How to Catch an Iridium Flare
These communications satellites can briefly outshine Venus as they spray the ground with reflected sunlight.
Chi Cygni: A Wide-Ranging Variable
This red long-period variable is sometimes visible to the unaided eye — and sometimes invisible even in a 4-inch telescope.
How to Get Aurora Predictions
Although forecasting an aurora remains an inexact science, here are several Web sites that go out on a limb and predict when an aurora might be imminent.
111 Deep Sky Wonders for Light-Polluted Skies
Bright skies aren't empty skies. See for yourself how many treasures lie hidden in the glow of a city sky.
How to Safely See a Partial Solar Eclipse
Looking at the Sun is harmful to your eyes at any time, partial solar eclipse or no. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to watch the show safely.
Moonlight Perseids
Although the peak has past, the Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, still has a few stragglers left to see. Try looking for some tonight.
Observing Galaxies: Spiral, Elliptical, and Irregular
Trained eyes and clear, dark skies can open up a new dimension in deep-sky observing.
Iceland: Fire, Ice, and the Aurora
Iceland is a destination with explosive geysers, majestic waterfalls, towering glaciers, steaming thermal baths — and magnificent northern lights.
Safe Solar Observing
When it comes to observing the Sun, remember — safety first!
An Occultation Primer
The Moon frequently passes in front of stars. In rare cases, planets and asteroids will also obscure starlight for a short time. Here are some basic definitions that will help you understand what occultations are about.
Some Special Events in 2006
It's going to be an active year for stargazers. Here's where you can find some of the highlights of 2006, including a list of upcoming lunar occultations.
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Linking to S&T's Interactive Sky Chart
Here are simple instructions to enhance your Web site by adding a link to S&T's Interactive Sky Chart customized for your location.
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.
Fuzzies in Your Future:
An Introduction to Deep-Sky Objects
Ready to voyage beyond the Solar System? Here's what you can see.
Finding Uranus and Neptune in 2006
Binoculars and our charts are all you need to spot these twin outer planets.
Tycho: The Metropolitan Crater of the Moon
Tycho is the most conspicuous crater visible near full Moon, shining brilliantly and radiating great long rays. But the rays from Tycho that partially encircle the full Moon are not distributed equally in all directions.
Messier on the Moon
Oblique impact resolves the mystery of one of the most bizarre crater pairs on the Moon: Messier and Messier A. Previous explanations for this crater pair ranged from imaginative to fantastical. All were wrong.
The Mysteries of Plato
The crater Plato is one of the superstars for observers of the Moon. It's big, conspicuous with its dark floor ringed by a bright rim, and long a subject of speculation, and controversy.
Rings and Things
Mare Nectaris is the smallest of the circular maria on the Moon; lavas extend only 350 kilometers from shore to shore. But the Nectaris basin is beautifully defined by the spectacular Altai Scarp, which forms the southwestern rim of the basin.
Mining Hipparcos's Buried Treasure
The satellite caught tantalizing pieces of light curves for many new variable stars. Now it's time to fill in the details.