Explore the Night with Bob King
11 Easy Sights for Full Moon Nights
Ah, full Moon. Time to put the telescope away and lead a normal life. Then again, maybe not. Here are 11 things to coax you back out for another look.
Bah, Humboldt! Visiting a Fringe Crater
Meet Humboldt, a magnificent lunar crater compromised by its life on the edge.
Fun in the Sun: A White-Light Guide to Our Nearest Star
We examine the fascinating solar phenomena that anyone with a small scope and safe solar filter can see, whether the Sun's in eclipse or not.
Hello, Saturn! We're Glad You're Back
Saturn, considered by many the most beautiful sight in the sky, comes to opposition this week with its rings in full tilt. You won't want to miss it.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Nights of the Living Dead — What Stars Leave Behind
Stars leave interesting messes after they die: diamond-studded puffballs, neutron stars, and black holes. We explore an example of each in June's night skies.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Watch Venus and Uranus Double Up Beneath a Comet
Following an occultation of Rho Leonis by the Moon, watch Venus and Uranus pair up in a weekend conjunction just 10° from Comet ER61 PanSTARRS.
New Impact Flash Seen on Jupiter
Flash! A comet or asteroid fragment whacked Jupiter on May 26th. It's the sixth time that observers on Earth have witnessed an impact on the giant planet.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Summer Triangle Makes its Midnight Debut
Stay up late and you'll see the return of one of the sky's most familiar asterisms, the Summer Triangle. Firefly nights under the arch of the summertime Milky Way will soon be here.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Gobs of Globs — Tour 16 Spring Globular Clusters
Chandeliers of the galaxy, these distant stellar swarms fire our sense of wonder. Hop on and we'll tour 16 of season's finest!
Bright Supernova Discovered in "Fireworks Galaxy" NGC 6946
A brand new supernova in NGC 6946 is bright enough to see in modest-sized telescopes. Here's how to find it.
Watch Comet Johnson Sprint Through Boötes
Another binocular comet? You better believe it. Comet Johnson takes center stage at nightfall this month and next.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Sneezing at the Full Moon
Pollen's no friend of the allergy-prone, but there's an upside to your itchy eyes — weird and colorful coronas around the Moon and Sun.
Are You Ready, Willing, and Abell?
A cosmic rabbit hole in the tail of Leo will take you to Abell 1367, a wonderland of galaxies more than 300 million light-years from Earth. Step in and lose yourself in the vastness.
Lyrids to Put on a Weekend Light Show
The annual Lyrid meteor shower will add some pop and sizzle to Saturday's pre-dawn sky. With little interference from the Moon, conditions are ideal for meteor watching.
See a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid From Your Backyard
Get ready for 2014 JO25, the biggest asteroid to fly this close to Earth since 2004. Good news — even a 3-inch telescope will show it! Update: See below for a radar image and animation of 2014 JO25 captured by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar on April 18, 2017. Every week, a…
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet PanSTARRS (C/2015 ER61) in Outburst and Binocular Bright
Dawn comet C/2015 ER61 PanSTARRS just underwent a bright outburst and is now an easy binocular object. Take a look before the Moon returns!
Explore the Night with Bob King
Jupiter Close, Bright, and Up All Night
It's easy to like Jupiter. No other planet offers such a bounty of amazing sights through the telescope, especially this week when it reaches opposition. On April 7th, the largest planet in the solar system will rise at sunset and shine all night. That's the date Jupiter lines up behind…
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comet Lovejoy Brightens Quickly, Heads North
Terry Lovejoy's new comet has gone from faint to bright in just three weeks and is now a tempting binocular target at dawn.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Sirius B — A New Pup in My Life
Here are some tips on you, too, can see Sirius B, the "Pup" of the Dog Star, Sirius A.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Bright Supernova Erupts in NGC 5643 in Lupus
A recently discovered supernova in Lupus now shines around magnitude +11.5, bright enough to see in a modest telescope. With photos and maps, we'll get you there. I wished I lived in Georgia and not just for the peach trees and warmer weather. No, I'd be able to get up early…