SUNSET: 
Harvest Moon Takes a Quick Dip in Earth's Shadow
September's partial lunar eclipse will be the first and only time the Moon ducks into Earth's umbral shadow in 2024. The Moon also occults Saturn and hides members of the Pleiades this month.
Astronomers Watch a Giant Star Blow Bubbles
Astronomers can see hot gas boiling on the surface of the giant star R Doradus, 180 light-years away.
Astronomers and Starlink Partner for Quieter Radio Sky
Astronomers and Starlink engineers have developed a technique to significantly reduce satellite radio pollution affecting astronomical observations.
Solar Probe Duo Unravel Solar Wind Mystery
For decades, scientists have wondered what accelerates solar wind particles as they move away from the Sun. New evidence points to magnetic switchbacks.
Webb Telescope Images Massive Early Galaxies, Still Finding More Than Expected
Webb Telescope data are still turning up more massive galaxies in the early universe than astronomers expect.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 6 – 15
The Moon starts the week low in twilight with Venus and Spica, then steps eastward past Antares and the Sagittarius Teapot. Meanwhile, the recurrent nova in Corona Borealis is still keeping us waiting.
BepiColombo Mission Returns to Mercury for Best Flyby Views Yet
The BepiColombo mission has completed its fourth and closest pass yet of Mercury, giving us brand-new views of the planet's south pole region.
Solved: The Case of the Universe’s “Extra” Light
Astronomers may have finally solved the mystery of how dark space really is.
A Visiting Star Might Have Reshaped the Outer Solar System
Billions of years ago, the close pass of another star might have sculpted the outer regions of our solar system.
Partially Shredded Star Returns for a Second Go-round with Black Hole
A supermassive black hole has twice now grabbed gas from a passing star — and astronomers predict a third chance will come in early 2025.
September Podcast: Exploring Vega’s Neighborhood
Use this month’s Sky Tour podcast to check out a very special Harvest Moon, track down all five bright planets, explore some lesser-known constellations, and bounce around the Summer Triangle. It’s a great introduction to the late-summer sky, all in a friendly, informative narration that’s suitable for the whole family.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 30 – September 8
Low in twilight, climbing Venus and descending Spica prepare to pass each other. After dark Vega crosses the zenith, and Scorpius beds down. Mercury shines at dawn.
No Intermediate-Mass Black Hole for Omega Centauri?
Last month, astronomers discovered a giant black hole in Omega Centauri. But it might contain a swarm of stellar-mass black holes instead.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Flight into Darkness — Observe the International Space Station in Earth's Shadow
Did you know you can see the International Space Station even when it's in Earth's shadow? We explore possible reasons why.
See the Surface of Polaris, the North Star
New data from an array of telescopes has enabled astronomers to visualize the surface of the North Star, Polaris.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
Event Horizon Telescope Pushes Toward Sharper Images
The worldwide network of radio dishes has achieved the highest resolution ever obtained from Earth’s surface.
Observers’ Report: First Views of the Chinese “Thousand Sails” Satellites
Amateur astronomers have shown that the first satellites of the Chinese Qianfan (“Thousand Sails”) constellation are bright enough to be seen naked-eye.
Loosening the Hubble Tension
New James Webb Space Telescope observations may have done with one of the longest-standing tensions in cosmology.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 23 – September 1
We're in peak Milky Way season, and the evenings have become dark and moonless. Andromegasus is up. So is Saturn. Before dawn, the late-risen Moon passes over Jupiter and Mars.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
See Amazing Images from First-Ever Earth-Moon Flyby
The European mission to Jupiter's icy moons provided us with some amazing views closer to home, of Earth and the Moon.
