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$100 Million for Fast Probes to Alpha Centauri. Yes, Really.
Yuri Milner commits $100 million to Breakthrough Starshot, a research and development project toward sending interstellar nanoprobes to Alpha Centauri.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 8 – 16
Looking west in twilight, use the thin crescent Moon as your guidepost to Mercury. And have you tried yet for Comet 252P/LINEAR?
Crescent Moon To Cover Aldebaran
On Sunday afternoon, April 10th, you'll see the waxing crescent Moon hanging high in a sunny blue sky if the weather is as good as we hope it'll be. Look with a telescope from nearly anywhere in North America, and you can find something else too. Somewhere in the Moon's…
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 1 – 9
Spring is here! Which means Arcturus shines brightly in the east. The Big Dipper, high in the northeast, points its handle toward it.
March's Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia
On March 9th, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Pacific. Use our map to find out what you'll see at any location.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 26 – March 5
After dinnertime this time of year, four carnivore constellations stand in a row from the northeast to south: Ursa Major, Leo, Hydra, and Canis Major.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 12 – 20
The biggest well-known star pattern is the Winter Hexagon, marked by the stars Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Castor, Beta Aurigae, Capella, Aldebaran, and Rigel.
Planet Hunter Wins Amateur Research Award
The Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award, issued annually by the American Astronomical Society (AAS) "for exemplary research by an amateur astronomer" if there is a suitable candidate, goes to Darryll LaCourse of Marysville, Washington.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 5 – 13
See all five naked-eye planets at dawn, though Mercury is getting low. On Saturday morning, the crescent Moon, Venus, and Mercury form a triangle low in the southeast.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 29 – February 6
The last-quarter Moon rises around 1 a.m. Sunday night, in company with Mars. By the dawn of Monday the 1st they're high in the south.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 22 – 30
See all five planets at dawn! The nearly-full Moon shines in Gemini Friday evening — with Castor and Pollux to its left and Procyon to its lower right.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 15 – 23
The Moon shines in dim Pisces upper left of the Great Square of Pegasus. Does the half-lit Moon look just a trace bigger than usual? It's about at perigee.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 8 – 16
Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) is fading but still within view. A special treat on January 9th: Venus and Saturn just half a degree from each other.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 1 – 9
Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) remains visible very high in the southeast before the first light of dawn. For more to see, look to Orion in prime view.
Quadrantid Meteors Start 2016 with a Bang
The Quadrantid meteors, the year's least-observed major meteor shower, should be in plain sight when it peaks early on January 4th.
Mercury Shines at Dusk This Weekend
Mercury is usually a shy and elusive catch for naked-eye skywatchers, but for the next few days it shows itself boldly if you look at the right time.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 25 – January 2
The Christmas Moon, a day past full, hangs in Gemini. Look for Castor and Pollux to its left. High above shines the constellation Auriga.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 11 – 19
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Have you ever tried to catch Sirius rising? It rises between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., depending on where you live.
Geminids in 2015: Moonless and Marvelous
The nights of December 13th and 14th offer dark nights for this popular under-appreciated meteor display.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 4 – 12
The Summer Triangle remains in the western sky these cold evenings. Its brightest star is Vega; look above for Deneb and farther to Vega's left is Altair.
