SUNSET: 
Why Have Parts of Mercury's Landscape "Deflated"?
A type of landscape on Mercury known as “chaotic terrain” might have released materials stored underground for eons.
April 2020: Planets Aplenty
This month's Sky Tour astronomy podcast highlights how Venus flirts with the Pleiades star cluster after sunset, then leads you to views of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars together in the predawn sky.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Pleiades Welcome Venus
You can renew your own cosmic connection on Friday night, April 3rd. That's when the planet Venus will skirt the Pleiades star cluster in a spectacular dusk conjunction visible across much of the planet.
How Amateurs Could Help Future Exoplanet Observations
Large observatories will require precise timing info to measure as many exoplanet atmospheres as possible. Backyard astronomers have the power to keep that intel fresh.
2020 Star Parties Update
Several star parties have been canceled or rescheduled due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19. In many cases, organizers are still in the process of making a decision on how and when to hold a given event. Here is an updated calendar of upcoming North American star parties and events, with…
A Mysterious X-ray Signal Has Gone Missing
The absence of a mysterious X-ray signal — which could have provided evidence of dark matter — is causing as much controversy as its detection did.
Comet ATLAS: Will it Become a Naked-Eye Object?
Is our bright comet drought drawing to a close? Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4) might become a naked-eye object some time this spring. Read on to find out when and where to look for it.
The Knife Edge Galaxy Throws Astronomers For a Loop
A 2008 image captured a stunning double loop of stars around an edge-on galaxy. Now, astronomers are questioning whether one of those loops exist.
Celestial Cold Case: Why an Old Mystery Remains Unsolved
An amateur astronomer thought he had found the true identity of a mystery object identified — and then lost — in 1971.
Astronomers Rein in Possibilities for Exotic Particle
Astronomers observing a distant galaxy have dramatically shrunk the range of possible properties of a long-predicted — but never-detected — subatomic particle.
A Bino Tour of the Big Dog
For observers looking for a quick outing with binoculars, Canis Major offers a set of lovely attractions that includes a trio of open clusters.
Scientists Predict Countless Rings of Light Encircle Black Holes
Detailed calculations reveal a surprise about how black holes bend light around themselves, opening a new possibility for future observations.
The Milky Way’s Warped Tutu Twirls Every 600 Million Years
Astronomers have known for decades that our galaxy is warped. Now, they can follow the warp’s rotation as it travels around the galactic center.
European ExoMars Mission Delayed to 2022
The European and Roscosmos space agencies have postponed the launch of their Kazachok lander and Rosalind Franklin rover to 2022.
Deep-sky Observing the Easy Way
Cold weather keeping you inside at night? Limit your time outdoors and make the most of your telescope time with these easy-to-find deep-sky gems.
Iron Might Rain on This Hot Jupiter
New observations show a signature that could come from iron rain on one side of hot Jupiter WASP-76b.
Gravitational Waves Put Ruler to Neutron Stars
Scientists have combined observations of gravitational waves from a neutron star collision with nuclear theory to shed light on the size and nature of neutron stars.
NASA Announces Next Mars Rover Name: Perseverance
NASA announced today that its next Mars rover mission now has its official name: Perseverance.
Winter Stargazing in the Florida Keys
Every February, amateur astronomers flock to the Florida Keys to a dark-sky site for a week of stargazing at the Winter Star Party.
Diving Into the Moon's Bay of Rainbows
This curious lunar feature — visible the nights of March 4th and April 2nd — is a delight in small scopes or even binoculars.
