Astronomy

Night Sky this Week Through October 24th

Whether you’re an early riser 🌅 or a night owl 🦉, the night sky this week has plenty of magic in store. From glowing planets to sparkling constellations, there’s always something worth a look. (Coffee optional ☕).

🌌 Evening & Night Sky


Just after sunset 🌆, look west to spot Mars 🔴 low in Virgo ♍. It sets only about 40 minutes after the sun, so you’ll need to catch it quickly! Binoculars 🔭 help bring out its faint red glow.

Mercury is also starting to peek above the horizon this week. Look for both Mars and Mercury about 30 minutes after sunset. Mercury will be the brighter of the two and sit just below Mars.

As Mars disappears in the west, Saturn 🪐 climbs into view in the east. By around 10 PM, Saturn shines high in the southeast in Pisces ♓, reaching its best view around midnight. Nearby, look for Fomalhaut, a bright southern star that’s easy to spot this time of year.

If you’re lucky, you can catch Comet Lemmon this week — faintly visible to the naked eye! Look for it to the upper right of Arcturus in the constellation Boötes.

✨ Morning Sky

Early risers are rewarded with Venus 🌄, the brilliant Morning Star, glowing in Virgo. Around 7 AM, you’ll find it shining brightly due east until sunrise. On Sunday morning, a delicate crescent moon will hover just to its upper right. Venus is slowly sinking lower as the month goes on, so catch it while you can!

Nearby, Jupiter 🌠 gleams high in Gemini ♊ near the twin stars Pollux (golden 🟡) and Castor (blue-white 🔵). This time of year, Jupiter shows up in both the morning and the evening skies — about 45° above the eastern horizon in the morning, then rising again around midnight.

On Tuesday morning, look for the Orionid Meteor Shower 🌠. The winter constellations are making their return, with Orion front and center. The shower’s radiant point lies just above Betelgeuse (Beetle Juice 😉), Orion’s red shoulder star. Under dark skies, you might see up to 20 meteors per hour streaking through the night.

This week, it’ll also be easier to spot the green planet Uranus 🟢. As the winter constellations climb higher, find the Pleiades star cluster, then look just below and to the left to locate Uranus.

🌠 Constellations
And of course, the Dippers never disappoint! The Big Dipper sits low and level on the northern horizon. Draw a line from the two stars in its bowl, and you’ll land right on Polaris, the North Star ✨ — your steadfast celestial compass.

So grab a chair 🪑, step outside 🚪, and look up 👆 — the universe is putting on a free show this week!

Home Decor

Retro Kitchens are Totally Back

Retro kitchens are totally back, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. After years of sleek white and gray spaces, people are craving warmth, color, and a little nostalgia. That cheerful mid-century and 1970s vibes are making their way back into homes, but with a modern twist that keeps things fresh and functional.

Think bold colors—avocado green, mustard yellow, burnt orange, or those soft pastels like mint and buttercream. They’re popping up on cabinets, tiles, and even appliances. It’s like sunshine for your kitchen. The trick is balance: mix those retro shades with some natural wood or crisp white so it feels cozy, not chaotic.

And speaking of appliances, those vintage-style fridges and stoves are having a serious moment. You’ve probably seen the ones with rounded corners and shiny chrome handles in fun colors like teal or red. They look straight out of a 1950s diner, but they’re all modern inside. A single statement piece like that can set the tone for your whole kitchen.

Floors are getting in on the fun, too. Checkerboard patterns are back, whether it’s classic black and white or something softer like gray and cream. Add in retro hardware, glass-front cabinets, or even beadboard walls, and suddenly your kitchen feels charming, personal, and full of character again.

The best part? You don’t have to do a full remodel to get the look. Start small—maybe a new light fixture, colorful toaster, or fresh coat of paint. A few thoughtful touches can bring that retro magic without overwhelming your space.

It’s really about blending the best of both worlds—the nostalgic charm of yesterday with the comfort and efficiency of today. The result? A kitchen that feels happy, inviting, and totally your own.

Lawns

Fall is the Perfect Time to Give your Lawn Extra Love

Fall is the perfect time to give your lawn in South Dakota a little extra love. 🍂 The cooler temps and hopefully gentle rains make it easier for your grass to recover from the summer heat and get ready for winter. A few simple chores now will make all the difference when spring rolls around and you want that lush, green look again.

Keep mowing for as long as your grass is growing — usually until the first hard frost. Set your mower around 3 inches high. That’s short enough to keep things tidy but tall enough to protect the roots. If your yard feels hard or compacted, it’s a great time to aerate. Those little holes help water, air, and nutrients reach the roots where they’re needed most. After that, overseed any thin or bare spots. Cool-season mixes like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue do especially well here. Keep the seed damp until it sprouts and thickens up. And don’t forget the fertilizer! A slow-release or “winterizer” fertilizer applied in early October will help the grass store up nutrients for the cold months ahead.

As the leaves start to fall, keep an eye on them. A thick blanket of leaves can smother your lawn. So either rake them up or mulch them finely with your mower. This is also a prime time to tackle weeds. A fall application of broadleaf weed killer works great because weeds are pulling energy and the herbicide down into their roots. Even if it feels cool outside, your lawn still needs water if things are dry. Aim for about an inch of water a week until the ground freezes.

When the season winds down, everything gets a good cleanup. Do one last mow at about 2½ inches. Gather up any leftover leaves or debris, and put away your garden tools. It’s also smart to drain your hoses and get your mower serviced so it’s ready to go next spring. If you’ve had trouble with annual bluegrass or winter weeds, a pre-emergent treatment in late fall can help keep them in check.

Take care of these few chores now, and your lawn will thank you in the spring. You will have a greener, thicker, and ready for a new season. That is why fall is the perfect time to give your Lawn Extra Love