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Did you know that Venus is still visible in the morning sky in April 2008?
Uranus and Neptune in 2008
Uranus and Neptune are easy to find with the aid of the charts in this article.
Uranus and Neptune in 2009
Uranus and Neptune are easy to find with the aid of the charts in this article.
Sky at a Glance | March 28th, 2008
Have you compared the colors of Mars and Betelgeuse? They're one above the other just now. Meanwhile Saturn shines with Regulus in an eye-catching pair, and Jupiter and the waning Moon light the dawn. Also, don't miss out on this week's Space Station flyovers.
Have You Seen the Zodiacal Light?
This pearly glow is surprisingly easy to see — if you know what to look for.
Go See the Sun
If you have a solar filter or another way to safely view the Sun, be sure to check out the latest group of sunspots marching across its disk.
Sky at a Glance | March 21st, 2008
The Big Dipper now dumps into the Little Dipper in the north after dark. Saturn and Regulus shine ever higher and closer together in the southeast to south. And with spring now here, trace out the starry constellation patterns of the pipe-smoking Herdsman and the grain-sowing Maiden.
Glimpse the Moon's Far Side
You can see 9% more Moon than just what's on the near side — thanks to lunar libration.
Sky at a Glance | March 14th, 2008
The waxing Moon in the evening sky passes Mars and then the Saturn-Regulus pair this week. Meanwhile, Venus and Mercury are tightly paired very low in the dawn.
Sky at a Glance | March 7th, 2008
The waxing crescent Moon marches up past the Pleiades and Hyades to reach first quarter toward the end of the week. Saturn closes in on Regulus. And Arcturus rises to signal the approach of spring.
Your March Audio Guide to the Heavens
Download this podcast to your MP3 player, and you'll be able to navigate the March evening sky like a seasoned stargazer. Find Mars, Saturn, Orion, the Twins of Gemini, and more! Host: S&T's Kelly Beatty. (6MB MP3 download: running time: 6m10s)
Sky at a Glance | February 29th, 2008
Saturn is in fine view just past opposition. This is the best time of year for seeing the zodiacal light. And Venus pairs up with Mercury low in the dawn.
Sky at a Glance | February 22nd, 2008
Saturn is at opposition; see if you can observe the Seeliger effect on its rings. Algol-eclipse week comes around again for North America. This is the best time of year for seeing the zodiacal light. And Venus pairs up with Mercury low in the dawn. So get outdoors!
Sky at a Glance | February 15th, 2008
When the Moon is in eclipse on the night of the 20th, take advantage of the dark sky to look for big, dim Comet Holmes! And with a telescope, look for the Seeliger effect on Saturn this week.
Sky at a Glance | February 8th, 2008
The Moon waxes from crescent to first quarter, Orion and Sirius shine their highest in the south during evening, and Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets, continue separating low in the dawn.
Tonight's Eclipse of the Moon
The full Moon goes into a spectacular, star-and-planet-studded total eclipse on the evening of February 20, 2008, for the Americas, and on the morning of the 21st for Europe and West Africa.
Sky at a Glance | February 1st, 2008
Orion and Sirius shine their highest in the south during evening. High above them Mars still glares brightly, but it's retreating into the interplanetary distance. Low in the dawn, bright Venus and Jupiter remain strikingly close together.
February's Audio Guide to the Heavens
After downloading this easy-to-follow sky tour, you'll have a front-row seat for Venus and Jupiter dancing in the dawn, Mars riding high among winter's evening stars, and a total lunar eclipse on February 20th.
Sky at a Glance | January 25th, 2008
The evening sky turns dark and moonless again, so check in on Comet Holmes high overhead after dark. The comet is spreading out wider every week. And try some deep-sky hunting with binoculars while you're at it. Low in the dawn, watch Venus and Jupiter closing in on each other every day.
