SUNSET: 
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.
Sky at a Glance | October 5th, 2012
Algol eclipses itself. Telescopic action happens at Jupiter. And after pairing up with Jupiter, the waning Moon passes Regulus and Venus late in the week at dawn.
Sky at a Glance | September 28th, 2012
The Harvest Moon wanes from full almost down to last quarter this week, stepping past the Pleiades, Aldebaran, and Jupiter along the way.
Sky at a Glance | September 21st, 2012
Waxing from first quarter to full this week, the Moon steps across the evening constellations from south to east. To observe Jupiter, you no longer have to set an alarm clock. And don't miss the weekend conjunction of Uranus and a similar star.
Sky at a Glance | September 14th, 2012
The waxing crescent Moon steps up past Saturn, Mars, and Antares day by day this week. Jupiter is well up in the east by midnight. And Deneb replaces Vega at a special spot.
Sky at a Glance | September 7th, 2012
Jupiter and Aldebaran embrace the rising last-quarter Moon, then it's Venus's turn with a one-on-one Moon pairing. Meanwhile, the stars of the evening are unmistakably turning toward fall.
Neil Armstrong, 1930 - 2012
The man who took humanity's first step on another world is no longer among us.
