SUNSET: 
Your Audio Sky Tour: August 2007
Venus and Saturn have exited stage west, leaving Jupiter to rule the evening sky alone. Learn how to find it and the center of our galaxy in this month's tour. Host: S&T's Kelly Beatty. (6MB MP3 download: running time: 6m4s)
Mercury Meets the Twins
In the early morning hours of August 1st, you can see Mercury in the constellation Gemini.
Jupiter's Circulating Current
Amateurs capture Jupiter's spots in the act of jumping belts.
Sky at a Glance | July 27th, 2007
Big Jupiter shines in early evening, little Mars shines in the small hours of the morning — and elusive Mercury is now displaying itself nicely low in the dawn.
Dust Continues to Blanket Mars
Dust storms have curtailed all rover activity for nearly a month.
Comet Discoverers Awarded
This year's Edgar Wilson Award went to three unique amateur comet discoverers.
The End of the Rovers?
The dust clouds on Mars are blocking out so much sunlight that the Mars Exploration Rovers may not survive until the storm blows over.
A Ringside View of Uranus
Astronomers have assembled an armada of telescopes to observe Uranus in a way that hasn't been possible since the 1960s.
Sky at a Glance | July 13th, 2007
Venus is sinking low, but it's got Saturn and Regulus to keep it company in its decline. For a couple days the Moon pays a visit too. (Think photo opportunity!) The Moon are sinking toward the horizon in the western twilight. But bright Jupiter, on the other side of the sky, comes into its own after dark.
Sky at a Glance | July 13th, 2007
Venus is sinking low, Saturn and Regulus are nearly out of sight, but busy Jupiter rules the sky after dark. And the Moon pays it a visit
Martian Dustup Has an Impact
As a storm rages in Mars's atmosphere, two rovers on the surface and three orbiters above wait for the dust to settle.
Spotty Weather
There's a cool sunspot group visible right now. If the weather is clear, go grab a safe solar viewer and check it out for yourself.
Sky at a Glance | July 6th, 2007
Venus and Saturn are sinking toward the horizon in the western twilight. But bright Jupiter, on the other side of the sky, comes into its own after dark.
Your Audio Sky Tour: July 2007
All this month you have to head out late to see the sky really dark. But if you do, you'll be rewarded with views of three planets and a constellation that definitely leaves an impression. Host: S&T's Kelly Beatty. (6MB MP3 download: running time: 6m12s)
Sky at a Glance | June 29th, 2007
Venus and Saturn begin the week having a beautiful, eyecatching conjunction in the western twilight. Watch them draw apart day by day thereafter. On the other side of the sky, Jupiter is shining brightly ever higher in the southeast — with Antares to its lower right.
Dust Storm Erupts on Mars
Earlier this week amateur astronomers watching Mars spotted a large — and growing — dust cloud over the planet's southern hemisphere.
The Evening Star Greets the Ringed Planet
On Saturday and Sunday evening, for observers all around the world, Venus and Saturn will fit together comfortably in the field of view of most telescopes at 50x. That's ample magnification to show both Saturn's magnificent rings and Venus's crescent phase.
Strangers in the Night
Stargazers aren't the only people who do bizarre though harmless things outside at night.
Sky at a Glance | June 22nd, 2007
It's happening at last. The two planets of the western twilight, Venus and Saturn, close the gap between them and reach conjunction on June 30th. On the other side of the sky, Jupiter is shining ever higher in the southeast.
