81–100 of 160 results
Southern Cross

Night Sky Sights

Meet Gacrux, the Top of the Cross

Gacrux is a treat for southern observers — the closest red giant to Earth and the tip of the famous Southern Cross.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Dawn Delight: Catch the Total Lunar Eclipse on May 26, 2021

On May 26th the Moon will be in total eclipse for the first time in nearly two and a half years. While timing favors western North America, a partial eclipse will be visible across much of the U.S. and Canada at dawn.

V1405 Cas scene

Explore the Night with Bob King

Nova in Cassiopeia Brightens Suddenly

A star in the constellation Cassiopeia that flared into view during mid-March has erupted to naked-eye visibility. Catch it while you can!

HD 122563 closeup

Explore the Night with Bob King

In Search of Ancient Suns

We track down and admire five of the most ancient stars in the universe.

full Moon

Celestial Objects to Observe

7 Easy Things to See on the “Supermoon”

Seven easy and rewarding targets to explore when the Moon is full.

Hubble photo of M3

Explore the Night with Bob King

Hunting Barnard's Variable in the Globular Cluster M3

We beat a path through a forest of stars to find the first variable star ever discovered in a globular star cluster.

Comets

Make the Most of Comet ATLAS

Bright comets will be scarce this year, but you can see one of the better ones this month as it races from Aquila to Canes Venatici. In other news, a new, bright nova has flared in Sagittarius.

Moon pairings in April 2021

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

April: Follow the Moon

To learn “what’s up” at night during April, download Sky Tour — an engaging narrated guide to the planets, stars, and constellations now visible.

NGC 3190 group / Hickson 44

Explore the Night with Bob King

Exploring Bright Galaxy Groups in Leo

Leo, the Lion, stands high in the southern sky during the early spring. We visit some of the constellation's brighter galaxy clumps then go asteroid hunting.

Alnilam in Orion

Celestial Objects to Observe

Meet Alnilam, Orion’s Belt Buckle

Alnilam, the middle star of Orion's distinctive belt, is a distant supergiant that will (eventually) end its life in a supernova.

Battered Vesta

Explore the Night with Bob King

March — A Good Time to Visit Vesta

Dip into this easy guide to seeing the brightest asteroid, Vesta, and understanding what makes it unique.

Winter Hexagon (February)

Night Sky Sights

Watch the Moon Journey Across the Winter Hexagon

About once a month this winter, we can watch the Moon take a four-day journey across a field of stars termed the "Winter Hexagon."

IC 418 planetary nebula

Celestial News & Events

A Deep-sky Hippity-hop through Lepus, the Hare

Snare a dozen bright double stars and deep-sky objects in the celestial Hare the next clear night. We also provide details on how to watch the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis occult a star the night of February 21st.

Star chart for Monoceros

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

February: The Hare & Unicorn

When you step outside to admire the crisp, starlit night sky on February evenings, bring along our Sky Tour astronomy podcast to learn which stars and constellations are overhead. Here’s a preview of what you'll see.

Castor and Pollux

Night Sky Sights

Meet Castor, Six Stars in One

Castor, a prime ornament of the Gemini constellation and one of the brightest stars in the sky, is actually a system of stars with six unique members.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Night Sky Sights

Comet Watch 2021

If you own an 8-inch or larger telescope you might see more than a dozen new and returning comets this year, including one potential naked-eye candidate.

Deep-sky map Capella region

Deep Sky

Foraging for Deep-sky Delights with Capella, the Goat Star

We explore deep-sky riches within a stone's throw of Capella, one of the season's brightest stars.

Kochab in the Little Dipper

Night Sky Sights

Meet Kochab, a Guardian of the Pole

Meet the stars: Kochab is no record-breaking bright star, but it's easy enough to find — and it may have played an important role through history.

The Hyades open star cluster

Night Sky Sights

January: The Hyades & Pleiades

Start the new year right with the easy-to-follow stargazing highlights offered by our Sky Tour astronomy podcast. Here's a preview of this month's guided audio tour.

Leonid fireball crossing Orion

Meteors

The Best Meteor Showers in 2021

Sky & Telescope predicts that the year's best meteor shower will be the strong, fireball-rich Perseids in mid-August.

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