun.
![January Moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W5MpnTicJ7knWspctjBjMo-320-80.jpg)
Best Time to See the January Moon Is Now
By Geoff Gaherty published
The first quarter moon is the best time to see the moon's best lunar features.
![The orbits of the four inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/88nDKTD6UbRob5rmDYBCnm-320-80.jpg)
Earth Is Closest to the Sun for 2013 Today
By Geoff Gaherty published
The Earth is just 91.4 million miles from the sun today. Normally, it is 93 million miles away.
![December 2012 Full Moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oJi9tEqYugXe3nU7PJurd-320-80.jpg)
Last Full Moon of 2012 Rises Friday
By Geoff Gaherty published
The final full moon of the year rises into the sky on Friday, Dec. 28.
![Dec. 25 Night Sky Conjunction](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wr8hBHaYuwZKVyGQ3mxN5m-320-80.jpg)
Christmas Night Sky: Your Questions Answered
By Geoff Gaherty published
The Dec. 25 night sky will offer stargazers a gorgeous view.
![Vesta Sky Map Dec. 9, 2012](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/npJzXvw5KQrQSgVdRd5Nyg-320-80.jpg)
Space Rocks Vesta and Ceres Visible in Night Sky This Week
By Geoff Gaherty published
Stargazers can catch some great views of the giant asteroids Vesta and Ceres this week.
![Dec. 4, 2012, Mercury Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qsdJhww8SbF9Q2RsYWMkAB-320-80.jpg)
See Mercury at Dawn and Jupiter All Night Long
By Geoff Gaherty published
You may need to rise early to see Mercury, but Jupiter is unmistakable in the night sky.
![Venus and Saturn November 2012 Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PmR9VrkuP2gNzYKms4UVtL-320-80.jpg)
Saturn Meets Venus in Dawn Sky This Week
By Geoff Gaherty published
Saturn and Venus will appear so close they can be seen in the same telescope view.
![French skywatcher Jeremie Vaubaillon captured this image during the 2001 Leonid meteor shower from South Korea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GbQKJWWZ9qanvoarAJLNyk-320-80.jpg)
Leonid Meteor Shower to Shine in Weekend Sky
By Geoff Gaherty published
The Leonid meteor shower of 2012 peaks early Saturday morning (Nov. 17), before sunrise.
![Moon, Venus and Spica November 2012 Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XdonsWiSav2tJgAxdZF5Dn-320-80.jpg)
Cosmic Triple Treat Will Shine in This Weekend's Dawn Skies
By Geoff Gaherty published
The moon, the planet Venus and the bright star Spica will be on view.
![Jupiter and the Moon October 2012 Sky Map](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DhQU278xm3AWJaEoVkJXo6-320-80.jpg)
Moon and Jupiter Create Celestial Halloween Treat
By Geoff Gaherty published
A conjunction between the planet Jupiter and Earth's moon will occur this week.