
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 22 – 30
Arcturus, Spica, and Corvus put on their spring show. The Pointers point straight down at nightfall, which means Leo walks the high south and the Arch of Spring spans the west.

Explore the Night with Bob King
Celebrate Spring with the Lyrids
People have been watching the annual Lyrid meteor shower for more than 2,700 years. Come join the crowd!

Hubble Image Reveals Possible Quasar Forerunner
A distant object in a deep Hubble Space Telescope field could be in transition from ordinary galaxy to brilliant beacon of light.

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
What's in Store for the Next Decade of Planetary Science
Big winners in the planetary science decadal survey include a Uranus flagship mission, a orbiter and lander for Enceladus, and an emphasis on planetary defense.

Plan Now for the 2023 Solar Eclipse in Western Australia
Here's what to know if you want to see this hybrid (mostly total) solar eclipse next year.

Icy Moon Europa May Host Water Near the Surface
Radar measurements of ice on Earth suggest that Jupiter's moon Europa might host water near its surface.

This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 15 – 23
Orion descends, Leo walks sideways, the Dog Stars stand up straight, the Moon wanes past full, and at dawn, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Saturn form a diagonal straight line.

Apollo 16 in Pictures: “The Most Dazzling Place”
We celebrate Apollo 16 with a look back at photos from the mission that took two astronauts to the lunar surface for three days of exploration.

Summer on Neptune is Surprisingly Chilly
Even though Neptune is entering its version of summer, it's actually cooling down — except for its poles, which are mysteriously warming up.

U.S. Space Force Releases Data on Bright Fireballs
The U.S. Department of Defense has released data on some 1,000 bright fireballs. Scientists are still debating if the data confirm an interstellar meteor.

This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 8 – 16
The gibbous Moon passes through Leo and Virgo as it waxes toward full, forming new Moon-and-stars "lunarisms" (patterns) each evening. Mercury begins a new apparition in the sunset. At dawn, Jupiter emerges to join the lineup of Venus, Mars, and Saturn.

Listen to the Martian Soundscape
Two microphones on Mars, carried on NASA's Perseverance rover, are for the first time revealing the sounds of another planet.

Two Years to the 2024 American Total Solar Eclipse!
It’s never too early to start getting excited — and begin planning — for an event as spectacular as a total solar eclipse.

Are These the Most Distant Galaxies Yet Seen?
Two fuzzy red objects in the early universe may be galaxies shining at us from only a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.

Hot and Cold: Jupiters Reveal Formation and Chemistry of Exotic Worlds
At the extremes: A hot Jupiter reveals extreme chemistry on a sizzling world, and a cold Jupiter sheds light on giant planet formation.

April: Dancing Planets at Dawn
With the arrival of April, you’re likely to spend more time outdoors under the stars. So why not bring along our monthly Sky Tour astronomy podcast? It provides an informative and entertaining 12-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Download the April episode to explore the fascinating movement of four planets in the sky before dawn.

This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 1 – 9
The evening Moon climbs toward the Arch of Spring, then through it. Orion's Belt levels, the Leaps of the Gazelle cross the zenith, and Saturn and Mars conjoin near brilliant Venus in early dawn.

Floofy Objects and Other Tales of Astronomical Impossibility
Astronomers aren't holding back this year, with brand-new submissions to this year's highly prestigious (and fictitious) Acta Prima Aprilia.

Comets to View in 2022
Like comets? We've got 11 frozen fuzzies to share with you in the coming months, including a couple that could become fine binocular objects.

Meet Earendel, the Most Distant Star Astronomers Have Observed
The Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a single star whose light has traveled for 12.9 billion years to Earth — the most distant star known.