101–120 of 2,183 results
Winter Pair-a-gon

Double Stars

Explore Double Stars in the "Winter Pair-a-gon"

The Winter Hexagon is not only key to finding six of the season's most prominent constellations but also a gateway to a more than a half-dozen delightful double stars.

Solar eclipse series

Celestial News & Events

What to Look For & When During a Total Solar Eclipse

Look for these astronomical and Earthbound phenomena during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Venus and Saturn on Jan 22 2023

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

January: Goodbye, Saturn (Hello, Venus)

For those well north of the equator, January’s long nights provide lots of time to enjoy the starry sky — and the stars of winter are spectacular! This month’s celestial highlights include a close pass of Saturn and Venus, a strong meteor shower, and much more. Our fun and factual Sky Tour podcast provides all the details.

Venus and fading Mercury after sunset, Dec. 31, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 30 – January 7

Venus creeps up, Saturn sinks down; in three weeks the two shall meet. The Moon meets Mars Tuesday. Orion comes into his own to rule the winter, and Sirius emerges below him.

Meteors

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.

Crescent Moon passing Venus and Mercury, Dec. 24-25, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 23 – 31

Venus and Mercury glimmer low in the southwest in twilight. The newborn crescent Moon starts the week with them, then visits Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars as it waxes toward full.

June 2022 planets

Solar System

All Eight Planets Line Up ... Again!

Echoing summer's great arc of planets at dawn, winter presents the full octet again, this time splayed across the evening sky.

Venus, Mercury, crescent Moon at dusk, Dec. 24, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 16 – 24

The Pleiades dipper, the House in the Hyades, Mars high but fading, M31 at the zenith, and a celestial string of holiday lights.

Geminid over Tucson

Meteors

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.

Moon in Gemini passing Castor and Pollux, Dec. 10-11, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 9 – 16

Mars, just past opposition, remains bright as it aligns between Aldebaran and Capella. Jupiter shines highest after dusk. And watch for the Geminid meteors.

Mars up close

Explore the Night with Bob King

Mars Mesmerizes at Opposition

It may not be the closest opposition, but this time around Mars arcs high across the sky where good seeing promises sharp views. That's not all. On December 7th, one night before opposition, the full Moon occults the Red Planet!

Oppositions: Mars with full Moon Dec. 7, 2022.

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 2 – 10

Mars is at opposition this week. And on opposition night December 7-8, Mars is occulted by the perfectly full Moon. Orion enters stage east earlier and earlier, the Summer Triangle sinks west, and Jupiter reigns on high.

Moon and Mars meet in December 2022

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

December: Mars in the Spotlight

December's solstice means that for many skywatchers the night will be up to 14 hours long — providing lots of time to enjoy the starry sky. This month’s celestial highlights are the close approach of the Moon and Mars (and, for many, a coverup) on December 7th and the Gemind meteor shower on the December 13th. Our fun and factual Sky Tour podcast provides all the details.

Moon shining with Jupiter, late evening Dec. 1, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 25 – December 3

Mars is closest to Earth this week, closer and brighter than we'll see it again until 2033. By late evening it's high overhead in excellent telescopic view.

Jupiter near the Circlet of Pisces

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 18 – 26

Orion works its way up from behind the horizon after dinnertime and stands high by late evening. Big bright Jupiter and Mars dominate the sky. Jupiter is under the Great Square; Mars is in the horns of Taurus.

Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) up close

Explore the Night with Bob King

Sneak Peek at Two Promising Comets

Ready to chase comets? We look at two fuzzy solar system travelers that will keep you on your toes all fall and winter long.

Moon and Mars, Nov 11-12, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 11 – 19

The Moon shines in the east with ever-brightening Mars, then it wanes down into the early morning hours to leave the evenings dark for deep-sky observing. Jupiter glares on high. Vega and its binary accompaniments await you in the west.

Stars and moon

Explore the Night with Bob King

Election Eclipse — Last Total Lunar Eclipse till 2025

Set the alarm and bring plenty of coffee. We've got a total lunar eclipse coming that you don't want to miss.

Lunar craters for timing

Astronomy and Stargazing Projects

Useful Projects for a Lunar Eclipse

Here’s all you need to know to help us measure the size of Earth’s shadow during the second lunar eclipse of 2022.

Moon with Jupiter, Nov 4-5, 2022

Celestial News & Events

This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 4 – 12

The Moon gets totally eclipsed this week as it walks from Jupiter to Mars. Saturn in the evening sky is at quadrature, which means an effect is under way for telescope users....