SUNSET: 
Meteor Storm Brewing for 2014?
Dynamicists know for certain that on May 24, 2014, Earth will plow through a dense stream of dust particles shed by the periodic comet 209P/LINEAR. The only question is: how intense will the assault be?
A Star Count for Everyone
Take part in this year's Great World Wide Star Count, and you'll be joining thousands of other "citizen scientists" in raising dark-sky awareness around the globe.
Comet Hergenrother Puts on a Show
Astronomers predicted that Comet 168P/Hergenrother wouldn't get any brighter than 15th magnitude this month. But the comet had other ideas: an ongoing outburst has brightened it to within reach of medium-size backyard telescopes.
A "Dream Comet" Heading Our Way?
Veteran skywatchers are trying to contain their enthusiasm for Comet ISON, which, late in 2013, could become the brightest comet in decades.
Big Breakout on Jupiter
One of the big planet's iconic dark belts has been roiling with activity, rewarding observers with the most dramatic eruptions there since 1926.
Bright Fireball Spotted Near Jupiter
Amateur astronomers have spotted a brief flare of light on Jupiter, the third such explosion in as many years. The impactor was too small to penetrate deeply enough into the Jovian upper atmosphere, and no impact "scar" has been seen.
Americans Will See Total Solar Eclipse in 2017
Mark your calendars for August 21, 2017 — when the Moon's umbral shadow will race coast to coast across the United States for the first time in nearly a century.
August 13th's Occultation of Venus
If you're up for a bit of a challenge, drag out your telescope to watch a thin crescent Moon glide over brilliant Venus. This cover-up is a daylight event in the U.S., but it occurs in dark skies before dawn on the 14th for lucky observers in Japan.
Perseids at Their Prime
The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, providing skywatchers with a great opportunity to see some incoming bits of the cosmos.
Mars in the Evening Spotlight
This week countless space buffs will be riveted by Curiosity's arrival at Mars — which can be found, along with Saturn and Spica, in the west after dusk.
Jupiter's Disappearing Act
Skywatchers across the Eastern Hemisphere looked on as the King of Planets briefly ducked behind the Moon on July 15th.
July 15th's Occultation of Jupiter
Lucky skywatchers in Europe and northern Asia can watch a waning crescent Moon slide over Jupiter and its Galilean satellites in the hours before and after Sunday morning's dawn.
Yet Another Nova in Sagittarius
For the fourth time this year, a star has erupted into prominence in the same constellation. This one is relatively bright and easy to spot from your backyard.
Predawn Treats for Early Risers
If you can get yourself out of bed early, spectacular predawn vistas await your eyes, binoculars, and telescope over the next week.
Possible Nova in Sagittarius
If you've got a clear, dark view toward the southern horizon, try your hand at spotting a flaring star that has brightened to near 9th magnitude in northwest Sagittarius.
2012 Venus Transit: S&T Reports
Clouds, veering cabbies, and old optics didn’t deter committed spectators of this last-chance astronomical event.
Venus Takes the Plunge
The brightest planet has dominated the evening sky for months. But during May it sinks rapidly toward the setting Sun — and its historic transit across the solar disk in early June.
Nova (Nova Sagittarii 2012) Erupts in Sagittarius
Observers have reported a "new star," now visible in the predawn sky, that can be seen in small telescopes or good binoculars.
Comet Pan-STARRS: Still on Track
The inbound comet C/2011 L4, discovered last year, has been brightening steadily the past few months. It could still fizzle — or it could become a pretty bauble in post-sunset skies next March.
Venus Passes the Pleiades
Venus is passing through the Pleiades in a breathtaking spectacle that reaches its peak on April 3rd. This unique pairing is part of a series of Venus events in 2012, culminating in the June transit of the Sun.
