SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
Fireflies, Green Stars, and Chromatic Duos
July nights bring the green flicker of fireflies and a question — are there any green stars we can see in our telescopes? The answer may surprise you.
Explore the Night with Bob King
What Can You See Through Baade's Window?
Cobwebs of cosmic dust limit how far we can see into the Milky Way's hub, but Baade's Window offers a rare glimpse into the stellar riches that await us there.
On the Move with Barnard's Star and 61 Cygni
Stars may appear static, but they're on the move. Put these two speed demons on your observing list this summer. When you return in a year or two, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Will We Still Recognize the Sky in 27,800 AD?
With Arcturus as our touchstone, we set off in a virtual time machine to visit the sky of the distant future.
Visit Venus in Its Darkest Hour
Keep your eye on the prize in the western sky. Venus sets exceptionally late this month, presenting skywatchers with several unusual observing opportunities.
Do We Have Pieces of Pallas on Earth?
Chips of Pallas grace meteorite collections around the world. See where they all came from when the asteroid reaches opposition this spring.
How to See All Six Apollo Moon Landing Sites
Walk in the astronauts' footsteps as you explore the places they visited in the heyday of Apollo program. Use these helpful maps to start you on your way.
How to Catch a Ghost ... Comet That Is
How Comet D1 SOHO survived a near-death experience long enough to haunt the evening sky — with maps to help you find it before it vanishes into the night.
Is There Such a Thing as a Random Meteor?
Meteor showers like the Perseids get all the press. But have you ever wondered where all the random meteors come from? We explore their origins. We've all seen them. The sporadics. Those random meteors that flash across the sky on any old clear night. If you were to make a…
Rare Triple Shadow Transit Not to Miss!
Get your scope ready for a rare event this Friday night when one after another three of Jupiter's brightest moons and their shadows parade across its face.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Are You Game for a Dawn Conjunction?
Will you brave the cold Friday morning to witness the conjunction of Saturn and the waning Moon?
How to See the Orion Nebula in 3D
Add another dimension of viewing to winter's favorite deep sky object, the Great Nebula of Orion. The Orion Nebula is arguably the centerpiece of the winter sky. This bright, richly-detailed blossom of glowing gas and dust invites repeated observation. How many of us have pointed our telescope or binoculars in its direction five,…
Venus Finally Comes Out of Hiding
Welcome back, Venus! Brightest planet in the sky returns just in time for the holidays. "There are so many stars shining in the sky, so many beautiful things winking at you, but when Venus comes out, all the others are waned ... Mehmet Murat ildan from the play Galileo Galilei (2001) I miss Venus.…
Shadows on the Moon Make a Point
Fooled by shadow play into thinking lunar mountains were pointy pinnacles? Learn why we often see them that way.
When Algol Winks, Will You Wink Back?
The dark ways of Algol the Demon Star, and what it can teach us about stellar evolution.
Make Way for the Wintermaker
The grand figure of Orion the Hunter brightens November skies, rising around 9 p.m. local time in late November. Johannes Hevelius, 1690 Orion the Hunter is arguably one of the most recognizable constellations in the sky. Striding the celestial equator, he charges up from this eastern horizon around 9 o'clock…
See November's Speedy Leonids
Often ignored in off years, why not treat yourself to the Leonids this month, a shower famed for fireballs and smoke trails.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Exoplanets for the Mind's Eye
While we may never see a planet orbiting a star other than the sun that doesn't mean we can't go there in a flight of fancy.
How Many Pleiades Can YOU See?
Most of us are familiar with the Seven Sisters, but have you met their brothers? Learn how to find more Pleiades than first meet the eye.
