
"Great Show" Predicted for Perseid Meteor Peak on August 12–13
Sky & Telescope magazine predicts that the Perseid shower will be at its peak late on Sunday night, August 12th, and early morning on the 13th.

Mars Passes Closest to Earth Since 2003 on July 31st
Early on July 31st, the planet Mars will be closer to Earth than at any time in the past 15 years. It's bright and unmistakable in the southwestern sky after evening twilight.

Crescent Moon & Venus Pair Closely on Sunday, July 15th
The night sky's two brightest object — the Moon and Venus — will appear dramatically close together after sunset on Sunday, July 15th.

West Coast Favored for Total Lunar Eclipse on January 31st
The total lunar eclipse on January 31st — the first of two in 2018 — will be a predawn spectacle that favors western North America.

Total Lunar Eclipse "Trifecta" on January 31st
Wednesday's total lunar eclipse occurs on January's second full Moon — and also when the Moon is nearly its closest to Earth.

Impressive Geminid Meteors to Peak on December 13–14
If it’s clear Wednesday night and Thursday before dawn, keep a lookout high overhead for the "shooting stars" of the Geminid meteor shower.

Backyard Observers Ready to View Asteroid's Close Flyby
This week the big near-Earth asteroid 3122 Florence is passing relatively close by, and skywatchers with even modest telescopes have a chance to spot it.

Perseid Meteors to Hit Their Peak This Weekend
An annual celestial sky show beloved by millions around the world should peak late this Friday and Saturday nights, the nights of August 11–12 and 12–13.

Friday Night's Deep Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
North American observers can watch the Moon flirt with Earth’s shadow on the evening of February 10th. It occurs early on the 11th as seen from Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Geminid Meteors will be Sparse in Bright Moonlight Tonight
The annual Geminid meteor shower should reach its peak late on December 13th, but bright moonlight will wash out most of this year's meteors.

Sky & Telescope Offers Tips for First-Time Telescope Buyers
Telescopes make great gifts, and the editors of Sky & Telescope offer some expert advice to help you choose the one that's right for you.

November 14th's Super-Close Full Moon
On Monday, the Moon will edge closer to Earth than it's been since 1948. Full Moon occurs less than 3 hours later.

75 Years of Sky & Telescope: A lifetime of astronomy coverage
Sky & Telescope magazine's 75 years of astronomy coverage.

Countdown Begins for 2017's Coast-to-Coast Solar Eclipse
It's still a full year away, but huge throngs will be watching coast-to-coast when the Moon's shadow slides across the U.S.

Two Pairs of Planets Perform in the August Twilight
After sunset, Mars and Saturn join the star Antares in the southwest — while Venus and Jupiter create a dramatically "double star" low in the west.

August's Perseids: More Meteors This Year?
Sky & Telescope magazine predicts that this year's Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of August 11–12 and, despite some moonlight, might be much better than usual.

Mars: Closest, Biggest, and Brightest in a Decade
Mars shines low in the southeast at nightfall, closer to Earth than it has been since November 2005. A Sky & Telescope press release.

May 9th's Transit of Mercury: How and When to See It
Use a telescope to spot Mercury's silhouette crossing the Sun's disk on May 9th for the first time since 2006. View it live using S&T's exclusive webcast.

Comet 252P/LINEAR Soars Into Predawn View This Week
A nearby comet is moving into view for Northern Hemisphere skywatchers. Despite bright moonlight nearby, you can try to spot it with binoculars and Sky & Telescope's exclusive finder chart.

How and When to See Five Planets at Once
During the next two weeks, for the first time in 11 years, you can see all of the naked-eye planets — from Mercury to Saturn — together in the predawn sky.