SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
Take a Roller Coaster Ride with Algol, a Fast Eclipsing Binary
How would you like to see a star drop two magnitudes in the time it takes to eat dinner? Easy to do. Just check out one of these fast eclipsing binaries — they'll make your head spin.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Perseids Peak August 11–12 — Get Ready for the Show
The Perseid meteor shower is like no other. Every August it delivers up to 100 meteors an hour in pleasant weather conducive to getting outside and staying up late. What's more, most kids still aren't in school, making it possible for the entire family to enjoy the event.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Cool Off with Pluto This Summer
Pluto might be a challenging target but it's well worth the effort. Grab your telescope and see if you can spot this distant, chilly world.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet NEOWISE Dazzles at Dusk
Comet NEOWISE has captivated skywatchers with its stunning tail. Now that it's moved into the evening sky and climbing higher each night even more people will get a chance to see it.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet NEOWISE Delights at Dawn
Skywatchers are treated to a naked-eye comet as NEOWISE emerges into the the dawn sky.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Two Bright Supernovae Light Up Nearby Galaxies
Two bright new supernovae — 2020nlb in M85 and 2020nvb in NGC 4457 — are now within the range of amateur telescopes in the western sky at nightfall.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Anticipation Grows for Comets NEOWISE and Lemmon
Two comets spark excitement for the coming week — NEOWISE might reach naked-eye visibility at dawn, while Lemmon will be visible in binoculars at dusk.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Nights of Noctilucent Clouds
Noctilucent clouds shimmer high in the sky during summer twilight at northerly latitudes.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Evenings with the Ring Nebula
Everyone loves this cosmic donut. Like Saturn, the Ring Nebula is a must-see for beginners and seasoned amateurs alike. Whether you're just cutting your deep-sky teeth or attempting to see its central star — one of visual astronomy's Holy Grails — the Ring has it all.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet SWAN's Final Song
Despite early expectations Comet SWAN appears to be fizzling, providing yet another opportunity to appreciate what makes these objects so unique.
Explore the Night with Bob King
See Spring's Finest Spiral Galaxies
Spring skies offer some of the best sights of spiral galaxies. Point your scope at some of these magnificent cosmic whirlpools.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Supernovae Light Up in M61 and NGC 3643
Two new supernovae for amateur telescopes are keeping things lively this month.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet SWAN Expected to Put on a Splendid Show
Comet SWAN will grace northern skies in the days to come.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Chase a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid As It Flies by Earth
Break out your binoculars or a small telescope, we've got a busy week ahead! Watch as a bright asteroid approaches Earth, the Moon steals a star, and Comet ATLAS's last hurrah.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Shadow-casting with Venus
Venus has a been powerful presence at dusk for months — bright enough to cast shadows. How would you like to put it to the test? The Moon won't spoil the darkness until at least April 24th — April 25th if you wait till after moonset — making it the perfect time to see your own shadow by the light of another celestial body.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Oh No! Comet ATLAS Is Fragmenting
Find out when and where to see Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4) — and stay tuned to see how bright (or not) this comet gets.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Pleiades Welcome Venus
You can renew your own cosmic connection on Friday night, April 3rd. That's when the planet Venus will skirt the Pleiades star cluster in a spectacular dusk conjunction visible across much of the planet.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Easy-to-find Deep-sky Objects for Cold Nights
Cold weather keeping you inside at night? Limit your time outdoors and make the most of your telescope time with these easy-to-find deep-sky gems.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Earth Has A Mini-Moon — But Not for Long!
Two astronomers discovered a temporary mini-moon captured by Earth — but it's about to win its freedom.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Fall and Rise of Betelgeuse
With its recent uptick in brightness, Betelgeuse appears to be slowly returning to normal. But will it? Astronomers urge us to keep watch.
