SUNSET: 
Chasing Comet 46P/Wirtanen as the Moon Looms
Learn how chase away the Moon to keep Comet 46P/Wirtanen in a dark sky. Here's an update on the comet's progress and what to look for in the coming nights.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, December 14 – 22
Moon, stars, planets -- daily sights in the night sky for the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes from Sky & Telescope magazine, the essential guide to astronomy.
Spend an Hour with the Geminid Meteor Shower
Move over 46P/Wirtanen, it's time for the Geminids, the richest meteor shower of the year.
Meet Fomalhaut, the Autumn Star
The bright star Fomalhaut, home to three suns plus a planet, peeks over the southern horizon in early autumn evenings in the Northern Hemisphere.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, December 7 – 15
Orion comes into good view low in the east after dinnertime now. And that means Gemini is also coming up to its left.
Mars and Neptune Have a Close Shave
Want to find Neptune the easy way? Just point your binoculars or telescope at Mars the next few nights, when the two planets will be in close conjunction.
SpaceX Launches Orbiting "Sculpture in the Sky" / Comet Update
An art sculpture achieves orbit, 46P/Wirtanen becomes a naked-eye comet, and C/2018 V1 makes one last good pass.
Tour December's Sky: Morning Planets
December's astronomy podcast urges you to get outside early to gaze on dazzling Venus — then Mercury, then Jupiter — crowding the eastern sky before dawn.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, November 30– December 8
The moon, stars, planets, constellations -- sky sights every night for the naked eye, binoculars, or telescope.
Supernova Discovered in the Bright Galaxy M77
A new supernova in the bright galaxy M77 in Cetus is within range of amateur telescopes. Here's how to find it.
Seeking Cas A, the Ghostly Remains of a Mysterious Supernova
We still don't know for sure if anyone saw the supernova explosion in Cassiopeia around 1680, but there's no question we can observe what remains of it today.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen Approaches Earth
On December 16th, the comet will pass within 12 million kilometers of Earth and should brighten to about 3rd magnitude, though the diffuse coma and a nearly full Moon will make observations difficult.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, November 23 – December 1
The moon, stars, planets -- Sky sights for the naked eye, binoculars, or telescope every night.
Gobble Up a Rare Thanksgiving Full Moon
This week, we give thanks for all the good things in life including a rare event — a full Moon on Thanksgiving. Make it your dessert after the big meal.
Ducks in Disguise or How Stars Hide Their True Colors
Do star clusters form all at once or over several generations? A team of astronomers finds an answer among the spinning stars of an amateur favorite, the Wild Duck Cluster.
Meet Rigel, Orion's Blue Suede Shoe
The seventh brightest star in the sky, blue-white Rigel shines brilliantly at the left foot of Orion and is actually a trio: a supergiant orbited by a pair of Sun-like stars.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, November 16 – 24
The moon, stars, planets -- Sky sights for the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes every night.
Exoplanets for Autumn Evenings
Exoplanets pepper the night sky. We may not be able to observe them directly, but we can use their host stars as surrogates to envision them in our mind's eye.
Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky
Tracking Venus's Retrograde Motion
Inspired by a "Sun, Moon & Planets" column, the author spent the spring of 2017 tracking Venus's retrograde motion across the sky, exploring the relationship between the orbits of Venus and the Earth pointed out by Copernicus.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Amateur Don Machholz Discovers His 12th Comet! (Updated)
Arizona comet hunter Don Machholz did it again! He discovered his 12th comet only two mornings ago. Set your alarm, grab your scope, and take a look.
