SUNSET: 
ASTRONOMY & OBSERVING NEWS
Observing Report: Moon Occults Mars
Sky & Telescope editors report their observations of last night's celestial event: Mars grazing or disappearing behind the Moon.
continue reading
observing guides
Where to Look Tonight
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 2 – 10
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 2 – 10
Mars is at opposition this week. And on opposition night December 7-8, Mars is occulted by the perfectly full Moon. Orion enters stage east earlier and earlier, the Summer Triangle sinks west, and Jupiter reigns on high.
where to lookDecember: Mars in the Spotlight
Sky Tour Podcast
December's solstice means that for many skywatchers the night will be up to 14 hours long — providing lots of time to enjoy the starry sky. This month’s celestial highlights are the close approach of the Moon and Mars (and, for many, a coverup) on December 7th and the Gemind meteor shower on the December 13th. Our fun and factual Sky Tour podcast provides all the details.
Subscribe NowBecome a Backyard Cosmic Explorer
Become a Backyard Cosmic Explorer
No matter how you look up at the sky — with a telescope, binos, or just your eyes — you're a cosmic explorer.
Read moreEditor's PICKS
Photographer: James-Wentworth
S&T Online Photo Gallery " width="234" height="155">
Photographer: Bill Hood
Photographer: ccrum
Photographer: seanmclucas
Photographer: Dodi
Photographer: varadinagypal
Photographer: Steven Miller
Photographer: nazmus
Photographer: Dereck Bowen
Photographer: Jeff Phillips
Photographer: Sergio Eguivar
Oct 24 Lunar Occultation of Mercury
Photographer: RMay7
Photographer: Alson Wong
Photographer: murison
Lunar Eclipse, the Pleiades, and the Hyades
Photographer: Alson Wong
Photographer: Richard Bell
Photographer: AstroFrontyard
Photographer: jason.dain
Photographer: rouzastro
Photographer: KuriousGeorge
Previous
Next
for as low as
$35.95
yearly
This Month’s Issue
Sky & Telescope Magazine
Explore the astronomy magazine that’s been out of this world for more than 80 years.
for as low as
$35.95
yearly
Issue Highlights
-
Aging Ungracefully
Melinda Soares-Furtado & Sarah Kubiak
-
The Neverending Survey
Karen Masters
-
Riding the Radcliffe Wave
Brian Ventrudo