SUNSET: 
Big Scope Breakout: New Supernovae, Novae, Bright Spot on Saturn
The sky's been bursting with exploding stars this season. Plus there's a new storm on Saturn. What's a skywatcher to do? Haul out the scope!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 6 – 14
The two Dog Stars stand vertically aligned around the end of twilight. Look southwest. Brilliant Sirius in Canis Major is below; Procyon in Canis Minor is high above.
Put a Little Bit of Leo in Your Life
We lift the Lion's paw to find a bright, red variable star, a germinating planetary nebula, galaxies rarely visited, and a diversity of doubles.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 30 – April 7
After nightfall, Orion is still well up in the southwest in his spring orientation: striding down to the right, with his belt horizontal. Shining above the belt is bright orange Betelgeuse. Down below the belt is bright white Rigel.
Tour April's Sky: Venus Ascending
This month's astronomy podcast guides you around the nighttime sky during April, giving you easy-to-follow help for finding bright planets and key stars after the Sun goes down.
Astronomy and Stargazing Projects
What Southern Stargazers Long to See in Northern Skies
Southern Hemisphere objects like Omega Centauri and the Magellanic Clouds make Northern Hemisphere observers envious. Today, we turn the tables and find out what those living in negative latitudes would love to see up north.
Meet Sirius, the Brightest Star
Meet the stars near Earth, starting with the brightest: Sirius, the "Dog Star."
Last Chance to See Doomed Chinese Space Station
China's premier space station, Tiangong 1, has a one-way ticket into the Earth's atmosphere later this month. See it before it's no more.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 23 – 31
The first-quarter Moon shines high above Orion on the evening of March 24, 2018, in the feet of Gemini below Castor and Pollux.
Walking with Arcturus
Stars are time machines that can transport us into the past or future. They can also illuminate our own personal journeys, as Arcturus did for me one night.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 16 – 24
Watch the low in the east-northeast for the rise of the "Spring Star," Arcturus. Find the Big Dipper high in the northeast and follow the curve of its handle far around and down to see where Arcturus will be.
Budding and Ancient Star Clusters of the March Sky
Open clusters present a mystery. Some fall apart in a few hundred million years, others hang around for billions. Join me as we visit both the youngest and oldest star clusters in the Milky Way.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 9 – 17
Friday, March 9 • Just after twilight fades away this week, bright Sirius stands due south on the meridian. Sirius is the bottom star of the equilateral Winter Triangle. The Triangle's other two stars are orange Betelgeuse (Orion's shoulder) to Sirius's upper right, and Procyon to Sirius's upper left.…
A Beginner's Guide to the Southern Hemisphere Sky
How and when to see Alpha Centauri, the Southern Cross, Omega Centauri, and many other celestial sights on a trip south of the equator.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 2 – 10
Mercury and much brighter Venus glow shyly side by side very low in the west in twilight early in the week, then they slowly pull farther apart.
Tour March's Sky: Planet Peeks at Dusk
With winter's chill fading away, this is a great time to gaze up into the stars — and to be ready for an evening appearance by fleet-footed Mercury. This month's astronomy podcast guides you around the nighttime sky.
Full Moon Is Tycho Time
With this week's full Moon, the dazzling crater Tycho will be in full regalia. Time to catch some rays!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 23 – March 3
Friday, February 23 • First-quarter Moon (exact at 3:09 a.m. on this date EST). For North America this evening, the Moon shines left or upper left of Aldebaran, and farther upper right of Orion, as shown here. The Moon occults Aldebaran in daylight or twilight for northern and western…
Venus Peeps Back Into View at Dusk
After a long drought, a bright planet emerges in the western sky. Welcome back, Venus!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 16 – 24
Now the waxing crescent Moon is easier to see in the west-southwest after sunset. Its curved side points the way down toward Venus.
