SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet Heinze (C/2017 T1): A Binocular Comet for the New Year?
Just discovered, Comet Heinze (C/2017 T) will zoom by Earth in January and may just show up in your binoculars.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Curiosity Tests Workaround for Balky Drill
Engineers are looking for a way to continue using Curiosity's drill after a 10-month hiatus, but restoring the drill will probably take several more months.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
How Bright is the Moon . . . Exactly?
An upcoming study will take the old calibration standard of the Moon's brightness to a new level of precision.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Crazy Kids! Guide to Young Stars and Their Birth Clouds
Feeling tired, run down? These fuzzy stars are guaranteed to pique your interest and make you feel young again.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Orionid Meteors Max Out Sunday, Zodiacal Light Returns
See what cosmic dust can do! Head outside this weekend for the peak of the Orionid meteor shower and an eyeful of zodiacal light.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Busy Skies Ahead: Comets, a Supernova, and a Dramatic Regulus Occultation
What's your pleasure when it comes to observing? Comets? Supernovae? Occultations? Get a sample of each and more in the upcoming week.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Asteroid 2012 TC4 To Zip Past Earth This Week
The close pass of near-Earth asteroid 2012 TC4 this week will give NASA a chance to test planetary-defense coordination.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Venus and Mars Kiss at Dawn
Be sure to set the alarm so you don't miss the squeaky-tight conjunction of Venus and Mars Thursday morning. They'll stay close through the weekend.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
First Black Holes Maybe Had Supersonic Help
Gas flows in the early universe may have kept clouds from collapsing too soon, enabling them to grow into massive black hole seeds.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Some Damage to Arecibo Observatory; Stormy Times Ahead
Arecibo and its team rode out the largest storm in its history, but it's unclear what the moderate damage will mean for the radio observatory's future.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Ride "Big Blue" to Places You Never Knew
What does the sky look like through a 36-inch telescope? I found out at Ohio's Hidden Hollow Star Party last week. Here's my report and a few observing targets to share.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Osiris-REX Images Earth During Flyby
The asteroid-bound Osiris-REX mission took time during last Friday's gravity assist maneuver to look back at its homeworld.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Osiris-REX to Fly by Earth on Friday
NASA's ambitious Osiris-REX asteroid sample return mission swings by Earth this Friday for a gravity assist en route to asteroid 101955 Bennu.
Explore the Night with Bob King
How to See and Photograph Geosynchronous Satellites
Dozens of satellites are busy day and night, beaming your favorite TV and radio programs from more than 35,000 miles away. Here's how to tune into them.
Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon
My Rock of Ages
On being immortalized far out in the asteroid belt.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Dawn Dances, Neptunian Nights, and Eclipse Essence
The planets are aligning! The week ahead will feature multiple planetary conjunctions at dawn and great views of Neptune and Triton at nightfall.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Giant Sunspots, Flares Presage Arrival of Solar Storm
Two big, naked-eye sunspot groups are putting on a splendid show this week. We're also in the crosshairs for a strong geomagnetic storm and possible auroras.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
"Clockwork Rover" for Venus Exploration
Engineers have come up with an innovative "clockwork rover" concept designed to survive the hostile environment of Venus.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Asteroid Florence Pays Earth a Visit
Florence, one of the largest Earth-approaching asteroids, gets close enough to see in a small telescope this week and next. Here's how to find it.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Amazing Views of the Solar Eclipse From Earth . . . and Space
Satellites, aircraft, and the International Space Station provided great views of yesterday's solar eclipse, near and far.
