SUNSET: 
Sky at a Glance | June 22nd, 2012
The waxing Moon passes Mars and Saturn, the Dolphin and the Teapot are coming into evening view, and Venus and Jupiter grow bolder about showing themselves at dawn.
Sky at a Glance | June 15th, 2012
The Summer Triangle climbs higher this week, the temporary summer triangle of 2012 sinks lower, and Venus and Jupiter begin showing themselves better at dawn.
Sky at a Glance | June 8th, 2012
The Big Dipper hangs bowl down. The Saturn-Spica pair shines high in the south at dusk. And now that Venus has departed from the Sun, it's joining Jupiter deep in the glow of dawn. On what morning will you first see them both?
Sky at a Glance | June 1st, 2012
The transit of Venus gets the big attention this week -- but do you know about the partial eclipse of the Moon one day earlier?
Transits of Venus in History: 1631-1716
Read the full account — in three parts — of the history behind the upcoming transit of Venus.
S&T's Audio Sky Tour for July 2012
This month, you can see a pair of planets before sunrise and another pair after sunset. In each case, one of them is situated near a bright star.
Tour July's Sky! | May 30th, 2012
This month, you can see a pair of planets before sunrise and another pair after sunset. In each case, one of them is situated near a bright star.
Sky at a Glance | May 25th, 2012
Venus drops low in the sunset as its crescent thins to a brilliant hairline — on its way to transiting the face of the Sun next week.
Sky at a Glance | May 18th, 2012
Venus is an ever thinner, ever taller crescent as it drops lower in the western twilight — on its way to transiting the face of the Sun in two weeks.
Where to See the Transit of Venus Online
Find out where you can view June 5th or 6th's transit of Venus online.
Sky at a Glance | May 11th, 2012
Venus is sinking lower in twilight, closely accompanied by Beta Tauri, as its telescopic crescent enlarges and wanes. Venus is on its way to swinging directly between Earth and Sun on June 5th.
Astronomy and Stargazing Projects
Join the "Target Asteroids!" Project
If you're an amateur observer with decent equipment and an itch to do some serious observing, a team from the OSIRIS-REx mission wants to hear from you!
Sky at a Glance | May 4th, 2012
This week the Moon passes the Mars-Regulus pair, then the Saturn-Spica pair. Meanwhile, Venus in twilight still shines at its peak height and brightness.
Sky at a Glance | April 20th, 2012
Venus is attaining its greatest height and brilliance in twilight, while Jupiter slinks away far below. Elsewhere in the evening sky, Mars pairs with Regulus and Saturn pairs with Spica.
S&T's Audio Sky Tour for June 2012
Mars and Saturn are the two bright planets in the evening sky. They're joined by a host of springtime sparklers, including Arcturus (overhead at dusk) and Vega. This month also features the long-awaited transit of Venus and a partial lunar eclipse.
Tour June's Sky! | April 17th, 2012
Mars and Saturn are the two bright planets in the evening sky. They're joined by a host of springtime sparklers, including Arcturus (overhead at dusk) and Vega. This month also features the long-awaited transit of Venus and a partial lunar eclipse.
S&T's Audio Sky Tour for May 2012
Follow the giant arc of bright planets that leads eastward from the just-set Sun: Venus low in the west, Mars midway up in the south, and Saturn over in the east. Then look overhead for the Big Dipper — the "Swiss Army knife" of the night sky.
Tour May's Sky! | April 15th, 2012
Follow the giant arc of bright planets that leads eastward from the just-set Sun: Venus low in the west, Mars midway up in the south, and Saturn over in the east. Then look overhead for the Big Dipper — the "Swiss Army knife" of the night sky.
Sky at a Glance | April 13th, 2012
Venus is attaining its greatest height and brilliance in twilight, while Jupiter slinks away far below. Elsewhere in the evening sky, Mars pairs with Regulus and Saturn pairs with Spica.
Sky at a Glance | March 30th, 2012
Bright Venus high in the dusk skims the Pleiades, while Jupiter sinks ever lower. And the Moon joins first one star-and-planet pair, then another.
