SUNSET: 
Explore the Night with Bob King
Fireworks, Planets, Comets, a Nova — July's Got it All!
July's a busy month for skywatching. Not only are five bright planets in view, but three comets and a newly-discovered nova are also observable. And it all starts with a bang on Independence Day.
Big Dust Storm Blows up on Mars (Updated)
Will Mars soon be hidden under a veil of dust? Let's hope not. We explore the current storm and the planet's upcoming close opposition.
Martian Supervolcano Created Mysterious Rock Formation
Scientists have discovered that a supervolcano likely created a mysterious rock formation on Mars some 3 billion years ago.
Mars Dust Storm Grows — Curiosity's Skies Darkening
The dust storm on Mars that broke out at the end of May is now affecting the skies across the entire planet.
Methane and Other Organics on Mars
The Curiosity rover has detected organic molecules in ancient rocks on Mars.
Curiosity Rover is Drilling Again
An innovative technique has allowed NASA's Curiosity Rover to resume drilling Martian rocks. But the partially successful test shows that more work remains to be done.
Mud Cracks on Mars Reveal Lake's History
Curiosity spotted polygonal shapes on the surface of rocks on Mars — now, analysis of these mud cracks is revealing the history of the long-ago lake that once filled Gale Crater.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Mars Flies By Jupiter in a Close Dawn Conjunction
The new year opens with the magnificent pairing of the solar system's largest planet with one of its smallest.
Venus and Mars Kiss at Dawn
Be sure to set the alarm so you don't miss the squeaky-tight conjunction of Venus and Mars Thursday morning. They'll stay close through the weekend.
Curiosity Rover Watches Clouds on Mars
Barely visible water-ice clouds coast across Mars’s skies in new videos from the Curiosity rover.
How Hard Did It Rain on Ancient Mars?
Mars was once far wetter than it is now — but just how much rain fell, and when?
Mars Lost Atmosphere to Space
NASA’s MAVEN mission has confirmed that the solar wind stripped the Red Planet of its atmosphere.
Mars Meets Neptune on New Year's Eve
Doing anything on New Year's Eve? Before you start toasting, don't miss an exceptionally close conjunction of Mars and Neptune.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter Gets to Work
Welcome to Mars: the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter sets up shop around the Red Planet.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
ESA's Schiaparelli Lander: Missing in Action
Here's what we know so far about the fate European Space Agency's Schiaparelli mission.
Schiaparelli Lander to Touch Down on Mars
The innovative joint European Space Agency/Roscosmos Schiaparelli lander begins its three day solo journey to the Martian surface this weekend.
Saturn's Splendid Summer Show
It's showtime for the King of the Rings! Time to get your telescope out to see and share Saturn, which comes to opposition this week.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Follow Mars to His Double Star Lair
Let Mars be your guide to no fewer than 15 diverse and delightful double stars that pepper its path through Scorpius and Libra this opposition season.
Mars Opposition: Best Showing in a Decade
At last, a fine Mars apparition: on May 22nd the Red Planet reaches opposition, shining almost as bright as Jupiter, and the planet makes its closest approach to Earth on May 30th.
Mars Gravity Map
By tracking deviations in spacecraft orbits, planetary scientists have created a high-resolution map of the Red Planet's gravitational pull.
