
Explore the Night with Bob King
See the Young Moon and the Lyrid Meteor Shower
We have an exciting week ahead with a crescent Moon that might break your observing record followed by a well-timed Lyrid meteor shower.

The Best Meteor Showers in 2023
The two richest, most reliable annual meteor showers, the Perseids and Geminids, are Moon-free in 2023. Others showers await you too.

Catch the Geminid Meteor Shower; Plus, Watch RW Cephei Fade
The luminous Geminid meteor shower returns. We also meet a binocular-bright star that may be experiencing Betelgeuse-like convulsions.

Explore the Night with Bob King
All About the Dust — Orionids and Zodiacal Light
It doesn't take much to create a spectacle when it comes to astronomical observation. Just a pinch or two of dust.

Perseids Are Coming, Full Moon or Not
Don't use a full Moon pass to skip this year's Perseid meteor shower. Right here, right now, we're going to help you make the most of it.

Explore the Night with Bob King
Tau Herculid Meteors Surprise and Delight
We touch on the highlights of the memorable Tau Herculid meteor shower and also report on the recent outburst of the recurrent nova U Scorpii.

Update on a Possible Outburst of Meteors
Will there be a new meteor shower on the night of May 30–31? There's only one way to find out.

Explore the Night with Bob King
Celebrate Spring with the Lyrids
People have been watching the annual Lyrid meteor shower for more than 2,700 years. Come join the crowd!

The Best Meteor Showers of 2022
Sky & Telescope predicts that the year’s best meteor shower will be the Quadrantids, which peak in the very first days of 2022. But the normally weak Tau Herculids (late May) and Leonids (November) might deliver dramatic outbursts.

The Best Meteor Showers in 2021
Sky & Telescope predicts that the year's best meteor shower will be the strong, fireball-rich Perseids in mid-August.

The Best Meteor Showers in 2020
Sky & Telescope predicts that the three best meteor showers — the Quadrantids (peaking on January 4th!), Perseids and Geminids — will all have strong showings this year.

How to Photograph a Meteor Shower: Capturing the Perseids
Learn how to photograph a meteor shower with these step-by-step instructions, as well as advice for the advanced imager.

The Basics of Meteor Observing
Here are a few hints to enhance your meteor-watching experience.

Advanced Meteor Observing
Meteor studies have relied heavily on amateur observers for more than a century. They still do. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to plan a meteor watch.

About Meteors
Meteors, meteoroids, meteorites, and fireballs — keep all these look-alike terms straight.

Observing the Perseids - A Perennial Guide
The Perseids meteor shower is one of the year's top astronomical highlights. Learn how best to see the meteors.

Eta Aquariids: Halley's Comet Crumbs
Flecks of dust shed long ago by Edmond Halley’s famous namesake arrive like clockwork each year, creating a minor meteor shower in early May.

History of the Quadrantid Meteors
Read about the history and source of the Quadrantid meteor stream, which provides one of the most intense annual meteor displays. Its brief, sharp maximum lasts only a few hours in early January.

The Discovery of the Perseid Meteors
It took the mindset of a detective to discover the truth behind the meteors of mid-August.
Meteors That Changed the World
When "shooting stars" make the transition from heaven to earth, even small strikes can have a huge impact on human history.