Let's Get Serious About Ceres
We pay a visit to Ceres, now the apple of the Dawn Mission's eye, as it creeps through Sagittarius this month
Rayed Craters on the Moon
Like "catching some rays"? Explore the beauty and dazzle of crater rays, the tracks left by powerful impacts in the not-so-distant past.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Why We Can See In The Dark
In search of a pitch black night? Don't expect to find it on Earth. Thanks to starlight, zodiacal light, and especially airglow, true darkness doesn't exist.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Dive Into Scutum's Dark Nebulae
One of the smallest constellations in the sky hosts one of the richest concentrations of dark nebulae. Join me for a dip in these dark pools from which the next generation of stars will be born.
Explore the Night with Bob King
C/2014 Q1 (PanSTARRS): Next Naked-Eye Comet?
Comet C/2014 Q1 PanSTARRS has been skirting the northern horizon since mid-June. Now it's ready to dip Down Under, where it may be visible with the naked eye in evening twilight.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Fireflies, Green Stars, and Chromatic Duos
July nights bring the green flicker of fireflies and a question — are there any green stars we can see in our telescopes? The answer may surprise you.
Explore the Night with Bob King
See Icarus Wing By Earth This Week
It's no myth. Icarus makes a rare flyby of Earth this week. Here's how to see it in your telescope and live online.
Explore the Night with Bob King
What Can You See Through Baade's Window?
Cobwebs of cosmic dust limit how far we can see into the Milky Way's hub, but Baade's Window offers a rare glimpse into the stellar riches that await us there.
Explore the Night with Bob King
On the Move with Barnard's Star and 61 Cygni
Stars may appear static, but they're on the move. Put these two speed demons on your observing list this summer. When you return in a year or two, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Will We Still Recognize the Sky in 27,800 AD?
With Arcturus as our touchstone, we set off in a virtual time machine to visit the sky of the distant future.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Splashy Saturn At Its Best and Brightest
Saturn reaches opposition this week, offering the best view of it we've had in years. This guide will help you explore the ringed planet's many charms.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Visit Venus in Its Darkest Hour
Keep your eye on the prize in the western sky. Venus sets exceptionally late this month, presenting skywatchers with several unusual observing opportunities.
Do We Have Pieces of Pallas on Earth?
Chips of Pallas grace meteorite collections around the world. See where they all came from when the asteroid reaches opposition this spring.
Explore the Night with Bob King
7 Ways to Beat the Observing Blues
Too tired to bring the scope out? Stuck looking at the same dozen deep sky objects? Here are a few ways to get that observing fire back in your belly.
How to See All Six Apollo Moon Landing Sites
Walk in the astronauts' footsteps as you explore the places they visited in the heyday of Apollo program. Use these helpful maps to start you on your way.
Rosetta's Comet Campaign Wants YOU!
Participate in a world-wide campaign to observe and photograph Comet 67P/C-G as it approaches and recedes from the Sun with Rosetta in tow. Your observations matter.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Catch the Last Best Antics of Jupiter's Moons
Jupiter's four brightest moons continue to eclipse and occult one another, but time is running out. Only a few easy-to-see events remain between now and the end of the mutual events season.
We're All In This Together: Lunar Totality
There's much to take in during Saturday morning's total lunar eclipse, including a rare Moon-galaxy pairing, the splendid summer Milky Way, and a chance to see your shadow reach all the way to the Moon.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Mizar — A Fresh Look at an Old Friend
You might be tempted to pass up this familiar star for more exotic quarry, but take another look at a multiple star with a most interesting history.
One Small Order of Ring Galaxies, Please
"One Ring to rule them all." Join me as we explore a unique class of galaxies forged in the chaos of collision.