201–220 of 2,481 results
Ping-Pong moon

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

October Podcast: The Moon’s Waxing and Waning

Come along on a guided tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during October. Ponder the Moon’s whereabouts; spot four planets and a fast-moving comet, and watch for meteors shed by Halley’s Comet.

Waning crescent Moon passing Regulus in Leo, Sept 28-29, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 27 – October 6

On these moonless evenings, Cassiopeia shows some of its inner workings. The Circlet of Pisces offers a very red star next to a little-known cross. From Vega, Lyra points away from the head of Draco.

Saturn edgewise

Celestial Objects to Observe

See Mutual Events, Close Approaches of Saturn's Moons

As Saturn's rings narrow, now's the time for its moons to shine.

Moon passing Mars, Castor, Pollux, Sept 25-26, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 20 – 29

In this dark-of-the-Moon week, the Cygnus Milky Way crosses the zenith, and Arcturus, Capella, and Fomalhaut come to a certain balance.

Partial lunar eclipse

Celestial Objects to Observe

Harvest Moon Takes a Quick Dip in Earth's Shadow for a Partial Lunar Eclipse

September's partial lunar eclipse will be the first and only time the Moon ducks into Earth's umbral shadow in 2024. The Moon also occults Saturn and hides members of the Pleiades this month.

Mars and Jupiter Sept 4, 2024, imaged by Sean Walker

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 13 – 22

The Moon occults Saturn before dawn on Tuesday morning, then the Moon skims the edge of Earth's shadow for a partial lunar eclipse that evening. Meanwhile, Jupiter and Mars shine in fine view late at night.

C/2023 A3 Sept 15

Explore the Night with Bob King

Update: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Might Outshine Predictions

A new brightness forecast for Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS whets our hopes for a fine appearance in late September and early October.

Crescent Moon, Venus and Spica low after sunset, Sept 6, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, September 6 – 15

The Moon starts the week low in twilight with Venus and Spica, then steps eastward past Antares and the Sagittarius Teapot. Meanwhile, the recurrent nova in Corona Borealis is still keeping us waiting.

Vega’s neighborhood

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

September Podcast: Exploring Vega’s Neighborhood

Use this month’s Sky Tour podcast to check out a very special Harvest Moon, track down all five bright planets, explore some lesser-known constellations, and bounce around the Summer Triangle. It’s a great introduction to the late-summer sky, all in a friendly, informative narration that’s suitable for the whole family.

Venus and Spica low in bright twilight, Aug 30, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 30 – September 8

Low in twilight, climbing Venus and descending Spica prepare to pass each other. After dark Vega crosses the zenith, and Scorpius beds down. Mercury shines at dawn.

ISS full pass

Celestial Objects to Observe

Flight into Darkness — Observe the International Space Station in Earth's Shadow

Did you know you can see the International Space Station even when it's in Earth's shadow? We explore possible reasons why.

Moon passing Aldebaran, Mars and Jupiter in early dawn, Aug 26-28, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 23 – September 1

We're in peak Milky Way season, and the evenings have become dark and moonless. Andromegasus is up. So is Saturn. Before dawn, the late-risen Moon passes over Jupiter and Mars.

small orange and blue dots against a black background with a large grouping of orange in the center

Southern Stargazing with Jonathan Nally

Visit Ara, the Celestial Altar

This far-southern constellation contains some delightful sights for small telescopes.

Jupiter and Mars together before dawn, Aug. 17, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 16 – 25

Vega shines overhead as the zenith star at dusk. Jupiter and Mars are separating. When the Moon is just past full it poses next to Saturn — which, by no coincidence, is less than a month from opposition.

Perseid aurora

Celestial Objects to Observe

Tonight's Perseid Meteor Shower May Be Dipped in Aurora Sauce

The Perseids peak on Sunday night, August 11-12 and just might be joined by a colorful display of northern lights. 

Perseids with star trails

Solar System

Woo-hoo — The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Coming!

It's time again for the annual August meteor-shower fest, the Perseids. This year's display should be a beauty with only minor moonlight and a special surprise at dawn.

Jupiter and Mars closing in on each other before dawn, August 10, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 9 – 18

The Perseid meteor shower peaks late Sunday night August 11th and maybe Monday night too. Jupiter and Mars have a close conjunction on the morning of the 14th, looking radically different in the same telescopic view.

Jupiter and Mars nearing conjunction in the east before dawn, August 10, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 2 – 11

The Perseid meteors ramp up this week to their peak. Saturn is nicely up in the east by late evening. Jupiter and Mars near their conjunction in the morning sky. And there's a story behind Poniatowski's Bull.

Finder chart for T Coronae Borealis

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

August Podcast: Nova Watch in the Northern Crown

Let’s go on a night-sky tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during August. Find a good seat for some great “shooting stars,” watch Saturn climb in the eastern sky in early evening, check out the summer's brightest stars, and start looking for a once-in-your-lifetime star blast. 

Venus, Mercury and Regulus very low in the west in bright twilight, July 26, 2024

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 26 – August 4

Very low in the west in bright twilight, have you picked up Venus yet? Binoculars help. Much tougher will be Mercury and Regulus. Their arrangement changes all week.