SUNSET: 
Planetary Occultations for 2003
No matter where you live, there are plenty of chances to see an asteroid pass in front of a star this year.
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.
Vesta in Virgo
During April, Vesta has many close encounters with members of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster.
Lunar Occultation Highlights for 2003
Dozens of times this year, no matter where you live, the Moon can be seen hiding bright stars in its path. Here's when and where you can watch the Moon occult these stars.
Dust Storm on Mars
A large regional dust storm has enveloped several thousand square kilometers of the red planet and shows no signs of abating.
Crescent Moon Occults Venus
On Sunday evening, October 26th, Venus disappears behind the crescent Moon for observers in South America and Hawaii.
Mercury Transits the Sun
When this innermost planet passes between the Earth and the Sun on May 7th, it will appear as a tiny black "sunspot" in small telescopes.
Catch Hermes on the Fly
Since 1937, Hermes has made eight unseen flybys past Earth. In late October, the asteroid will be 13th magnitude — bright enough to be seen in scopes 10-inches and larger.
Upcoming Asteroid Occultation
S&T illustration. A few minutes before 5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 24th, the 170-kilometer-wide minor planet 334 Chicago passes in front of the 8.5-magnitude star SAO97327 in Gemini. The nominal path for this event crosses Philadelphia (at about 9:57 Universal Time) and continues westward across Lake Michigan, just…
Jupiter's Moon Dances
Every six years, for a few months at a time, Jupiter's satellites engage in a wonderful variety of alignments. They're starting up again.
An Observer's Guide to Mars
In 2001 the red planet swung closer to Earth than it had since 1988. It'll be even better in 2003. Here's an observer's guide from the 2001 opposition to whet your appetite for 2003.
Mercury Transit Tales
Mostly clear skies in Europe, the Far East, and Australia meant that many amateurs were able to view this rare event.
Viewing Mercury at Its Best
Fast-moving Mercury can be elusive. But spotting this sparkling little planet is easy if you know where and when to look.
Mars Glides Between Two Nebulae
During the predawn hours of March 5th and 6th, watch as Mars glides between a close pair of nebulae — the Lagoon (M8) and the Trifid (M20).
A Star Prepares to Blow Its Top
Easily found with the naked eye, 4th-magnitude Rho Cassiopeiae may be getting ready for an enormous mass ejection in the next few months.
Saturn Transits the Crab
During the night of January 4–5, North American observers are well positioned to watch Saturn transit the face of M1, the Crab Nebula. But will the glare from the planet obscure the nebula?
Ceres and Melpomene in Binoculars
With paths that crisscross in Cetus, the Whale, these two asteroids make fine observing targets for the rest of 2002.
Asteroid Flyby Seen Worldwide
Last weekend's close encounter between Earth and asteroid 2002 NY40 was seen by amateur astronomers worldwide.
Asteroid Hunters Receive Grants
Five amateur astronomers specializing in the observation and early detection of Earth-crossing asteroids and comets were each awarded Shoemaker Near-Earth Object Grants from the Planetary Society.
