Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  July 15: The Summer Triangle overhead The nearly three-day-old Moon passes 0.5° south of Regulus, the heart of Leo the Lion, at 9 P.M. EDT. Just after sunset, you’ll be able to spot the delicate crescent Moon in the west, with brightContinue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, July 16: The Moon passes the Lion’s heart"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  July 14: Mars sits north of Aldebaran Now that summer is in full swing, let’s check in with the season’s most famous asterism: the Summer Triangle. By late evening, this celestial shape is high in the southeast, bounded by the bright starsContinue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, July 15: The Summer Triangle overhead"

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The bright, distinctive pattern of Upper Scorpius is on its best display in the south right after nightfall. Telescopic treasures await. In the west, Regulus now departs from Venus.

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Here's an observing guide to both familiar and lesser-known deep-sky objects that inhabit our galaxy's equatorial zone.

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Meet Cygnus, the Swan, a high-flying constellation that looks like its namesake and has a rich mythological history.

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Regulus creeps up to Venus in twilight this week. Vega and Arcturus balance across the zenith. And this being July, Scorpius decorates the south.

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This month’s episode highlights the bright star Spica, now prominent high in the southwest after evening twilight. It’s leading the parade of constellations, along with the brilliant planet Venus, that will grace the Northern Hemisphere’s summer skies. You'll also get to know other brights stars in Spica’s vicinity, along with excellent tips on how to be a better stargazer. So grab curiosity and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.

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The almost-full Moon steps past orange Antares between Friday and Saturday evenings, June 26th and 27th.

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 23: Try out the Turtle Nebula Now shining at magnitude 10.6, main-belt asteroid 21 Lutetia is sliding just south of a 9th-magnitude field star in Scorpius. The best time to observe is late in the evening in the hour or twoContinue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, June 24: Look for Lutetia’s light"

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After 30 years of observing, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite deep-sky objects. These look best with a large telescope, so are great for more experienced observers. The Bug Nebula (NGC 6302) One of the strangest nebulae known makes a good target for large scopes. The Bug Nebula, also known as NGCContinue reading "Summer observing targets for large telescopes"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 22: Visit the North America Nebula Mercury passes 7° due south of Pollux in Gemini at 3 P.M. EDT. By evening, Mercury, Jupiter, and Pollux create a skinny, tall triangle with the two planets forming the base and the star atContinue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, June 23: Try out the Turtle Nebula"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 21: A summertime lineup If you’re up late after midnight, you’ll have the chance to check in on a summertime favorite: NGC 7000, the North America Nebula in Cygnus. Reaching nearly 70° high in the east by 2 A.M. local daylightContinue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, June 22: Visit the North America Nebula"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 20: Libra’s Ghost Cluster The summer solstice occurs at 4:25 A.M. EDT. This is the time the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the Northern Hemisphere sky, which also means our star takes its longest path across this hemisphere’s sky onContinue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, June 21: A summertime lineup"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 19: Dione crosses due north of Saturn Highest in the south around 10:30 P.M. local daylight time is the constellation Libra, whose brightest star is Beta (β) Librae, also called Zubeneschamali. Nearly 12° below (south) of this star at that timeContinue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, June 20: Libra’s Ghost Cluster"

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The Moon as it will appear in an amateur telescope at 10 p.m. EDT Friday the 19th. This week Venus and Jupiter continue moving apart low in the western twilight. Vega and Arcturus shine equally high after dark. And watch Beta Lyrae self-eclipse.

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 18: The Moon and the Sickle Saturn rules the early-morning sky, shining at 1st magnitude in otherwise dim Pisces the Fish. One of the ringed planet’s many moons, Dione, passes due north of Saturn the morning of June 19. The 10th-magnitudeContinue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, June 19: Dione crosses due north of Saturn"

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Friday, June 19The Moon passes 0.3°  south of Regulus at 11 A.M. EDT. By evening, our satellite has moved farther east to lie to the bright star’s upper left as they slowly set in the west after sunset.  Bright Venus is now located in central Cancer and is just 45’ north of M44, the BeehiveContinue reading "The Sky This Week from June June 19 to 26: The summer solstice"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 17: The Moon covers Venus Now it’s Venus’ turn to close in on the Beehive Cluster (M44), which sparkles in central Cancer. Tonight after sunset, blazing Venus is just 1.3° from the center of this loose open cluster, which is visibleContinue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, June 18: The Moon and the Sickle"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 16: The Moon meets up with Mercury and Jupiter The Moon, moving east along the ecliptic (the plane of the solar system and the line along which the planets and Moon move on the sky), passes 3° north of Jupiter inContinue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, June 17: The Moon covers Venus"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 15: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation The Moon passes 3° north of Mercury at 4 P.M. EDT. Looking west again after sunset this evening, the Moon now sits above Mercury, forming a triangle with Mercury and Jupiter.  Half an hour afterContinue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, June 16: The Moon meets up with Mercury and Jupiter"

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