Cast of Sparkling Characters

Deep Sky

Palling Around With Palomar Globular Clusters

The intriguing Palomar globular clusters will challenge observers with modest to large telescopes, while providing a satisfying ramble around the galactic halo.

Comets

Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Blows Its Top . . . Again!

An otherwise faint and distant periodic comet underwent a bright outburst at the end of last month. Now it's visible in amateur telescopes at nightfall.

Perseid meteor

Meteors

How to Photograph a Meteor Shower: Capturing the Perseids

Learn how to photograph a meteor shower with these step-by-step instructions, as well as advice for the advanced imager.

Visibility zones for Two Occultations

Occultations

See Two Tricky Occultations — Neptune and Lambda (λ) Aqr

Now you see 'em, now you don't. Watch the Moon occult Neptune and nearby Lambda Aquarii on the same night.

Land of Black and Light

Celestial Objects to Observe

Paddle the Milky Way's Dark River

Take an imaginary journey in a boat down the Milky Way's Great Rift, exploring rich star clouds and dark nebulae along the way.

Phases of the Moon

Moon

What are the Phases of the Moon?

The phases of the Moon are determined by the relative positions of the Moon, Earth, and Sun.

A donut shaped circle colored in green with red on its bottom right side, showing the aurora, over a night time map of the north pole, North America and Europe.

Auroras

Aurora at Your Fingertips

A survey of free services and apps that let you keep tabs on space weather so you can anticipate the next great aurora.

Peewee and Papa

Deep Sky

Hunting White Dwarfs, the Night's Stellar Peewees

Take a trip down the rabbit hole to the weird and weighty world of planet-sized white dwarf stars.

Open All Night

Planets

Saturn's Splendid Summer Show

It's showtime for the King of the Rings! Time to get your telescope out to see and share Saturn, which comes to opposition this week.

Comets

See Comet PanSTARRS (C/2013 X1) in Binoculars at Dawn

An old friend from winter returns for an encore in the morning sky. Already visible in binoculars, Comet PanSTARRS (C/2013 X1) may reach naked-eye visibility in June.

Natural Artistry

Deep Sky

Hunting Giant Planetary Nebulae

Mind your elders the next clear night and pay a visit to some of Spring's biggest and most ancient planetary nebulae.

Two For T

Variable Stars

Is T CrB About to Blow its Top?

The recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis last made a splash just after World War II. Does its current restive state hint at an imminent outburst?

Mystery Dark Spot?

Moon

Are You Game for April's Lunar Observing Challenge?

With astronomy being celebrated around the globe this month, join the fun by participating in a unique lunar observing challenge: track down 20 features once thought to show evidence of change from weather, geology, and even life.

252P Drags its Tail

Comets

Up, Up, and Away with Comet 252P

With the Moon finally put to bed and Comet 252P still bright, there's no better time than now to see it. Nearby Mars and Saturn only sweeten the deal.

Telescopic view of Comet 252P/LINEAR

Comets

Comet 252P Zooms North, BA14 Grows Tail

Splintered comet duo 252P/LINEAR and P/2016 BA14 liven up both dusk and dawn this week. Naked-eye 252P finally debuts in northern skies, while BA14 makes a beeline through the Big Dipper.

And Lo - A Tail!

Comets

Comet PanSTARRS 2016's Historic Flyby of Earth

Not one, but two, possibly related comets will make exceptionally close flybys of Earth on March 21–22. Here's what we know and a guide on how to see them.

Smartphone holder for Moon imaging

Moon

Expert Tips for Basic Lunar Imaging

It's easy to take high-quality images of the lunar disk.

Omega Centauri from southwestern New Mexico

Deep Sky

How To Get a Glimpse of Omega Centauri

Among globular clusters, the immense Omega Centauri is widely regarded as the most impressive in the sky. Its deep southern location makes this object challenging to spot — but it can be done, as Italian observer Giuseppe Pappa explains.

active region 1520

Sun

How Astronomers Count Sunspots

A multi-year investigation revealed errors in our understanding of the Sun.

Paired Together for Another Week

Planets

It's Not Over Till The Fast Planet Sinks

This week and early next will be your last chance to see five planets — six if you count Earth — at dawn.