SUNSET: 
How to Safely See a Solar Eclipse
Our star is an amazing object to observe, whether by eye or with optical aid. These time-tested tips will let you see the solar disk worry-free.
Stargazing Forecast: Will You Have Clear Skies Tonight?
These websites and apps can help you forecast the astronomical observing conditions for your next night out.
An Observing Mecca in the Sierras
Who would have thought that, just 30 miles from a California city of 500,000+, you'd find some of the best stargazing in all of North America?
The Ultimate New-Moon Sighting
A French astrophotographer used luck and some special gear to capture a razor-thin lunar crescent precisely at the moment of New Moon on July 8th.
Tour Jupiter with Our Newest App
Jupiter reigns big and beautiful over December's sky. Now you can take our newest app with you as a guide to Jupiter's moons, Great Red Spot, and more.
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.
Make the Effort for "Globe at Night"
This week you can join a worldwide campaign to measure the darkness of night skies everywhere. It's a fun, easy, and worthwhile activity for you and your family.
Great Sun This Week
This week the Sun is putting on its best show in nearly a decade.
5,000 Megapixels of Sky
Seattle amateur Nick Risinger had an idea and some free time. One year and more than 37,000 images later, he's created an awesome panorama of the entire celestial sphere.
Green Lasers: A Hidden Danger
They're compact, handy, and incredibly useful at star parties. But beware: a new study reveals that your bargain-priced green laser pointer might be emitting harmful amounts of infrared energy.
Chainsaw Astronomy
Cutting down trees to get a better view of the night sky can be a surprisingly emotional issue.
Is the U.S. Bright or Dark?
Depending how you present the data, light pollution in the U.S. may appear anywhere from quite severe to fairly modest.
Mercury, Messenger, and Observers
As the first images are released from Messenger's flyby of the innermost planet, previous ground-based observations are proving to be surprisingly accurate.
The Reliability of Visual Observing
It's easy to make honest mistakes when viewing astronomical objects that are faint or small.
Scope Calculator Applet Added
Try out a new addition to our suite of interactive observing tools.
Microsaccades
An article in Scientific American suggests that training your eye to see faint objects may have a physiological basis.
Equipment: Guides & Recommendations
Handy Controller
Even Harry Potter would enjoy this method of steering a scope.
Two Views of the North America Nebula
The North America Nebula in Cygnus is famously visible to the unaided eye under dark skies. But are we really seeing the nebulosity?
111 Deep Sky Wonders for Light-Polluted Skies
Bright skies aren't empty skies. See for yourself how many treasures lie hidden in the glow of a city sky.
A Simple Home Observatory in Your Backyard
Size can be deceptive; this small home observatory is remarkably practical.
