SUNSET: 
FirstScope Tips
In the October 2009 issue, S&T senior editor Dennis di Cicco reviewed the amazing new $50 Celestron FirstScope. It performs far better than any telescope in its price range ever did before, and also better than many scopes that cost twice as much. But not surprisingly considering the price, it…
Jupiter Without Moons
On the night of September 2-3, a remarkable celestial event will take place. For almost two hours, all four of Jupiter's Galilean moons will be hiding either behind or in front of the giant planet.
Jupiter Blots Out a Star
From August 2nd to 5th, the 6th-magnitude star 45 Capricorni masquerades as a fifth moon of Jupiter, forming striking patterns with the Galilean moons. And at the peak of the action, the star passes behind Jupiter's disk.
Epsilon Aurigae's Eclipse Begins
Robin Leadbeater of Wigton, UK, has reported the first sign of the long-awaited eclipse of Epsilon Aurigae, one of the most remarkable eclipsing variable stars in the sky.
Asteroid to Occult Star July 18-19
Around 1 a.m. CDT (2 a.m. EDT) on the night of Saturday-Sunday, July 18-19, the moderately large asteroid 790 Pretoria occults a 10th-magnitude star in Pegasus for observers from Florida through Minnesota.
Light Pollution in North America
According to the Light Pollution Atlas, there's a fourfold variation in light pollution per capita among metropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada.
Light Pollution Per Capita
The amount of light pollution generated per person varies greatly from one country to another.
Is the U.S. Bright or Dark?
Depending how you present the data, light pollution in the U.S. may appear anywhere from quite severe to fairly modest.
Ground Truth for the Light Pollution Atlas
Instrumental measurements suggest that the color zones from the World Atlas of Light Pollution — perhaps best known through its incorporation in the Clear Sky Chart — don't tell the whole story.
NEAF 2009 a Huge Success
Great numbers of amateur astronomers flocked to the 18th annual Northeast Astronomy Forum & Telescope Show to see displays from more than 100 exhibitors, new and old.
Telescopes: Guides & Recommendations
The Amazing $20 Telescope
Sky & Telescope has reviewed innumerable telescopes, and only a handful of the ones that we've tried and liked cost less than $200. Now we're going to recommend a telescope that's selling for $20, and your response is going to be "you're kidding, right?" No, we're not!
Venus at its 8-Year Best
Venus spent the last nine months as the Evening Star, but it's now faintly visible to the unaided eye just before sunrise — and possibly also just before sunset on the same day. For telescopic observers, this is the most exciting possible time to view Venus during broad daylight. But when doing this, be super-careful not to look at the Sun and blind yourself!
Rate Your Skyglow
Light pollution is most amateur astronomers' worst enemy. Learn here how to measure and describe how brightly your sky glows.
Catch Venus with a "Moon"
On Monday, November 17th, Venus passes very close to the 2.8-magnitude star Lambda Sagittarii (Kaus Borealis). Through a telescope, Lambda appears next to Venus very much like one of the Galilean Moons next to Jupiter.
View Vesta at Its Brightest
Vesta, the brightest asteroid, is easy to observe during the last three months of 2008.
Count the Stars to Save the Sky
Schoolchildren, families, and citizen scientists around the world will gaze skyward after dark from October 20th to November 3rd. The Great World Wide Star Count, now in its second year, helps scientists map light pollution globally while educating participants about the stars.
Meteor Strike Forecast for Oct. 6-7
Many telescopes around the world are looking for asteroids that might potentially hit Earth. Every candidate has turned out to be a false alarm — until now!
Possible Fireball Outburst Sept 9-10
An unexpected meteor burst was detected on the night of September 8-9. Bill Cooke of the Marshall Space Flight Center is urging meteor watchers to see if the activity continues on the night of September 9-10.
Venus Meets Mars
From September 9th through the 15th, Mars and Venus are closely paired low in the west-southwest just after sunset — fitting together easily in the same medium-power telescopic field for most of that time.
The Oregon Star Party
Located 40 miles from the nearest town, the Oregon Star Party is one of the premier dark-sky astronomy gatherings in the United States.
