SUNSET: 
An Early-Morning Close Encounter
Here's a fun challenge for those who wish to get up with the Sun. About 40 minutes or so before sunrise, head outside and look to the east. As dawn's light grows bright, the hairline crescent Moon has a close conjunction with Venus just above the eastern horizon.
Solar Variations Not to Blame for Global Warming
Researchers in the US, Switzerland, and Germany have concluded that changes in the Sun's brightness over the past thousand years have had only a minor effect on Earth's climate, according to a paper published in the September 14th Nature.
All Hail Eris and Dysnomia
The bigger-than-Pluto object 2003 UB313 (previously known as Xena) finally has a name. This Kuiper Belt object, which ignited the heated planet-definition debate, will be known as Eris — named for the Greek goddess of strife and discord.
New AAS Award for Backyard Research
A new award from the American Astronomical Society recognizes the contribution of backyard stargazers to advancing the science of astronomy.
Pluto Gets an Asteroid Number
Without fanfare, the September 7th batch of circulars from the Minor Planet Center assigns number 134340 to Pluto.
SMART 1's Dramatic Finale
Right on cue, a European spacecraft slammed into the lunar surface on September 3rd and created a flash on impact bright enough to be seen on Earth.
Earth Bites Moon
On the night of September 7-8, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. On the same night, observers on the west coast of the Americas will see a double shadow transit on Jupiter. Head outdoors and see it for yourself.
Shadow Transit on Uranus
For the first time in recorded history astronomers witnessed the shadow of one of Uranus's tiny moons travel across the distant planet's cloud tops.
The Fight for Pluto Rages On
A small but growing group of scientists has made the first formal attack against the International Astronomical Union resolution that downsized the solar system and made Pluto a "dwarf planet." On Thursday two heavy hitters in the planetary science community released a scathing petition signed by hundreds of astronomers.
SMART 1 Awaits Its Fate
A European spacecraft will crash into the Moon on Saturday night, September 2nd, or Sunday morning, September 3rd — and amateur astronomers will be watching for the telltale flash. Many of the world's major observatories will try to record to the event too.
E. E. Barnard Visits Mount Kobau
The 23rd annual Mount Kobau Star Party took place from August 19th to 26th in the interior of British Columbia. As usual, a hearty group of amateur astronomers braved the elements to plumb Kobau's dark skies for astronomical treasures. And joining them this year was the spirit of Edward Emerson Barnard.
Famous Star Hosts Distant World
Astronomers have found an extrasolar planet orbiting Pollux, the 16th brightest star in the night sky. It's the brightest star in the sky known to host a world outside of our solar system.
Goodbye, Pluto. Hello, "Dwarf Planets"!
It's official: our solar system has eight planets, and Pluto is not one of them according to the International Astronomical Union.
Airborne Observatory Rolls On
After narrowly avoiding the budget ax, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is nearing its first flight.
“The Day We Lost Pluto”
In order to resolve their ongoing debate over the definition of the word "planet," astronomers seem prepared to demote Pluto.
Sky Staffer Honored by Astronomical League
J. Kelly Beatty, who serves as editor of Night Sky magazine and executive editor of Sky & Telescope, is the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Astronomical League Award.
Planet Debate Heats Up
All hell broke loose when astronomers began openly debating the definition of the word "planet" at the general assembly of the International Astronomical Union in Prague.
Catch a Naked-eye Sunspot
There's a nice big naked-eye spot on the Sun today, even though we're near the minimum of the 11-year sunspot activity cycle. Of course, when we're talking about the Sun, "naked-eye" means looking through a safe solar filter.
