SUNSET: 
April's Lyrid Meteor Shower
Traditionally the Lyrids are a poor shower — rarely do they surprise observers.
An Eclipsing Binary in the Trapezium
Every now and then one of the four Trapezium stars in the Orion Nebula is in eclipse; observers in the Far East will have the best view of the next event on December 12th.
What was that flashing light in the sky?
I'm new to astronomy (1½ months) and I live in New Jersey. Last night, July 31st, I saw a bright planet (I assume Jupiter) in the southwestern sky, and just below it what looked like an airplane with a flashing red tail marker — but it never moved. When I…
What was the cloud spotted near the western horizon August 31, 2004?
Around 9 p.m. on August 31, 2004, I saw a bright patch of light about half the size of the Moon near the western horizon. It moved slowly upward and fluctuated somewhat in brightness. Through an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope here in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, there were two points of light…
Watch This (Sun) Spot
Sunspots change their shape and size as they travel across the face of the Sun. Catch an evolving sunspot group caught in the act.
Mercury in the Morning
Amateurs are observing this elusive planet more successfully than ever before; try spotting it yourself.
Watch the Re-Entry of Stardust
Late Saturday night, January 14-15, skywatchers in much of the American West can watch for a dazzling artificial "meteor."
Asteroid Flyby Caught!
On July 3, 2006, an 800-meter (half-mile) asteroid called 2004 XP14 flew past Earth at a distance a little greater than that of the Moon.
Sunday Night's Flyby of Asteroid 2004 XP14
A small asteroid will brighten to 11th magnitude as it passes close by Earth. Here's how to find it.
Moon and Planets Parade at Dusk
Four of our solar system's bright planets are putting on a parade at dusk during the last week of June 2006, joined by the thin crescent Moon.
Comet To Cross Ring Nebula!
On Sunday night for North America, the brightest piece of Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 goes right over the Ring Nebula in Lyra.
Excellent Asteroid Occultation Friday Morning, May 5, 2006
The best asteroid occultation ever predicted for the American Northeast happens before dawn on May 5, 2006.
The April 1st Pleiades Occultation
The waxing crescent Moon made quite a spectacle crossing the Pleiades on April Fool's Day 2006.
Views of the March 29th Solar Eclipse
A round, symmetrical corona, characteristic of solar minimum, surrounded the Sun and Moon when they were aligned at totality.
A Grand Pleiades Occultation on April 1, 2006
Watch the dark edge of the crescent Moon blot out one star after another on the evening of April 1, 2006.
A Surprise Comet in the Dawn
Comet Pojmanski has brightened more than expected as it enters the dawn sky for Northern Hemisphere observers. Can you spot it with binoculars?
Near-Earth Asteroid Flyby, March 6–10
Catch the 12th- to 13th-magnitude asteroid 2000 PN9 (23187) crossing the northern sky.
Moon Occults Spica February 17th
The waning gibbous Moon will cover 1st-magnitude Spica for parts of eastern North America on Friday night, February 17, 2006.
Mars Receding in the Evening Sky
Blazing in the eastern sky these evenings, Mars is putting on a rare appearance not to miss.
The Highest Full Moon Overhead
On Thursday, December 15, 2005, the full Moon will be just about at the most northerly declination it can ever attain.S&T: Rick Fienberg. When the Moon is full this Thursday, December 15th, go out around midnight and look up. I mean really up. If you live in the world's midnorthern…
