A Mars Record for the Ages
On August 27, 2003, at 9:51 Universal Time, the centers of Earth and Mars will be only 34,646,418 miles apart. Has Mars ever been this close before?
An Ansel Adams Encore
At Yosemite National Park, more than 200 photographers and many media crews showed up to try shooting a rare repeat of Adams' famous "Autumn Moon."
Uranus and Neptune in 2005
From now to year's end, our finder charts will help you locate Uranus (in Aquarius), Neptune (in Capricornus), and Pluto (in Ophiuchus).
A Great Year for the Perseids
The most dependable of all meteor showers reaches the peak of its display in a moonless sky.
Call for Observations: Saturn's Moons
Advanced amateurs with CCD-equipped telescopes are encouraged to measure the "opposition effect" — a brightening expected to occur in the Saturnian system during this upcoming opposition (January 13–14).
The Variable Star T Cephei
The long-period variable star T Cephei peaks this October. The star is relatively easy to locate in binoculars because of its red hue.
New Comet Heading Sunward
Comet Bradfield is plainly visible in this image acquired by SOHO's LASCO C3 coronagraph on April 18, 2004. The Sun is in mid-frame, hidden by an occulting disk. Comet ASAS will not appear as bright and, unlike Bradfield, may not survive its close encounter with the Sun.Courtesy SOHO. Grzegorz Pojmanski…
Machholz Discovers His 10th Comet
This new comet, discovered August 27, 2004, will be well positioned for Northern Hemisphere observers by year's end.
November Meteors
Two meteor showers peak this month: the weak Taurids produce up to 8 or 10 meteors per hour throughout early and mid-November while the Leonids peak on the morning of the 17th.
A New Comet Machholz
Found lurking among the dim stars of the constellation Eridanus, Don Machholz's 10th cometary find will brighten steadily in the months ahead.
Marathon Mystery Explained?
Astronomy historians have re-dated the 26-mile dash in ancient Greece that led to today's sport of marathoning.
Nova in Sagittarius Borders on Naked-Eye Visibility
An amateur astronomer in Japan spotted a naked-eye nova in Sagittarius.
Saturn Covers a Star
Late Friday night, November 14–15, Saturn and its ring system glide right in front of an 8.4-magnitude star in Gemini.
Bradfield's 18th Comet
Indefatigable comet hunter William Bradfield has found another (his 18th); it's currently visible low in the northeast before sunrise.
The Moon Goes Dark
Europe and Africa are prime viewing areas for the total eclipse of the Moon on May 4—5.
One Planet, Two Moons, Three Shadows
This coming weekend, weather permitting, almost anyone with a telescope in North America (and northwestern South America) can see the shadows of three Jovian moons at once.
Small Asteroid Makes Closest Known Flyby
It may be no bigger than a small office building, but asteroid 2004 FH's close brush with Earth on March 18, 2004, definitely got astronomers' attention.
Asteroid Occultation in November
North Carolina skywatchers have a chance to see the asteroid 72 Feronia pass in front of an 8th-magnitude star around 2 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 5th.
Five Asteroids Meet
There’s a rare imaging challenge in Leo this month for amateurs with CCD-equipped telescopes.
Asteroid Aurora Occults a Star
On the night of September 24–25, minor planet 94 Aurora will pass directly in front of the 5th-magnitude star Chi Geminorum, blocking its light for up to 7 seconds.