SUNSET: 
Transit of Venus: June 5–6, 2012
On June 5th (in the Western Hemisphere) or June 6th (in the Eastern Hemisphere), Venus will pass across the face of the Sun for the second time in 8 years — and for the last time until 2117.
May 20th's Annular Eclipse of the Sun
On Sunday afternoon, those in central or western United States will have a "ringside" seat to the annular eclipse. Look here for links to last-minute planning tools — including weather forecasts along the track!
May 20th's Solar Eclipse — S&T Reports
Two editors headed to California, and a third to New Mexico, for May 20th's solar eclipse. Read their reports, along with those from S&T readers and featured pictures from our online photo gallery. We want to hear from you too!
Tour March's Sky! | February 28th, 2012
Venus and Jupiter form a dazzling pair after sunset, but they're just the opening act in a sky full of bright planets and late-winter stars.
Don't Miss the Brightest Objects in the Night Sky
The night's six or seven brightest objects are all visible simultaneously in late February and early March.
Venus During the Day
The Venus-Moon conjunction on Saturday, February 25th, is an ideal opportunity to view Venus during broad daylight.
Wednesday's Mercury-Moon Challenge
Shortly after sunset on Wednesday, February 22nd, Mercury will be paired with an extraordinarily thin crescent Moon very low in the west.
Venus on the Rise
Noticed an exceptionally bright beacon in the evening sky? The planet Venus has begun its highest foray up the sky's dome, surprising at least one casual observer as it prepares for its conjunction with the Moon and Jupiter in March.
Comet Garradd Stays the Course
Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1) was closest to Earth in early March. So the moonless period in mid-March is your best remaining chance to view this remarkable comet, which is now conveniently placed in the evening sky.
Tour February's Sky! | February 1st, 2012
The sky's brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, serve as anchors in a wintertime sky full of bright stars and familiar constellations.
The Eros Parallax Project
The asteroid 433 Eros is paying us a rare, close visit right now, and with a simple photographic setup you can join observers worldwide in calculating its distance from Earth — repeating a historic astronomical milestone.
Eclipses in 2012
This year features two "central" eclipses of the Sun: an annular in May (visible from western U.S. states) and a total in November that you'll have to travel to Australia or the South Pacific to see.
Tim Puckett's Award-Winning Ambition
Tim Puckett has been studying comets and finding supernovae with his home-built telescopes since the 1990s. Now the American Astronomical Society has recognized his dedication with the 2012 Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award.
Make the Effort for "Globe at Night"
This week you can join a worldwide campaign to measure the darkness of night skies everywhere. It's a fun, easy, and worthwhile activity for you and your family.
A Rare Flyby of Asteroid Eros
The grandaddy of near-Earth asteroids brightens to magnitude 8.6 as it flies by Earth in late January and early February.
New Supernova in Leo
Along with the usual galaxies, dark matter, and exoplanets, the American Astronomical Society's January meeting is abuzz with the discovery of a supernova by a team of amateurs. Astronomers are rushing to observe the explosion before it fades.
Eclipses in 2013
This year features two "central" eclipses of the Sun: an annular in May (visible from Australia and the South Pacific) and a "hybrid" (annular/total) in November that you'll have to travel to Africa to see.
Tour January's Sky! | December 30th, 2011
With every New Year, millions of us resolve to do something, anything, different or better in the coming year. So let's resolve to get outside and enjoy the night sky more. Venus, Jupiter, and a host of winter stars await you.
A Fine Year for the Icy Quads
One of the best — but briefest — annual meteor showers should be active in the hours before dawn on the morning of Wednesday, January 4th.
Meteor Showers in 2012
Sky & Telescope predicts that 2012's best meteor shower should be the Quadrantids in January, but this will also be a good year for the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December.
