SUNSET: 
February Podcast: Winter’s Milky Way
In this month’s episode, go on a tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during February. First we’ll keep tabs on the Moon; say good-bye to Saturn; trace out the Winter Milky Way; and explore some lesser-known constellations near Orion.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 30 – February 8
The dazzling Moon occults Regulus Monday night while Regulus is busy announcing February. Betelgeuse turns the Winter Hexagon into the Heavenly G.
The Ring Nebula Has an “Iron Bar”
New observations reveal a strange structure in the iconic nebula that has evaded astronomers for centuries.
The Dark Energy Survey Weighs in on Cosmic Tensions
The final release of data from the Dark Energy Survey widens tensions in our understanding of the cosmic evolution.
What the Helix Nebula Has in Common with a Supernova Remnant
Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula, revealed in a new Webb image, look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here's why.
Scientists Measure Mars's Effect on Earth's Climate
Tiny Mars might have an outsize effect on Earth's climate over hundreds of thousands of years.
Martian Moon Deimos Might Have Reshaped Itself and Its Orbit
A new study suggests that an early version of Mars’s smaller moon Deimos was pulverized by its own debris, explaining the moon's oddities.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 23 - February 1
The waxing Moon marches east across the evening sky. It says hello to binary Gamma Arietis on Saturday, then occults some of the Pleiades for Europe on Tuesday. But it's past them by nightfall in North America.
Watch Stellar Explosions Near and Far (Videos)
New videos from the Solar Orbiter and the Chandra X-ray Observatory capture magnetic avalanches on the Sun and the exploding remnants of a star 17,000 light-years away.
Nights with Mira, a Most Wonderful Star
Mira the Wonderful is back! Of course, it's always been there, but now it's near maximum brightness and easily visible with the unaided eye.
NASA’s Budget Woes Are Over, For Now
Congress has rejected a draconian budget request, passing a bill that funds the space agency similarly to 2025.
“Missing” Supernova Images Offer Measure of Universe’s Expansion
Astronomers have found two gravitationally lensed supernovae that are missing images. Those images' arrival will offer a measure of the universe's expansion.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 16 – 25
This winter the biggest planet is the brightest. The brightest star pins the Winter Triangle. And did you know Capella and Rigel march in step?
The Schmidt System: Four New Observatories in the Next Three Years
Schmidt Sciences has unveiled details on four ambitious observatories to monitor the dynamic cosmos, with data from all four expected by 2029.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2026
This year offers an interesting mix of celestial coverups: a total solar eclipse viewable from Spain and two deep lunar eclipses (one total, one not quite) visible across North America. The fourth, an annular solar eclipse, will be confined to the bottom of the world.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Two New CubeSats to Monitor Nearby Stars and Distant Black Holes
Two new smallsat missions, named SPARCS and BlackCAT, promise to examine stellar flares and explosions in the early universe.
Betelgeuse’s Elusive Companion Might Be Making Waves
In new observations, astronomers detect a moving wake of gas in the outer layers of the red supergiant Betelgeuse, offering fresh evidence for a long-suspected secondary star.
Did Asteroids Collide Near Fomalhaut – Again?
The young, nearby star may be experiencing an episode of repeated, violent collisions within its forming planetary system.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Pandora Mission Launches to Explore Atmospheres on Alien Worlds
NASA's new, small observatory — launched successfully on January 11th — has a big mission: to characterize exoplanet atmospheres.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 9 – 18
Jupiter is at opposition. Evenings are moonless, and the winter Milky Way arches high over the world. Betelgeuse stands over Sirius.
