SUNSET: 
Super-close Pairing of Ceres and Vesta
Two bright asteroids now appear extremely close to one another in the evening sky. Here's how to spot them in binoculars or a small telescope.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 27 - July 5
Friday, June 27 This is the time of year when, at the end of dusk, the dim Little Dipper floats straight upward from Polaris (the end of its handle) — like a helium balloon on a string, escaped from some summer evening party. Look due north. (Through light pollution, all…
Iapetus Comes Over to the Bright Side
Astronomers now know the secret of this moon's strange two-faced appearance, but it's still remarkable to watch the "now you see it, now you don't" performance as it moves around Saturn.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 20 - 28
A calendar of daily sky sights, from Sky & Telescope magazine.
Summer Quest for Noctilucent Clouds
Noctilucent clouds form at the boundary between Earth and space. Their electric blue billows incite the imagination and inspire us to keep watch at dusk for their arrival.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 13 - 21
Friday, June 13 Vega is the brightest star shining in the east after dusk. It's currently the top star of the big Summer Triangle. The brightest star to Vega's lower left is Deneb. Look farther to Vega's lower right for Altair. The Summer Triangle will climb higher in early evening…
Sky at a Glance, June 6 - 14
Friday, June 6 Look left of the Moon this evening for Mars, then Spica, as shown at right. With June under way, the Big Dipper is swinging around after dark to hang down by its handle high in the northwest. The middle star of its handle is Mizar, with tiny…
New E-Book: Summer Deep-Sky Observing
Look a little deeper into the summer sky with our new e-book, Summer Deep-Sky Observing. We'll have you happily busy at your telescope all season long!
Sky at a Glance, May 30 - June 7
The crescent Moon passes Mercury and Jupiter as it waxes across the sky this week.
Tour July's Sky: Moon Hugs Mars & Saturn
Sky & Telescope's audio sky tour makes it easy to discover the night sky. During July, the Moon makes very close brushes with Mars and Saturn.
Tour June's Sky: Three Planets in View
For anyone north of the equator, days are longest and nights shortest during June. But you can still get an eyeful of celestial sights, starting with a parade of Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn in the evening sky.
Sky at a Glance, May 23 - 31
Friday, May 23 Meteor Update Saturday morning: Well that was a dud! Meteor watchers all over North America who went out in the early morning hours for the new predicted Camelopardalid shower saw few if any. People indeed reported observing a handful of meteors from the new radiant, but just…
Sky at a Glance, May 16 - 24
Friday, May 16 Look for Mercury as twilight darkens. It's low in the west-northwest, far to the lower right of Jupiter and lower left of Capella. Mercury is having its highest showing of 2014 (for skywatchers at mid-northern latitudes). Saturday, May 17 Arcturus shines high in the southeast these nights.…
Sky at a Glance, May 9 - 17
Friday, May 9 The waxing gibbous Moon in the evening sky forms a curving line with Mars to its left, and Spica to the lower left of Mars. Saturday, May 10 Bright Mars shines left of the Moon. Although they look rather close together, Mars is 260 times farther away…
How to See Saturn at Its Best
The rings were tilted 15° on February 7, 2012, when Robert English in Kentucky took this fine image using a 20-inch Newtonian reflector. Saturn is entering the early evening sky this spring just as Jupiter begins its exit in the west. Here's a quick guide to spotting the ringed planet…
Sky at a Glance, May 2 - 10
Friday, May 2 How soon after sunset can you see the first stars and planets coming out? The brightest this spring is Jupiter. Look for it high in the west, almost two fist-widths at arm's length above or upper left of the Moon this evening. Next brightest is Sirius, sinking…
Sky at a Glance, April 25 - May 3
Some daily sky events for April 26 — May 3, 2014
Tour May's Sky: Evening Planets Align
This month you have a chance to spot four planets in the evening sky at once: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. As a bonus, you might be treated to a spectacular display of meteors on the morning of May 24th.
Jupiter's Not-So-Great Red Spot
Astronomers don't know why Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot has been gradually shrinking since the 1800s — or why the downsizing has accelerated during the past two years. Update: On May 15th, NASA released newly taken images of the Great Red Spot (at bottom below) to show its declining size…
Sky at a Glance, April 18-26
Friday, April 18 Jupiter shines right under the big Arch of Spring this year. The Arch spans much of the western sky. Pollux and Castor form its top (as seen from mid-northern latitudes). To their lower left is Procyon, one end of the Arch. Farther to their lower right is…
