Joe Malan

Enid

Presentation Editor at Enid News and Eagle

Presentation Editor - Enid News & Eagle Listen to The Backyard Astronomy Show on Spotify: https://t.co/AM88VuvvgP

Articles

COLUMN: Beyond the constellations

2 weeks ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

When you look anywhere to the north on a clear night, it’s warming to the soul to see the Big Dipper and Little Dipper in their familiar places — stalwarts of a stellar kingdom. We know the patterns by sight; we can draw them by hand almost without looking. We can do the same with other constellations — like Orion or perhaps Pegasus.
COLUMN: A guide to observing the sky during a full moon

3 weeks ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

Recently we had the Full Flower Moon — and as we head into the weekend, the moon will edge closer to last quarter phase. While the moon won’t be nearly as bright as it had been, there will still be quite a bit of moonlight. But the cycle will continue, and a new full moon will come around — the next will be the Full Strawberry Moon on June 11. kAm|@@?=:89E[ 2D 92D 366? DE2E65 :? E9:D 4@=F>? >2?J E:>6D 367@C6[ AFED 2 52>A6C @? G:6H:?8 @3;64ED J@F ?665 2 G6CJ 52C< D<J E@ D66] qFE[ E92E 5@6D?’E >62?
COLUMN: Quick! Name that star

4 weeks ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

When I was a teen, there would be many summer days when I’d sit in the cool of my bedroom in the basement, listening to sports talk radio. They would play the same ads over and over again in order. They still do, by the way — especially if you’re listening to streaming radio. kAmqFE E92E @?6 25 H@F=5 2=H2JD A@A FA @G6C E96 2:CH2G6D — E96 @?6 H96C6 J@F 4@F=5 42== :? @C 8@ E@ 2 H63D:E6 2?5 ?2>6 2 DE2C 27E6C D@>6@?6 2?5 AFE :E :?
First Friday

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

Firefighters participate in Firefighter Games during First Friday May 2, 2025.
COLUMN: Seeking a window of opportunity

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

I’m sitting here on a Tuesday night at my desk at work, trying to decide on what to write. I peruse through a catalog of topics stuck in my head, and nothing piques my interest. kAmx D:89 :?H2C5=J] x >:DD 4=62C ?:89ED]k^Am kAmw6C6[ :? t?:5[ :E D66>D =:<6 :E 92D 366? 6?5=6DD=J 4=@F5J 2?5 C2:?J ]]] 2E =62DE 7@C E96 A2DE H66< 2?5 2 92=7 @C D@] xE D66>D =:<6 E9:D 4=@F5 4@?F?5CF> 3682?
Kites Over Enid

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

Kites fly over Richard Dermer Memorial Flying Field behind Autry Technology Center on Sunday, April 27, 2025, during Kites Over Enid.
COLUMN: Meteors not only things falling Tuesday morning

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

This week in astronomy, I fall off a hammock, shake my fist at clouds and more. Yesterday’s ... well, Tuesday’s ... news today. kAm%96 {JC:5 >6E6@C D9@H6C H2D 46CE2:?=J 2? 25G6?EFC6 — =6E’D AFE :E E92E H2J] xE DE2CE65 @77 C6=2E:G6=J H6==] ~? $F?52J ?:89E — E96 ?:89E 367@C6 E96 A62< — x D2H 2 3=F6\H9:E6 >6E6@C @7 >65:F> 3C:89E?6DD D9@@E DEC2:89E 24C@DD E96 D<J 7C@> 62DE E@ H6DE[ =62G:?8 2 D>@<J EC2:= :?
COLUMN: Lyrid meteor shower kicks things off this spring

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

It’s meteor shower time!It feels like it’s been a while, hasn’t it? It seems like there’s always a lull during the winter, although it seems I do see a good random meteor or two. kAm~FC =2DE >2;@C >6E6@C D9@H6C H2D E96 "F25C2?E:5D[ @7 H9:49 x D2H 2 76H] qFE ?@H DAC:?8 :D :? 7F== DH:?8[ 2?5 :E’D E:>6 E@ 86E 6I4:E65 23@FE E96 {JC:5D]k^Am kAm(92E’D 8C62E 23@FE E96 {JC:5 |6E6@C $9@H6C E9:D J62C :D E96 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 A6C764E 7@C 2 8@@5 D9@H]k^AmkAm%96 7:CDE 4@?5:E:@?
COLUMN: A planet-star-star alignment

1 month ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

Sometimes my columns are in-depth, sometimes simpler. This is the latter of the two. If you go out late at night, you will see a pretty neat alignment of three objects almost straight overhead. kAm%96 =67E>@DE @7 E96 E9C66 :D E96 A=2?6E |2CD] x HC@E6 :? 2 AC6G:@FD 4@=F>? 23@FE 9@H |2CD :D >@C6 A:?< E92? E96 566A C65 >2?J A6@A=6 H@F=5 6IA64E :E E@ 36] %92E 567:?:E6=J :D E96 42D6 96C6 ?6IE E@ EH@ J6==@H:D9 DE2CD]k^Am kAm$A62<:?8 @7 E9@D6 EH@ DE2CD[ E96 46?E6C @3;64E :?
COLUMN: Don't be fooled by 'photos'

2 months ago | enidnews.com | Joe Malan

It’s the most beautiful photograph you’ve ever seen. Reds, greens, blues, yellows, pinks — every color of the rainbow and in between — forming a luminous curtain amid a backdrop of hundreds of stars. kAm%96 ?@CE96C? =:89ED 2C6 2=H2JD 2 3C62E9E2<:?8 D:89E — 2?5 E92E ?@E:@? 92D ?6G6C 366? >@C6 AC@?@F?465 E92? H:E9 E9:D A9@E@]k^Am kAm%96 @?=J AC@3=6>n xE’D 72<6]k^AmkAmxE’D E96 J62C a_ad[ 2?5 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 :D 36:?8 FD65 >@C6 2?5 >@C6] %92E’D 7@C 36EE6C @C[ :?