341–360 of 437 results

Explore the Night with Bob King

See Comet PanSTARRS (C/2013 X1) in Binoculars at Dawn

An old friend from winter returns for an encore in the morning sky. Already visible in binoculars, Comet PanSTARRS (C/2013 X1) may reach naked-eye visibility in June.

Natural Artistry

Explore the Night with Bob King

Hunting Giant Planetary Nebulae

Mind your elders the next clear night and pay a visit to some of Spring's biggest and most ancient planetary nebulae.

First Look at the King of the Planets

Explore the Night with Bob King

Tips for a Successful Star Party

Planning a sidewalk stargazing event? Here are a few suggestions to make sure people walk away smiling.

Two For T

Explore the Night with Bob King

Is T CrB About to Blow its Top?

The recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis last made a splash just after World War II. Does its current restive state hint at an imminent outburst?

Mystery Dark Spot?

Explore the Night with Bob King

Are You Game for April's Lunar Observing Challenge?

With astronomy being celebrated around the globe this month, join the fun by participating in a unique lunar observing challenge: track down 20 features once thought to show evidence of change from weather, geology, and even life.

252P Drags its Tail

Explore the Night with Bob King

Up, Up, and Away with Comet 252P

With the Moon finally put to bed and Comet 252P still bright, there's no better time than now to see it. Nearby Mars and Saturn only sweeten the deal.

Stellar Fingerprints

Stellar Science

Spectral Types For Spring Nights

Hidden within the subtle hues of the stars are the keys to their temperatures and compositions. Get acquainted with the classic OBAFGKM spectral sequence through real stars you can see on a spring night.

Telescopic view of Comet 252P/LINEAR

Celestial News & Events

Comet 252P Zooms North, BA14 Grows Tail

Splintered comet duo 252P/LINEAR and P/2016 BA14 liven up both dusk and dawn this week. Naked-eye 252P finally debuts in northern skies, while BA14 makes a beeline through the Big Dipper.

And Lo - A Tail!

Celestial News & Events

Comet PanSTARRS 2016's Historic Flyby of Earth

Not one, but two, possibly related comets will make exceptionally close flybys of Earth on March 21–22. Here's what we know and a guide on how to see them.

A Full Crescent Moon

Explore the Night with Bob King

Meet the Meager March Moon

Baptized in the fire of yesterday's total solar eclipse, a very young crescent Moon emerges into the night sky.

Butterfly Metamorphosis

Explore the Night with Bob King

NGC 2346: A Cosmic Butterfly Plays Peekaboo

Spiraling stars and light-soaking dust clouds enliven the heart of this lesser-known planetary nebula NGC 2346 in Monoceros. Will you be the first to catch it playing peekaboo again?

Strange Night Sights

Explore the Night with Bob King

Frightful Nights Under the Stars

The lure of dark skies often takes us to unfamiliar places where nocturnal animals and encounters with strangers can ignite our primal fears.

Solids and Stripes

Explore the Night with Bob King

Jupiter Jumps Back Into The Evening Sky

Jove begins a new apparition with a redder Red Spot, pirouetting moons, and ever-changing cloudscapes.

This Comma Will Make You Pause

Explore the Night with Bob King

Overlooked Wonders In Orion's Shadow

Put the Great Nebula in Orion in the backseat and pay a visit to its humble neighbors

Paired Together for Another Week

Explore the Night with Bob King

It's Not Over Till The Fast Planet Sinks

This week and early next will be your last chance to see five planets — six if you count Earth — at dawn.

Comfortable in the Cold

Explore the Night with Bob King

How To Stay Warm Observing In Winter

Does the cold make you think twice about winter observing? Here are a few tips on how to do it in comfort.

Learning About the Sky

Asterisms for Winter Nights

Asterisms appeal to our playful side but also serve as key waypoints in the sky for identifying fainter stars and constellations.

What - No Meatballs?

Explore the Night with Bob King

Picking Plums in the Galactic Anticenter

In winter, we face the Milky Way's anticenter, a little-explored region offering goodies for telescopes both large and small. Few give much thought to the Milky Way's anticenter, a lonely locale 180° opposite the busy metropolis of Sagittarius, where the summer Milky Way glitters like Vegas. On winter nights, Sagittarius lies behind us, hidden by Earth's…

One Smokin' Comet!

Explore the Night with Bob King

Comets To Catch in 2016

A look ahead to see what new and returning comets will spice up the new year in 2016.

Persistent Dust, Impermanent Nebula

Explore the Night with Bob King

Run Away With These Runaway Stars

Three stars that once belonged to Orion flew the coop millions of years ago, but you can catch up with them with binoculars the next clear night.