Nature operates on an intricate and precise schedule, guided by circadian rhythms—internal biological clocks that regulate sleep, activity, feeding, and reproduction. These rhythms are not only essential for human health but are also fundamental to the behavior of migratory birds, pollinators, and even the crops we cultivate. Understanding these natural cycles is crucial, particularly in rural communities where agriculture and wildlife conservation are deeply interconnected.

It was a beautiful summer evening in Western Colorado. The Sun had just set and our bright sister planet was just starting to pop out in the darkening sky. I quickly pointed the telescope at Venus, which was in a crescent phase, for an eagerly awaiting crowd. The first person squinted into the eyepiece and said, “I see the Moon, but I don’t see Venus.” I was taken back a bit, as the Moon was nowhere to be seen in the sky. Assuring the crowd that I was not deceiving them, I responded, “That IS Venus! Venus goes through phases, just like the Moon!”

We live in a world that rarely slows down—late-night work, glowing screens, and irregular schedules have become the norm. But what if I told you that constantly ignoring your body’s natural rhythms could put you at risk for serious diseases, including heart disease and breast cancer? The key to understanding this lies in our circadian rhythm—our body’s internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep, metabolism, and cellular repair among other bodily processes.

Do you enjoy stepping outside at night and looking up to see a sky full of stars? For much of human history, that was the norm. But today, in many places, the night sky is drowned out by artificial light. While streetlights and glowing screens may seem harmless, they’re disrupting something vital—our circadian rhythms.

On the night of March 13 to 14, the Moon will move through Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse that is visible from Colorado.

Planetary alignment is a phenomenon where other planets in our solar system align from Earth’s perspective. It is a rare event with some alignments occurring once in 100 years.

Fermi was a Nobel Prize winning physicist famous for quickly estimating answers to questions, like how many heart beats are there in a lifetime, or how many piano tuners are there in Chicago? These types of questions are now called Fermi questions. Perhaps the most famous Fermi question is the Drake equation, which asks how many advanced civilizations exist in our galaxy.

For those of us living away from our larger cities and towns, the West Slopearea from Grand Junction south to Cortez is one of the darkest places onEarth where people live. We know that by experience but that darkness hasbeen measured by satellites.

My whole life I’ve been asked the daunting question that seemed to put my whole belief system on trial. Aliens, were they real or not? If I had said yes, I was crazy, a conspiracy theorist who didn’t know the difference between fictional video game characters and real life. But if I had said no, I’d be shutting down the entire possibility of there being something more to life than just what my little planet has to offer.

2025’s almost here, and in astronomy, a lot will be happening.