SUNSET: 
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.
What's a Planet?
The biggest question facing the world's professional astronomers, now gathered in Prague, is how to define the word "planet" and whether the definition should include Pluto.
The Moon Near the Pleiades
The Moon will be closing in on Messier 45 tomorrow morning; observers in Hawaii will see the Moon pass in front of the star cluster.
Perseids Perform
The reports are in! Despite a waning gibbous Moon on the evening of August 12th, the Perseid meteor shower did not disappoint. Between twilight and moonrise, observers from dark country skies reported up to 20 “shooting stars” an hour — a meteor every three minutes — some fast and blip-like, some slow and spectacular.
East Coast Imaging Conference
Astrophotographers converged in Philadelphia, PA. to trade tips and learn new techniques.
Comet Discoverers Honored
An American, a Brazilian, and an Australian will share the eighth annual Edgar Wilson Award for amateur comet discovery. The award is given to amateur astronomers (or professional astronomers acting in an amateur capacity) who find one or more new comets using privately owned equipment.
Case Closed: Celestron and Meade End Litigation
The multi-year legal battles between telescope giants Meade and Celestron have been mutually resolved.
Mars Hoax Returns
Don't be misled. Once again, an e-mail chain letter making the rounds of the Internet suggests that Mars will look as big as the full Moon to the naked eye in late August. Nonsense! Even at its closest and brightest, Mars never looks like anything more than a bright, orangish star unless you view it through a telescope.
Moonlight Perseids
Although the peak has past, the Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, still has a few stragglers left to see. Try looking for some tonight.
Boston’s Classy Telescope Auction
The Skinner auction in Boston featured a stunning array of “brass and glass.” Many of the astronomical items came from the collection of Don Yeier (Vernonscope & Co.), himself the organizer of 12 previous auctions of astronomical instruments since 1974.
Entry Form for S&T Astronomy Day Award
The latest version of the S&T Astronomy Day Award entry form is available on the Astronomical League's website.
How Pure Is the Comet?
When NASA slammed a probe into a comet last year, researchers were searching for the oldest stuff in the solar system. But what they found — no one had expected.
The S&T Astronomy Day Award
Each year, one club or organization is recognized for its successful efforts in promoting Astronomy Day.
