SUNSET: 
Meet Canopus, the Second Brightest Star
The second-brightest star after Sirius, Canopus is visible in southern skies, shining out of the constellation Carina.
A Spoonful of Saturn to Sweeten the Night
Move over Jupiter, it's time for Saturn to shine! At opposition this week, the ringed planet is at its brightest and closest for the year.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 5 – 13
Jupiter shines bright in the southeast after dark. Saturn is up late. The Big Dipper, high in the northwest, is starting to turn around to "scoop up water."
Where Have All the Comets Gone?
It seems like forever since a bright comet has come around. We look at current and future prospects.
July 2019: Stalking the Scorpion
Download July's Sky Tour astronomy podcast for a guided exploration of the planets, stars, and constellations in the evening skies of summer.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 28 – July 6
The Milky Way now forms a magnificent arch across the eastern sky as evening grows late, if you have a dark enough sky.
See Southern Hemisphere Stars in This Journey to the Bottom of the Sky
How Low Can You Go? Journey to the Bottom of the Sky
Plan for the Next Total Solar Eclipse
Totality is addictive — once you've seen one total solar eclipse, you're hankering for the next one. Some exciting destinations are getting ready for their dances with darkness.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 21 – 29
Jupiter glares in the southeastern sky by late twilight. Antares, much fainter at magnitude +1.0, twinkles 10° to its right. Jupiter shines highest in the south by about midnight.
Welcome Back, Milky Way!
Twilight's end brings the return of the summer Milky Way to the eastern sky. We unravel the anatomy of our home galaxy by teasing out the hidden structures within that glowing band.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 14 – 22
The evening gibbous Moon forms a triangle with Jupiter to its lower right and Antares to its lower left, as shown here. Think photo opportunity.
Freaky Noctilucent Clouds Break Out All Over
Night-shining clouds made of ice and meteor smoke are on the increase. We explore their origins and how to see them.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 7 – 15
The middle star of the Big Dipper's bent handle is Mizar, with tiny little Alcor right next to it.
Jupiter Is Outstanding at Opposition
Prime-time Jupiter viewing kicks off this month when the planet reaches opposition on June 10th.
June 2019: Peekaboo Planets
This month's Sky Tour podcast starts with a solstice update and a rundown of lunar phases, then helps you find four planets in the evening sky along with the best stars and constellations of early summer.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 31 – June 8
Just a week and a half ago, the Big Dipper floated horizontally as the stars came out after sunset. Now it's angled diagonally at that time.
SpaceX Launches First Volley of Starlink Satellites
The 60 Starlink satellites parading across the sky make an incredible sight, but some skywatchers wonder at what cost to the night.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 24 – June 1
The Summer Triangle is making its appearance in the east these evenings, one star after another: Vega, Deneb, then Altair.
See Bright Nebulae Millions of Light-Years Away
We leave the Milky Way behind and venture out to explore giant star-bursting regions in the galaxies M101 and NGC 2366.
Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky
The Making of the Turner Farm Observatory
Amateur astronomer Jeffrey Kretsch tells how a local astronomical society turned a former Cold War missile control site into a thriving observatory park.
