SUNSET: 
Sky at a Glance | February 1st, 2013
Mercury and Mars have a challenging close conjunction low in the sunset. The gigantic Winter Hexagon rides high. And the waning Moon passes Saturn in the dawn.
Sky at a Glance | January 25th, 2013
The Moon descends past Leo as it wanes from full. And when Sirius culminates in the south, can you see Canopus below it?
Sky at a Glance | January 18th, 2013
The brightening Moon passes close by Jupiter as it moves eastward toward fullness. And when Sirius culminates in late evening now, can you see Canopus below it?
Sky at a Glance | January 11th, 2013
The waxing crescent Moon walks up the western side of the sky, the Little Dipper hangs straight down on the northern side of the sky, and Capella and Rigel culminate together.
Sky at a Glance | January 4th, 2013
Vega descends, the Northern Cross turns upright, and the waning crescent Moon marks the way to planets before dawn.
Sky at a Glance | December 21st, 2012
The bright Moon pairs up in an unusually close conjunction with Jupiter on Christmas night, with Aldebaran, the Hyades, and Pleiades looking on.
Sky at a Glance | December 14th, 2012
Jupiter blazes, Ceres is at opposition with Vesta nearby, and Sirius is in its color-flashing mode after dinnertime.
Sky at a Glance | December 7th, 2012
Lots happening this week! The Geminid meteor shower, a flyby of Toutatis, Vesta at opposition with Ceres nearby, and more.
Geminid Meteors to Peak the Night of Dec. 13th
If it’s clear late Thursday night, December 13th, keep a lookout overhead for meteors of the Geminid shower.
The Basics of Meteor Observing
Here are a few hints to enhance your meteor-watching experience.
Advanced Meteor Observing
Meteor studies have relied heavily on amateur observers for more than a century. They still do. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to plan a meteor watch.
Sky at a Glance | November 30th, 2012
The Moon is waning out of the evening sky. Jupiter is passing 5° north of Aldebaran. Low in the dawn, Mercury has emerged to align with Venus and Saturn in a diagonal row.
Sky at a Glance | November 23rd, 2012
The Moon joins up with Jupiter and Aldebaran, and undergoes a penumbral eclipse for the West Coast and then lands across the Pacific. In the dawn, Saturn skims past Venus.
Sky at a Glance | November 16th, 2012
Jupiter rises in twilight, the Moon waxes across the evening sky, and Saturn approaches Venus in the dawn.
Sky at a Glance | November 9th, 2012
Jupiter rises before dark, Fomalhaut culminates early, Orion rises a bit later, and the crescent Moon moves from dawn back to dusk.
Sky at a Glance | November 2nd, 2012
Jupiter, flanked by Aldebaran and Beta Tauri, shines big and bright just a month from opposition.
Sky at a Glance | October 26th, 2012
The Moon shines with forthcoming winter sights low in the east, while summer stars still descend in the west — including Arcturus, now taking on its guise as the Ghost of Summer Suns.
October Meteors Slow and Fast
As Earth wheels through the October portion of its orbit around the Sun, it passes through two reliable annual meteoroid streams: one fast, one slow, both long-lasting.
Set Your Crescent-Moon Record?
A thin young crescent Moon will be visible from North America this evening, Tuesday October 16th, weather and eyesight permitting. It may be a chance to set your young-Moon record.
Sky at a Glance | October 12th, 2012
Jupiter has been climbing into good view a half hour earlier every week, accompanied by a grand retinue of celestial objects seen and unseen. On the other side of the sky, Mars is finally passing rival Antares in twilight.
