SUNSET: 
Tour September's Sky! | August 31st, 2012
Some of this month's sky sights are low down along the horizon: Saturn and Mars in the west after sunset, the first-quarter Moon in the south, and Jupiter when it rises around midnight in the east.
Americans Will See Total Solar Eclipse in 2017
Mark your calendars for August 21, 2017 — when the Moon's umbral shadow will race coast to coast across the United States for the first time in nearly a century.
Tour October's Sky! | August 27th, 2012
Mars is managing to hang on low in the west after sunset, while in the east you'll see the Square of Pegasus and, later on, the giant planet Jupiter.
August 13th's Occultation of Venus
If you're up for a bit of a challenge, drag out your telescope to watch a thin crescent Moon glide over brilliant Venus. This cover-up is a daylight event in the U.S., but it occurs in dark skies before dawn on the 14th for lucky observers in Japan.
Perseids at Their Prime
The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, providing skywatchers with a great opportunity to see some incoming bits of the cosmos.
Mars in the Evening Spotlight
This week countless space buffs will be riveted by Curiosity's arrival at Mars — which can be found, along with Saturn and Spica, in the west after dusk.
Jupiter's Disappearing Act
Skywatchers across the Eastern Hemisphere looked on as the King of Planets briefly ducked behind the Moon on July 15th.
July 15th's Occultation of Jupiter
Lucky skywatchers in Europe and northern Asia can watch a waning crescent Moon slide over Jupiter and its Galilean satellites in the hours before and after Sunday morning's dawn.
Auroras Likely July 14-15
Strong auroras are likely this weekend at high latitudes and possible at middle latitudes.
Sunspot 1520 Rolls Into View
The Sun's spottiness continues with a giant magnetic blotch stretched just below its equator.
Yet Another Nova in Sagittarius
For the fourth time this year, a star has erupted into prominence in the same constellation. This one is relatively bright and easy to spot from your backyard.
Predawn Treats for Early Risers
If you can get yourself out of bed early, spectacular predawn vistas await your eyes, binoculars, and telescope over the next week.
Possible Nova in Sagittarius
If you've got a clear, dark view toward the southern horizon, try your hand at spotting a flaring star that has brightened to near 9th magnitude in northwest Sagittarius.
Let the Star Parties Begin!
Want to gaze at the Milky Way all night or peer into the eyepiece of a 12-inch telescope? Escape the city lights and head for the nearest big amateur nighttime gathering.
Tour August's Sky! | June 22nd, 2012
Mark your calendars for the night of Saturday, August 11th, when the Perseid meteor shower will peak. Stay up late to catch the risings of Jupiter and Venus, or just enjoy Mars and Saturn low in the evening twilight.
2012 Venus Transit: S&T Reports
Clouds, veering cabbies, and old optics didn’t deter committed spectators of this last-chance astronomical event.
Transits of Venus in History: 1761
Read the next chapter in the history of the transit of Venus, the fantastic voyages in 1761.
Transits of Venus in History: 1631-1716
Read the full account — in three parts — of the history behind the upcoming transit of Venus.
Transits of Venus in History: 1769-today
Read the third and final chapter of transits of Venus in history, as the transits went from being a crucial scientific measurement to an observing curiosity.
Tour July's Sky! | May 30th, 2012
This month, you can see a pair of planets before sunrise and another pair after sunset. In each case, one of them is situated near a bright star.
