About Dennis Mammana

Dennis Mammana

Dennis Mammana

For more than three decades, Dennis Mammana has shared the wonder and mystery of the cosmos with audiences around the world. With a B.A. in physics from Otterbein College and an M.S. in astronomy from Vanderbilt University, Mammana has held positions at the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum, the University of Arizona, and San Diego's Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. He now works as an astronomy writer, lecturer and photographer from under the clear dark skies of Southern California's Anza-Borrego Desert. Mammana is the author of six books on astronomy, hundreds of popular magazine and encyclopedia articles and, since 1992, has written "Stargazers," the only nationally syndicated weekly newspaper column on astronomy.

As an accomplished night-sky photographer, his stunning images have appeared in a variety of media and international exhibitions, and can be enjoyed at his website, www.dennismammana.com. He is an invited member of TWAN — The World At Night — an international team of the world's most highly acclaimed sky photographers.

A dynamic public speaker, Mammana has entertained and informed audiences on six continents at resorts, on cruise ships and as an after-dinner speaker, and leads public tours to view and photograph such celestial displays as the aurora borealis and total solar eclipses. He makes frequent appearances on both radio and television.

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Enjoy This Month's Blue Mini Moon May 19, 2026

Week of May 24-30, 2026 When you hear the phrase "once in a blue moon," what do you think? If you're like most people, you think of something that doesn't happen often. So what exactly is a blue moon, and why is it so rare? First off, a blue moon isn... Read More

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Cosmic Trio Shines at Dusk May 12, 2026

Week of May 17-23, 2026 That brilliant light now glistening in the west at sunset is again the "star" of the show. It is, of course, the planet Venus, and this week it'll pair up with two other celestial wanderers: Jupiter and the moon. Jupiter, ano... Read More

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Early Stars of Summer May 05, 2026

Week of May 10-16, 2026 Skywatchers of ancient times recognized the night sky as a way to measure time. Not only does it seem to revolve around the Earth every night, but it also appears to change gradually over the seasons. The stars and constellat... Read More

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See Halley's Comet (Well, Sort of ...) Apr 28, 2026

Week of May 3-9, 2026 If you're old enough, do you remember seeing Halley's Comet — the most famous of all celestial nomads — when it swung past our neck of the cosmic woods in 1986? I did, and I wasn't terribly impressed. It was arguably... Read More