SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
How to Observe and Measure Naked-eye Sunspots
As Solar Cycle 25 ticks up, naked-eye sunspots are becoming more frequent. They're not only fun to observe, but with this simple method you can determine just how big they are. We also have news on a bright supernova!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 22 – 30
Arcturus, Spica, and Corvus put on their spring show. The Pointers point straight down at nightfall, which means Leo walks the high south and the Arch of Spring spans the west.
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!
Plan Now for the 2023 Solar Eclipse in Western Australia
Here's what to know if you want to see this hybrid (mostly total) solar eclipse next year.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 15 – 23
Orion descends, Leo walks sideways, the Dog Stars stand up straight, the Moon wanes past full, and at dawn, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Saturn form a diagonal straight line.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 8 – 16
The gibbous Moon passes through Leo and Virgo as it waxes toward full, forming new Moon-and-stars "lunarisms" (patterns) each evening. Mercury begins a new apparition in the sunset. At dawn, Jupiter emerges to join the lineup of Venus, Mars, and Saturn.
Eclipse Photographer’s Checklist
For those preparing to photograph a total solar eclipse, Fred Espenak shares his eclipse photography checklist.
How to Look at the Sun Safely
Our star is an amazing object to observe, whether by eye or with optical aid. These time-tested tips will let you see the solar disk worry-free.
Astrophotography: Tips & Techniques
Tips for Photographing a Total Solar Eclipse
A total eclipse of the Sun is a spectacular sight. With a little preparation and advance planning, you can capture your own souvenir portrait of this awe-inspiring sight.
Two Years to the 2024 American Total Solar Eclipse!
It’s never too early to start getting excited — and begin planning — for an event as spectacular as a total solar eclipse.
April: Dancing Planets at Dawn
With the arrival of April, you’re likely to spend more time outdoors under the stars. So why not bring along our monthly Sky Tour astronomy podcast? It provides an informative and entertaining 12-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Download the April episode to explore the fascinating movement of four planets in the sky before dawn.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 1 – 9
The evening Moon climbs toward the Arch of Spring, then through it. Orion's Belt levels, the Leaps of the Gazelle cross the zenith, and Saturn and Mars conjoin near brilliant Venus in early dawn.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Comets to View in 2022
Like comets? We've got 11 frozen fuzzies to share with you in the coming months, including a couple that could become fine binocular objects.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 25 – April 2
What constellation trots behind Sirius and Canis Major across the southern sky? Puppis, not a puppy but the poop deck of Argo Navis. In this dark of the Moon, try for the Clown-Face Nebula high in Gemini. And the three dawn planets dance through two more isosceles triangles.
Meet Procyon, Orion’s Littler Dog
Meet Procyon, the brightest of the few stars in Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog. On its way to becoming a giant, this star is part of the Winter Triangle and Wniter Hexagon asterisms.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 18 – 26
Sirius sparkles on the corner of the Meat Cleaver, two open clusters hide under the Cleaver's handle, Orion's Belt levels out for the turning of spring, and Venus, Mars and Saturn slow-dance at dawn.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Will Saturn Sprout Spots this Observing Season?
As Saturn returns to the morning sky, will this otherwise serene-looking planet experience another bout of severe weather? Keep your eyes peeled for white spots!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 11 – 19
Sirius, bright dogtag of Canis Major, offers observing challenges day and night. The Big Dipper balances Cassiopeia, and the nearly full Moon occults a Leo star.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 4 – 12
Evenings see the crescent Moon return, Sirius at its peak in the south, and the Dipper and Cassiopeia in balance toward the north. For planets, look to the dawn.
Meet Shackleton Crater: Future Moon Landing Site
Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole is a site of future exploration — and you can even see it through your telescope during favorable librations.