SUNSET: 
Comet Pan-STARRS: Still on Track
The inbound comet C/2011 L4, discovered last year, has been brightening steadily the past few months. It could still fizzle — or it could become a pretty bauble in post-sunset skies next March.
Venus Passes the Pleiades
Venus is passing through the Pleiades in a breathtaking spectacle that reaches its peak on April 3rd. This unique pairing is part of a series of Venus events in 2012, culminating in the June transit of the Sun.
Exciting Event on Mars!
Observers are reporting an unusual event on the Red Planet, well placed for western U.S. residents this evening.
Supernova in M95
Professional and amateur astronomers recently spotted a new supernova in the spiral galaxy M95. But it took a few days to figure out what it actually was.
The Moon Visits Jupiter and Venus
The crescent Moon visits Jupiter on the evening of Sunday, March 25th, and it visits Venus on Monday night.
June 4th's Partial Eclipse of the Moon
On the morning of Monday, June 4th, skywatchers in the Americas can catch a partial lunar eclipse low in the western sky before and/or during dawn.
Portrait of an Angry Sun
The source of titanic flares this past week, active region 11429 has just rotated off the Sun's disk. But it didn't escape before being captured in all its angry glory by Alan Friedman from his backyard in Buffalo, New York. Here's how he did it.
Aurora Alert — Check Your Skies
A huge coronal mass ejection from the Sun struck Earth's magnetic field around 11:00 UT (6 a.m. EST or 3 a.m. PST) on Thursday, March 8th.
Jupiter Meets Venus
Jupiter and Venus have just crossed paths in the sky. From The two planets are within 5° of each other from March 9th to 17th, fitting in a single field of view through most binoculars.
Mars Takes Center Stage
The Red Planet (actually yellow-orange) is the brilliant "star" climbing steadily in the east these evenings. Now's your best chance to examine our next-out planetary neighbor.
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.
