SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
See the Celestial Birds of the Milky Way
Summer is perfect for bird-watching whether that be in the trees or among the stars of the Milky Way. We explore the celestial birds of the season.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
New Satellite "Mayak" Might Light Up the Sky
Russia's first crowd-funded satellite, named Mayak (Russian for "beacon of light"), promises to be the “brightest object in the night sky next to the Moon.”
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
By Jove! Juno Images Jupiter's Great Red Spot
NASA's Juno Spacecraft delivers stunning closeup views of Jupiter's famous swirling Great Red Spot storm.
KAGRA: Japan’s Underground Einstein Wave Detector
On June 1, U.S. and European physicists published the latest results in their quest for gravitational waves — tiny ripples in spacetime, generated by energetic events like the collision and merger of distant black holes. Meanwhile, a new gravitational wave observatory is under construction in Japan. Sky & Telescope Contributing Editor Govert Schilling visited the KAGRA detector in 2016.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Let's Find Pluto!
At opposition this week and as bright as it will be for the next 190 years, it's time to find your way to Pluto, a frigid enigma at the edge of night.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
"Gecko Gripper" Tech to Clean Up Space Junk
Researchers are figuring out how to use a nature-inspired "gecko gripper" technology to solve the mounting problem of space debris.
Explore the Night with Bob King
11 Easy Sights for Full Moon Nights
Ah, full Moon. Time to put the telescope away and lead a normal life. Then again, maybe not. Here are 11 things to coax you back out for another look.
Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon
Life Outside the Habitable Zone
What would allow a planet to host life? The habitable zone is often defined as the distance from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet's surface.
Astrophotography with Jerry Lodriguss
Experiencing the Total Solar Eclipse
Take it from a seasoned professional — the best way to experience a total eclipse, especially your first, is by eye. Put the camera down!
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Eyes "Ice Giant" Missions in the 2030s
A recent NASA study outlines possible dedicated missions to the "ice giant" planets Uranus and Neptune that might leave Earth as early as 2030.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Bah, Humboldt! Visiting a Fringe Crater
Meet Humboldt, a magnificent lunar crater compromised by its life on the edge.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Closes Out Its Asteroid Redirect Mission
Following the release of the 2018 budget, the space agency has ordered an “orderly closeout” for the Asteroid Redirect program.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Fun in the Sun: A White-Light Guide to Our Nearest Star
We examine the fascinating solar phenomena that anyone with a small scope and safe solar filter can see, whether the Sun's in eclipse or not.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
China Launches Its First X-ray Observatory
China's Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) headed to orbit this past weekend.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Hello, Saturn! We're Glad You're Back
Saturn, considered by many the most beautiful sight in the sky, comes to opposition this week with its rings in full tilt. You won't want to miss it.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Rosetta Finds Clues to Earth's “Xenon Paradox”
Xenon measured by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft has shed light on a long-standing mystery about the role comets played in Earth's formation.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
KELT-9b: Hottest Hot Jupiter Exoplanet Yet
Astronomers announce the discovery of bloated gas giant KELT-9b, the hottest "hot Jupiter" exoplanet known orbiting a short-lived massive star.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Nights of the Living Dead — What Stars Leave Behind
Stars leave interesting messes after they die: diamond-studded puffballs, neutron stars, and black holes. We explore an example of each in June's night skies.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
LIGO Detects Third Black Hole Merger
Scientists with the gravitational-wave observatory announce another discovery, this time of a black hole merger twice as far away as previous detections.
Astrophotography with Jerry Lodriguss
Linear vs. Stretched Images
When shooting with digital cameras, images will appear very dark and low-contrast, because raw data is linear. To make details visible, we must stretch the data.
