SUNSET: 
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 5 – 13
The sky's biggest asterism — at least the biggest one widely recognized — is the Winter Hexagon. It fills the sky toward the east and south these evenings. Start with brilliant Sirius at its bottom. . .
Planets and Comets Can't Hide from SOHO's Eye
With the help of the Solar Heliospheric Observatory you can not only keep track of the planets in the daytime sky but maybe even discover a comet.
February: The Hare & Unicorn
When you step outside to admire the crisp, starlit night sky on February evenings, bring along our Sky Tour astronomy podcast to learn which stars and constellations are overhead. Here’s a preview of what you'll see.
Meet Castor, Six Stars in One
Castor, a prime ornament of the Gemini constellation and one of the brightest stars in the sky, is actually a system of stars with six unique members.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 29 – February 6
Once the night is fully dark, spot the equilateral Winter Triangle in the southeast. Sirius is its brightest and lowest star. Betelgeuse stands above Sirius by about two fists at arm's length. To the left of their midpoint is Procyon. Compare their colors!
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2021
Four eclipses occur in 2021, with annular and total solar eclipses alternating between total and not-quite-total lunar eclipses.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 22 – 30
Right after dark, face east and look very high. The bright star there is Capella, the Goat Star. To the right of it, by a couple of finger-widths at arm's length, is a small, narrow triangle of 3rd- and 4th-magnitude stars known as "the Kids." Though they're not exactly eye-grabbing, they form a never-forgotten asterism with Capella.
Comet Watch 2021
If you own an 8-inch or larger telescope you might see more than a dozen new and returning comets this year, including one potential naked-eye candidate.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 15 – 23
Bright Capella high overhead, and equally bright Rigel in Orion's foot, have almost the same right ascension. This means they cross your sky’s meridian at almost exactly the same time. So whenever Capella passes the zenith, Rigel marks true south, and vice versa. That happens around 9 or 10 p.m. now.
Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky
Solar Eruption During the Great Patagonian Eclipse
The recent total solar eclipse visible from Chile and Argentina had some surprises: Photos revealed a total solar eclipse and comets not seen by eye.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 8 – 16
Twilight challenge: the planet-conjunction finale! Jupiter and Saturn are becoming ever harder to pick up low in bright twilight, but bring those binoculars on Saturday Jan. 9th. Because then they'll be three! Mercury is emerging to join them. It will pass by them for a couple more days.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Foraging for Deep-sky Delights with Capella, the Goat Star
We explore deep-sky riches within a stone's throw of Capella, one of the season's brightest stars.
Meet Kochab, a Guardian of the Pole
Meet the stars: Kochab is no record-breaking bright star, but it's easy enough to find — and it may have played an important role through history.
January: The Hyades & Pleiades
Start the new year right with the easy-to-follow stargazing highlights offered by our Sky Tour astronomy podcast. Here's a preview of this month's guided audio tour.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 1 – 9
As Jupiter and Saturn continue to draw apart, they're sinking ever lower in the southwest in twilight. How much longer can you keep them in view?
Tour 15 of the Brightest Stars on New Year's Eve (VIDEO)
Tour 15 of the sky's brightest stars all in one night on this New Year's Eve! This interactive Worldwide Telescope video will show you the way.
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.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 25 – January 1
Jupiter and Saturn remain close together low in the southwest in twilight, though they're widening every day. They'll sink away into the sunset after New Year's.
Meet Aldebaran, the Bull’s Eye
Learn more about Aldebaran, the red-orange giant star that "follows" the Pleiades across the sky.
Jupiter and Saturn Embrace in Solstice Conjunction
Jupiter and Saturn fashion the Great Conjunction of 2020 when they pair up on December 21st, the winter solstice. That evening they'll be closest in nearly 400 years.
