SUNSET: 
Comet LINEAR Graces the Northern Sky
An unexpectedly bright comet is crossing a well-known part of the sky.
Strange Encounters Part II
I was intrigued that all the responses to my previous blog entry discussed encounters with wild animals rather than strange humans. (Sorry, I lost all of those comments during the switchover to the new blog technology.) I've met my fair share of wild animals, but somehow that never seems surprising…
The Evening Star Greets the Ringed Planet
On Saturday and Sunday evening, for observers all around the world, Venus and Saturn will fit together comfortably in the field of view of most telescopes at 50x. That's ample magnification to show both Saturn's magnificent rings and Venus's crescent phase.
Strangers in the Night
Stargazers aren't the only people who do bizarre though harmless things outside at night.
Beyond the Printed Page
Did you know that there's more to Sky & Telescope than you can see when you're browsing it at a newsstand? Many articles include extra material that's available only on our website.
The Day the Sun Stands Still
Have you ever wondered what the word "solstice" means?
Decisions, Decisions
A deep-sky observer's life revolves around the phase of the Moon and the weather forecast.
Unexpected Connections
What do digital voice recorders have in common with an 18th-century woman?
Big Sky
Night or day, it's wonderful to see the entire sky all at once.
Binoculars vs. Starblast, Redux
How do 15x70 binoculars hold up against a genuinely inexpensive telescope?
In Caroline Herschel's Footsteps
This is the only known portrait of Caroline Herschel as a young woman.Museum of the History of Science, OxfordCaroline Herschel (1750–1848) was the first famous female astronomer. Though celebrated in her day for discovering eight comets, she started as a deep-sky observer. In fact, it was Caroline's initial deep-sky discoveries…
First Look: Handcrafted Wooden Dobs
A prize-winning amateur telescope maker goes professional.
Binoculars Part III: One Eye Versus Two
Binoculars are qualitatively different from telescopes with identical aperture.
Three Binoculars: Part II
Binoculars' strengths and weaknesses are intimately connected.
A Tale of Three Binoculars: Part I
There's a big difference between 10x50 and 15x70 binoculars.
Moon Meets Venus
On the evening of April 19th, the thin crescent Moon passes near Venus, the Evening Star.
How to Make a Sundial the Simple Way
Sundials are amazingly simple yet effective devices. They range from sticks planted in the ground to precision-machined marvels costing thousands of dollars. The design shown here can be constructed in minutes from materials lying around your house, but it's surprisingly accurate.
Seven Sisters Host Evening Star
Venus, the brightest planet, and the Pleiades, the sky's brightest star cluster, form a spectacular grouping in the evening sky from April 10-12.
