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Saturn and Mars in dawn conjunction near Venus, April 4 2022with Venus

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 1 – 9

The evening Moon climbs toward the Arch of Spring, then through it. Orion's Belt levels, the Leaps of the Gazelle cross the zenith, and Saturn and Mars conjoin near brilliant Venus in early dawn.

Comet ATLAS (C/2019 L3)

Celestial Objects to Observe

Comets to View in 2022

Like comets? We've got 11 frozen fuzzies to share with you in the coming months, including a couple that could become fine binocular objects.

Venus, Mars, Saturn and waning Moon, March 27-28, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 25 – April 2

What constellation trots behind Sirius and Canis Major across the southern sky? Puppis, not a puppy but the poop deck of Argo Navis. In this dark of the Moon, try for the Clown-Face Nebula high in Gemini. And the three dawn planets dance through two more isosceles triangles.

Canis Minor

Celestial Objects to Observe

Meet Procyon, Orion’s Littler Dog

Meet Procyon, the brightest of the few stars in Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog. On its way to becoming a giant, this star is part of the Winter Triangle and Wniter Hexagon asterisms.

Venus, Mars, Saturn at dawn, March 19, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 18 – 26

Sirius sparkles on the corner of the Meat Cleaver, two open clusters hide under the Cleaver's handle, Orion's Belt levels out for the turning of spring, and Venus, Mars and Saturn slow-dance at dawn.

Saturn 2011 Cassini

Solar System

Will Saturn Sprout Spots this Observing Season?

As Saturn returns to the morning sky, will this otherwise serene-looking planet experience another bout of severe weather? Keep your eyes peeled for white spots!

Moon crossing Gemini, March 11-13, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 11 – 19

Sirius, bright dogtag of Canis Major, offers observing challenges day and night. The Big Dipper balances Cassiopeia, and the nearly full Moon occults a Leo star.

Moon passing Aldebaran and the Pleiades, March 8-9, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 4 – 12

Evenings see the crescent Moon return, Sirius at its peak in the south, and the Dipper and Cassiopeia in balance toward the north. For planets, look to the dawn.

Shackleton Crater

Celestial Objects to Observe

Meet Shackleton Crater: Future Moon Landing Site

Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole is a site of future exploration — and you can even see it through your telescope during favorable librations.

a telescope on a deck oberlooking water with the sun setting behind a mountain

Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky

Amateur Astronomers Team Up to Measure Distance to a Close-passing Asteroid

A small group of amateurs teamed up to measure the parallax, and thus the distance, to a near-Earth asteroid as it passed by our planet.

Full moon and Earth shadow

Solar System

Uncovering Secrets of Earth's Shadow

The daily rising and setting of Earth's shadow is a beautiful sight anyone on the planet can view. It's also an opportunity to witness the rapid changes that accompany sunset or sunrise, but at the opposite end of the sky.

Moon-Venus-Mars-Saturn March 27-28

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

March: Sirius in the Spotlight

Whether you’re just getting started in astronomy or simply looking to do some casual sky-watching, our monthly Sky Tour astronomy podcast provides an informative and entertaining 12-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Download the March episode to find and learn about Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

Moon, Venus, Mars at dawn, Feb. 26-27, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 25 – March 5

As the winter Milky Way rides high, open star clusters near and far, and from compact to sparse, await your binoculars or telescope, At dawn catch the Venus-Mars pair, and try for the closer Mercury-Saturn pair lower down.

Venus, Mars, Mercury at dawn, Feb. 19, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 18 – 26

With the Moon gone from the evening sky, trace out Monoceros the Unicorn walking behind Orion. Spot the famous binocular star clusters at his eye and horn-tip, and don't miss M41 under Sirius. Meanwhile, the waning Moon, passes Venus, Mars and Mercury at dawn.

Southern Milky Way gazing

Night Sky Sights

Reveling in the Winter Milky Way

With the Moon departing the evening sky, now's a good time for a closer look at the northern winter Milky Way and its southern summer counterpart, too. No equipment required!

Moon crossing Gemini, Feb 12-13, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 11 – 19

The Winter Hexagon hosts the Moon. Then Castor and Pollux nail the Moon. Then the Little and Big Dog stars arc gracefully away from it. Meanwhile in early dawn, Mercury, Venus and Mars continue as a triangle low in the southeast.

Venus, Mercury and Marsa at dawn, early Feb. 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 4 – 12

This is the part of the month when the evening Moon is at its telescopic best in many skywatchers' opinions, as the terminator sweeps across the middle of the Moon's disk. And in February, the Moon at these phases rides especially high. Jupiter sinks low in evening twilight, and a triangle of planets displays in early dawn.

Orion's neighborhood

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

February: Orion’s Neighborhood

Our monthly Sky Tour astronomy podcast provides an informative and entertaining 12-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Download February’s episode to explore the colorful constellations that surround Orion, the Hunter.

Moon, Venus and Mars at dawn, Jan. 28-30, 2022

This Week's Sky At a Glance

This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 28 – February 5

The Winter Triangle, the Goat Star and the Kids, Orion nearing his peak standing on the giant Hare over the difficult Dove... there's plenty to occupy you in the evening even as most of the planets have migrated over to dawn.

Labeled Big Dipper

Celestial Objects to Observe

Meet Mizar and Alcor: The Horse and Rider

Mizar and Alcor, stars sometimes referred to as "the horse and the rider," serve as a vision test and an introduction to "double stars."