SUNSET: 
Oh No! Comet ATLAS Is Fragmenting
Find out when and where to see Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4) — and stay tuned to see how bright (or not) this comet gets.
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.
Earth Has A Mini-Moon — But Not for Long!
Two astronomers discovered a temporary mini-moon captured by Earth — but it's about to win its freedom.
New Horizons Recruits Amateurs to Sight Stars
The New Horizons team wants you to help measure the distance to two stars, yielding the longest-ever baseline measurement of a key cosmic yardstick.
March 2020: A Planet Trio and More!
During March, the cosmos offers a lot to see both before sunrise and after sunset. To get a guided tour of the month's highlights, play or download this month's Sky Tour episode.
The Fall and Rise of Betelgeuse
With its recent uptick in brightness, Betelgeuse appears to be slowly returning to normal. But will it? Astronomers urge us to keep watch.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Is Betelgeuse Approaching a Crossroads?
Astronomers all over are waiting with bated breath to see what Betelgeuse will do next. Is it going to start brightening again on February 21st? Or will it continue to surprise?
Do You Love the Stars? Do Some Astronomy This Valentine's Day
Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day or boycotting it, anyone visiting this site loves the stars. Here's a chance to participate in an effort to make sure future generations love them too.
Watch the Moon Occult Mars Before Sunrise on February 18th
Occultations of stars by the Moon occur routinely, but planetary lunar occultations are much rarer birds. That's why I hope you'll make the effort Tuesday morning February 18th to watch the waning crescent Moon occult the planet Mars.
February 2020: Five Planets & More!
If you drag yourself outside before dawn and then wait until after sunset, you can spot all five of the naked-eye planets. And the Winter Hexagon glides high in the evening sky.
The Latest on Betelgeuse, Plus a Bright Supernova and New Comet Iwamoto
The sky provides. This winter, the fading of Betelgeuse caught us all by surprise. Now, as January wraps up, we can add a new comet discovery and a supernova bright enough to see in a 6-inch telescope to an ever-growing list of seasonal sky wonders.
See Ancient “North Stars" Eclipse Each Other
The ancient pole star known as Thuban turns out to be an eclipsing binary. If you're up for a challenge, you can see the eclipses for yourself.
A Selection of Observing Resources for Getting Started in Astronomy
Here are some great books, star charts, and other observing accessories to help you get the most out of your new telescope.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2020
Six eclipses occur in 2020, with one total and one annular solar eclipse in the mix. But the four lunar eclipses will be disappointing brushes through the fringe of Earth's shadow.
January 2020: Mid-winter Wonders
New Year's resolution: Do more stargazing! (Hint: Get an easy and entertaining head start by downloading this month's Sky Tour podcast for a guided tour of the night sky.)
Explore the Night with Bob King
High Hopes for the 2020 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to put on a great early morning show this weekend.
Betelgeuse is Dimming . . . Why?
The bright star Betelgeuse has faded to a historic low as astronomers try to figure out why.
The Best Meteor Showers in 2020
Sky & Telescope predicts that the three best meteor showers — the Quadrantids (peaking on January 4th!), Perseids and Geminids — will all have strong showings this year.
What to See with Your New Telescope
Maybe you just got a shiny new telescope to call your own. Congratulations — you could be on your way to discovering many amazing, far, deep things in the night sky.
