SUNSET: 
June Podcast: A Month of Moonwatching
Let’s go on a 13-minute tour of “what’s up” in the June nighttime sky. This month we’ll celebrate the Sun’s solstice; follow the Moon through all its phases and close encounters; track down a couple of faint constellations; and shine a spotlight on the star Arcturus. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 30 – June 8
The waxing Moon poses with Mars, then Regulus, in the west. Double stars await near Vega, while another double star far across the sky points the way.
The Milky Way Returns to the Night Sky in a Tide of Starlight
The summertime Milky Way ascends in the east on May nights. Find a dark sky and let it take you away!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 23 – June 1
Have you ever found a hairline crescent Moon as young as 24 hours from new? You get a chance Tuesday after sunset. Mars fades, Jupiter says goodbye, and a globular cluster waits for you in the Keystone.
The Twisted Path to Unconfounding "Double Star" Messier 40
The story of Messier object No. 40 not only makes for a great yarn, but it also demonstrates the haphazard nature of scientific progress.
Meet Boötes, The Herdsman
Spring in the Northern Hemisphere is a prime time to go searching for Boötes, a constellation often referred to as “The Herdsman.”
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 16 – 25
Jupiter waves goodbye for the season. Mars forsakes Pollux and Castor and heads for Regulus. Saturn and Venus each pair up with the waning crescent Moon at dawn.
Titan Shadow Transit Season Underway
Titan shadow transits are rare, occurring only about every 15 years. Don't miss the chance to see one this observing season.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 9 – 18
Every month, the Moon takes four days to cross the sky from Spica to Antares. This week it goes unusually close to each of them.
"Cassini's Bright Spot" Beams at Full Moon
Rayed craters pepper the Moon especially around full. Cassini's Bright Spot is one of the most striking.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 2 – 11
In the evening sky, the Moon meets Mars meeting the Beehive. Low the dawn, Venus and Saturn contrast enormously in a telescope.
May Podcast: What to Call a Star?
This month we’ll look for tiny bits of Halley’s Comet; track down four planets; take stock of bright stars in the late-spring sky; and use the constellation Leo to learn what astronomers call all the stars that don’t have names. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 25 – May 4
The Moon passes Mars when Mars passes the Beehive. Sirius, the Winter Star, sinks away in the southwest. Arcturus, the Spring Star, shines high toward the southeast. Vega, the Summer Star, is already nosing up in the northeast. All at once.
Asteroid Vesta Now an Easy Catch in Binoculars
Vesta, both protoplanet and asteroid, reaches opposition on May 2nd. From a dark sky it's even visible with the naked eye.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 18 – 27
Bright Jupiter is getting lower in the west week by week and is nearly at its farthest from Earth. But it's still the brightest point in the evening sky, qualifying as the "Little Evening Star" in the absence of Venus.
See the Lyrid Meteor Shower the Night of April 21–22
The annual Lyrid meteor shower should put on a great show this year. Enjoy it with a dash of the "dark side" of Saturn's rings.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 11 – 20
The bright Moon pairs with Spica on Saturday the 12th. Three nights later, the waning Moon in the small hours occults one of the head stars of Scorpius.
New Comet SWAN Now Visible in Small Scopes
A new comet discovered in spacecraft images is bright enough to make you get out of bed before dawn.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 4 – 12
The first-quarter Moon joins the Mars-Pollux-Castor trio, which are on their way to lining up straight. When the Moon turns full, it will meet Spica.
New Nova in the "Teapot," Algol Blinks, and Uranus Occults a Star
A new nova for early risers plus three fun observing projects for the week ahead.
