Explore the Night with Bob King
High Hopes for the 2020 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to put on a great early morning show this weekend.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Betelgeuse is Dimming . . . Why?
The bright star Betelgeuse has faded to a historic low as astronomers try to figure out why.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Space Missions to Watch in 2020
Earth invades Mars and beyond with space missions in 2020
Imaging Foundations with Richard Wright
A Few Words on Short Exposures for Astrophotography
As optics and camera technologies continue to improve, just how short of an exposure can we get away with?
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Announces Site of Sample Selection for Osiris-REX
NASA has picked the "Nightingale" site, located within a small crater on the asteroid Bennu, for its Osiris-REX mission to sample next year.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Deep-sky Dive Into the Great Square of Pegasus
We return to Pegasus, but this time with a telescope to find a grab-bag of overlooked deep-sky treasures.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Geminids and the Moon Duke it Out
Don't let light from the gibbous Moon discourage you from enjoying the annual Geminid meteor show on the peak night, December 13-14.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
First Science Returns from NASA's Parker Solar Probe
In the first public release of data from NASA’s flagship heliophysics mission, scientists on the Parker Solar Probe team reveal surprises and mysteries from our host star.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Counting Stars in the Great Square
Test the limits of your vision — and the darkness of your sky — by taking a plunge into the Great Square of Pegasus.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Meteor Shower Was a Dud, But Showing Up Was Half the Fun
The Alpha Monocerotids happened as predicted, even if not quite as we expected.
Imaging Foundations with Richard Wright
CCDs, CMOS, and the Future of Astrophotography
Sure, the days of the CCD are numbered, but don't start planning the funeral just yet.
Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon
A Fitting Apollo Monument
Fifty years after the fact, the National Mall hosts a spectacular, and deeply moving, celebration.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Hayabusa 2 Leaves Asteroid Ryugu and Heads Home
The Hayabusa 2 spacecraft has completed its mission at asteroid Ryugu — including collecting samples — and is now journeying back to Earth.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Intense Meteor Storm Expected from the Alpha Monocerotids
Circle the date November 21st on your calendar, when a brief but potentially spectacular meteor storm might light up the night.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
SpaceX Launches Latest Batch of Starlink Satellites
A second set of 60 Starlink satellites take to space, amid promise and controversy.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Don't Miss Monday's Rare Transit of Mercury
On Monday, November 11th, Mercury will pass directly in front of the Sun and look a tiny black dot silhouetted against the brilliant solar disk. The event, called a transit, occurs approximately 13 times a century.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Announces VIPER Lunar Rover
A new NASA rover named VIPER may soon investigate the shadowed poles of the Moon, in preparation for the return of human explorers.
Explore the Night with Bob King
"Potentially Hazardous" Asteroid Is Headed For Your Telescope
A potentially hazardous asteroid makes a flyby of Earth this Friday, offering amateurs with modest telescopes a chance to ride along.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
Bubbles, Heated Clouds Point to Active Past for Galactic Center
Two studies support the suspicion that our galaxy’s black hole had one or more outbursts a few million years ago.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Crack Your Crescent Moon Record
Calling all crescent lovers! Here's a chance to set a new personal record by seeing one of the oldest moons ever.
