The upcoming week will be predominantly cloudy with frequent rain showers. Sunday through Wednesday sees highs in the low 50s to low 60s and lows in the mid-40s, with rain chances mostly around 50% to 60%. Winds remain light, generally between 5 and 15 mph, shifting from south to southeast. Thursday and Friday continue the cloudy, showery pattern, with similar temperatures and moderate rain chances, easing slightly into the weekend. Saturday brings fewer showers and a 30% chance of rain, before cloudier, wetter conditions return Saturday night with a 50% chance of rain. https://www.kcra.com/weather

Death Valley National Park, one of the hottest and driest places in North America, may experience its first superbloom in a decade, with early signs already visible along the south end of Badwater Road. The National Park Service credits unusually high rainfall since October 1—2.45 inches, which exceeds the yearly average, for creating ideal conditions. Superbloom peaks typically occur between late February and early April, showcasing flowers like desert gold, sand verbena, and primrose. Past superblooms occurred in 2016, 2005, and 1998. Visitors are reminded not to pick wildflowers, as seeds are essential for future blooming seasons. https://www.accuweather.com/en/leisure-recreation/death-valley-could-have-rare-superbloom-in-2026-that-is-likely-already-underway/1862430

This week’s sky, February 13–22, features evening views of Mercury and Venus low in the west-southwest, with Saturn emerging later in twilight. Orion reaches its highest in the south around 8 p.m., accompanied by Canis Major and Lepus. Highlights include the new Moon on February 17 with an annular solar eclipse for Antarctica, and a conjunction or occultation of Mercury by a thin crescent Moon on February 18. Jupiter dominates the evening sky in Gemini, while Saturn lingers low, and Uranus is high in Taurus. Observers can also enjoy Kemble’s Cascade, hidden gems in deep-sky objects, and variable star Algol’s minima. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-february-13-22/

The week begins with mild and partly cloudy conditions on Sunday, with highs around 64°F and lows near 45°F under light winds. Monday sees a mix of sun and clouds, with a high of 59°F, followed by 42°F at night. Tuesday turns mainly cloudy, 57°F, with showers possible at night and lows of 43°F. Wednesday offers partial sun, 55°F, with light rain chances overnight. Thursday reaches 61°F with increasing clouds and late-night showers. Friday is partly sunny, 61°F, before clouds return at night. Saturday and Saturday night bring frequent rain showers, highs near 56°F, and lows around 40°F. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s sky highlights the Winter Hexagon, visible in the east and south with Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Castor, Capella, Aldebaran, and Rigel, with Betelgeuse inside. Orion dominates the evening sky, while Cassiopeia and Capella shine near the zenith. Jupiter gleams in Gemini, with its Great Red Spot transiting on February 9. Mercury and Venus emerge low in the west-southwest after sunset, with Saturn fading in twilight. The waning Moon moves past Spica, Antares, and into Scorpius. Observers can also spot Luyten’s Star near Procyon. Uranus remains visible in Taurus, while Neptune sinks and Mars is hidden behind the Sun. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-february-6-15/

The moon can appear upside down when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere due to differences in perspective on Earth’s curved surface. While the moon always shows the same face to Earth, its orientation changes based on where you stand. Someone used to seeing it in the Northern Hemisphere may notice its craters and dark features rotated 180 degrees when traveling south. This effect also applies to constellations, which can appear flipped, shifted, or even vanish from view between hemispheres. The phenomenon occurs because “up” and “down” in the sky depend entirely on the observer’s position on the globe. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/the-upside-down-moon-why-the-moon-looks-odd-on-the-other-side-of-the-world/1845192

February marks a subtle but significant shift in winter as days grow longer and sunlight increases across the Northern Hemisphere. Following the December solstice, Earth’s tilt toward the sun becomes more apparent, and by February, the gain in daylight is noticeable. Northern cities see the most dramatic changes: New York City gains over an hour of daylight by February 28, while Miami adds just 37 minutes due to its proximity to the equator. Longer days bring earlier sunrises, later sunsets, and shorter nights, signaling the slow march toward spring even as winter’s cold and snowstorms persist. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/the-february-shift-that-makes-winter-feel-different/1857670

The upcoming week features mild temperatures and light, variable winds. Sunday brings cloudy skies with scattered showers, highs near 60°F, and a 40–50% chance of rain continuing into the night. Monday sees intervals of sun and clouds with highs around 62°F, followed by mostly clear skies at night. Tuesday through Saturday is predominantly partly cloudy to mostly sunny, with daytime highs ranging from 63–65°F and nighttime lows around 42–45°F. Rain chances are low after Sunday, and the weather remains stable with generally fair nights and light winds throughout the week. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s sky features a bright gibbous Moon moving past Jupiter, Pollux, and Castor, becoming full on February 1. Highlights include the Moon occulting Regulus on February 2, with visible disappearance and reappearance times varying across North America. Watch Jupiter in Gemini with its moons, Io and Ganymede, showing transits and eclipses, while Saturn glows low in the west. The Winter Hexagon dominates the evening sky, with Sirius, Capella, and Betelgeuse prominent. Uranus and Neptune are telescopic targets. The week also marks the mid-point of winter, historically celebrated as Imbolc and now recognized on Groundhog Day. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-january-30-february-8/

The upcoming week will feature mostly light winds and a mix of clouds, sun, and occasional showers. Sunday starts with considerable clouds, clearing somewhat in the afternoon, with highs near 56°F and lows around 39°F. Monday and Tuesday bring a combination of sunshine and clouds, with similar temperatures and calm conditions. Rain chances increase to 40% Tuesday night and continue into Wednesday and Wednesday night before tapering off. Thursday will be partly cloudy, with highs reaching 63°F. Friday and Saturday feature sporadic showers and lingering clouds, with highs in the lower 60s and lows in the mid-40s. https://www.kcra.com/weather