SUNSET: 
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.
S&T's Audio Sky Tour for April 2012
April stands to be a great month for planet-watching. Venus and Jupiter are over in the west, Mars is high up in the southeast, and Saturn pairs with the bright star Spica low over the eastern horizon.
Tour April's Sky! | March 29th, 2012
April stands to be a great month for planet-watching. Venus and Jupiter are over in the west, Mars is high up in the southeast, and Saturn pairs with the bright star Spica low over the eastern horizon.
Sky at a Glance | March 23rd, 2012
The crescent Moon again pairs up with Jupiter and Venus at dusk, but in reverse order compared to a month ago. Mars is shrinking and fading. And Saturn rises around the end of twilight.
Sky at a Glance | March 16th, 2012
Watch Venus and Jupiter in the west pulling apart nightly now. Mars shines higher in the east after opposition, and Saturn is up in the evening now too.
The Ultimate Mobile Guide to Saturn
Our new SaturnMoons app guides you around the ringed planet as it brightens in the night sky in advance of an April 28th opposition. Learn about Saturn's bizarre satellite family, then find the moons in your own scope.
Sky at a Glance | March 9th, 2012
The striking Venus-Jupiter show in the early-evening sky culminates this week, as the two brightest planets pass just 3° apart.
Sky at a Glance | March 2nd, 2012
Venus and Jupiter are drawing ever closer together high in the west at dusk. Meanwhile, Mercury is having its best evening apparition of 2012 down below them.
