SUNSET: 
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 25 – May 4
The Moon passes Mars when Mars passes the Beehive. Sirius, the Winter Star, sinks away in the southwest. Arcturus, the Spring Star, shines high toward the southeast. Vega, the Summer Star, is already nosing up in the northeast. All at once.
Tariffs Alarm the Amateur Astronomy Industry
Lenses, electronics, and many other telescope parts are made in Asia, putting even U.S.-based manufacturers in a bind.
Asteroid Vesta Now an Easy Catch in Binoculars
Vesta, both protoplanet and asteroid, reaches opposition on May 2nd. From a dark sky it's even visible with the naked eye.
Hints of Life on a Potential Ocean Planet
Astronomers might have detected hints of life on a faraway planet — but they need more observations before they can say for sure.
Meet Asteroid Donaldjohanson: Long and Lumpy
During a close flyby on April 20th, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft surprised its science team by revealing an asteroid that was once two smaller pieces that have been conjoined into a larger whole.
Plumes from Saturn's Moon Enceladus Might Come Straight from Its Hidden Ocean
Researchers reanalyzing Cassini data think the plumes from Enceladus might provide direct access to the Saturnian moon's underground ocean.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 18 – 27
Bright Jupiter is getting lower in the west week by week and is nearly at its farthest from Earth. But it's still the brightest point in the evening sky, qualifying as the "Little Evening Star" in the absence of Venus.
Webb Telescope Reveals What Happens When a Planet Spirals Into Its Star
When astronomers discovered a star that had swallowed its own planet, they found a surprise — the planet may have spiraled in to its demise.
NASA’s Space Science Budget: Major Cuts Loom Large
The space science community is deeply concerned after recent reports that NASA's budget would be halved.
Supermassive Black Hole Wakes Up
Regular bursts of high-energy X-rays might herald the birth of active galactic nuclei, the supermassive black holes in galaxy cores.
See the Lyrid Meteor Shower the Night of April 21–22
The annual Lyrid meteor shower should put on a great show this year. Enjoy it with a dash of the "dark side" of Saturn's rings.
Simons Observatory: Big Bang Examiner
In February, Sky & Telescope Contributing Editor Govert Schilling visited three new astronomical observatories in northern Chile. This chronicle of the Simons Observatory is the first of a three-part blog series.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 11 – 20
The bright Moon pairs with Spica on Saturday the 12th. Three nights later, the waning Moon in the small hours occults one of the head stars of Scorpius.
New Gear at the Northeast Astronomy Forum
Smartscopes starred at this year's Northeast Astronomy Forum in New York, and Sky & Telescope welcomed conversations with our readers.
Experts Call for Urgent Action on Space Debris
A European conference on the status of space debris had experts calling for immediate action to not just prevent but actively clean up the problem.
New Comet SWAN Now Visible in Small Scopes
A new comet discovered in spacecraft images is bright enough to make you get out of bed before dawn.
Sky & Telescope Goes to Greenland
Despite inopportune clouds, Sky & Telescope's first tour to Greenland offered unforgettable adventures with enormous icebergs, sled dogs, and more.
Near-Earth Asteroid 2024 YR4 Might Aim for the Moon
The asteroid that will now definitely not hit Earth has the highest odds ever for a predicted lunar impact — but a miss is still more likely.
Astronomy in Pictures: From Cosmic Lenses to Dust Devils on Mars
Some cosmic perspective is a perfect cure for the Monday blues!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 4 – 12
The first-quarter Moon joins the Mars-Pollux-Castor trio, which are on their way to lining up straight. When the Moon turns full, it will meet Spica.
