Rate Your Skyglow
Light pollution is most amateur astronomers' worst enemy. Learn here how to measure and describe how brightly your sky glows.
Rock from Space to Burn Up over Africa
Late Monday night, October 6-7, 2008, a tiny asteroid will enter Earth's atmosphere over Sudan, creating a spectacular explosion in the night sky.
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.
Perseids Hitting the Moon
Amateurs have helped lead the way in recording the flashes of meteoroids hitting the Moon's night side.
Jupiter's Third Red Spot May Have Survived
Jupiter's newest red spot was disrupted during its encounter with the Great Red Spot and Oval BA, but appears to be reforming.
Comet Boattini Brightens
During May and June 2008, this visitor may be dimly visible without a telescope — but only if you live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Another Bright Nova, This Time in Sagittarius
Just magnitude 9 when discovered on April 18, 2008, this nova in Sagittarius has brightened tenfold.
Found in Cygnus: A 7th-Magnitude Nova
Two Japanese amateurs captured the new star on April 10, 2008, at a spot where their camera had recorded nothing just three days earlier.
A Triple Occultation by Eugenia and Its Moons
On March 8, 2008, this asteroid or one of its two moons could make a faint naked-eye star vanish briefly from the sky.
S&T's Star-count Challenge!
How bad is the light pollution where you live? How many stars can you see on a dark night? Last year the GLOBE at Night project tallied 8,500 star-counting estimates from around the world. That's great — but we can do better! All it'll take is 30 minutes and a clear evening between now and March 8th.
Possible Occultation by Varuna Sunday Night
A huge, remote asteroid could briefly blot out a faint star in Gemini on February 10-11, 2008.
Mercury, Messenger, and Observers
As the first images are released from Messenger's flyby of the innermost planet, previous ground-based observations are proving to be surprisingly accurate.
Nova in Puppis
On Nov. 14, 2007, a star in the constellation Puppis suddenly became visible in binoculars.
Comet Holmes Undergoes Huge Outburst
On Wednesday, October 24, 2007, this faint comet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter suddenly became a naked-eye "star."
Amateurs Spot Transiting Exoplanet
Using modest gear and a lot of skill, amateur astronomers catch a record-breaking planet crossing the face of its star 250 light-years away.
An Occultation by Pluto's Moon Charon?
New calculations indicate that Charon may actually occult an 8.7-magnitude star on Sept. 27, 2007.
Occultations by Possible Rings of Pluto This Week
Pluto will pass extremely close to an 8.7-magnitude star on September 27, 2007; observers should monitor the star's brightness electronically.
Nominations Sought for Amateur Award
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is now accepting nominations for the Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award.
New Chance To Confirm Asteroid Lucina's Moon
Late Wednesday night, September 19–20, 2007, observers across much of North America should watch for a possible occultation by asteroid 146 Lucina's satellite.
Help Prepare for Hubble Study of PQ And
Amateur observations of variable star PQ Andromedae are needed on September 11-12, 2007, to ensure a successful Hubble campaign.