SUNSET: 
Meet Almaaz, the Billy Goat Star
Almaaz, also called Epsilon Aurigae, is among the weirder stars of the night sky — a supergiant with a dust-enshrouded companion.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 14 – 23
Jupiter makes a triangle with Aldebaran and the Pleiades. Mars makes a nicer triangle with Pollux and Castor. The pre-dawn Moon hangs with Spica, then Antares.
See Crescent Venus This Valentine's Day
In a delightful cosmic coincidence, Venus will shine brightest on Valentine's Day.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 7 – 16
Watch the bright Moon step past Mars, Castor, and Pollux. They bunch up on Sunday evening the 9th. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, "full moon" spans two evenings.
Best Double Stars in the Pleiades Cluster
Like a gift that keeps on giving, the Pleiades is also home to several fine double and triple stars for small telescopes. Plus, details of a rare comet occultation on Feb. 5.
February Podcast: Planets Amid Winter’s Stars
This month we’ll look for five planets in the evening sky, explore the Moon’s phases, take stock of winter’s brightest stars, and track down two lesser-known constellations. Give Sky Tour a Try!
Planets “Parade” with Waxing Moon
The "planet parade" isn't over yet — the waxing Moon will pair with the planets in the coming week, with a pretty Venus-Moon pairing on February 1st.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 31 – February 9
The waxing crescent Moon pairs up with Saturn, then Venus. On the night of the 5th the Moon occults some of the Pleiades. Looking wider, the Winter Hexagon fills much of the February sky.
Take a Look at R Leonis, Leo's Giant Ticker
Big, bright and red, the Mira variable R Leonis portends the Sun's fate. A pair of binoculars is all you need to get acquainted.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 24 – February 2
Mars pulls away from Pollux this week. The winter Milky Way crosses the zenith. Lepus, the Hare under Orion's feet, offers a famous nearby double star and a rare winter globular cluster.
Comet ATLAS Caught in the Act of Disintegration
Nucleus falls to pieces, but the comet continues on!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 17 – 26
Brilliant Mars, just past opposition, outshines its neighbors Pollux and Castor in the east. Venus and Saturn pull apart in the southwest. Orion dominates the high southeast after dinnertime, with searing white Sirius sparkling below it.
Astronomy and Stargazing Projects
Celebrate Hubble’s 35th Year with This Observing Challenge
Join NASA and the Astronomical League in a fun new observing challenge that celebrates Hubble's 35th anniversary.
Grab Your Binoculars for Comet ATLAS's Brief Sunset Show
Northern Hemisphere skywatchers can now spot this horizon-skirting comet. It's a beauty.
See January's "Planet Parade," plus Comet ATLAS Now Visible in Daylight
With lots of planets and a bright comet vying for our attention, January is an exciting month for skywatchers!
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 10 – 19
After occulting the Pleiades last Thursday, the Moon will occult Mars for the continental U.S. on Monday evening, January 13th. In the southwestern twilight, Saturn and Venus draw together toward conjunction. Jupiter shines high.
Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) — Catch it if You Can
Grab your binoculars for a chance to see Comet ATLAS as it plunges toward perihelion.
Mars Extravaganza — Occultation and Opposition Rolled into One!
Mars is big and bright again! In a spectacular preview to its upcoming opposition, the full Moon occults the Red Planet on January 13th.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 3 – 12
The waxing Moon passes Venus and Saturn, then next Thursday evening it occults the Pleiades! Sirius rises at nightfall, and Algol dips twice.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2025
Although no total solar eclipses occur this year, skywatchers can look forward to two total lunar eclipses — including one that will be visible across North America.
