Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  July 24: The Moon passes Antares Rising in the east around 10:30 P.M. local daylight time is the Great Square of Pegasus, made up of four stars: Algenib, Markab, Scheat, and Alpheratz. But of these four, only the first three on theContinue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, July 25: Great Square rising"

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The waxing gibbous Moon passes Antares. Turn the Summer Triangle into the Summer Diamond. And as you snuggle into bed, would Vega land on your roof if it dropped out of the sky?

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  July 23: Mercury’s retrograde path ends The Moon passes 0.6° south of Antares, the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion, at 6 P.M. EDT. This evening, the two remain nestled close, a lovely sight in the southern sky after sunset.  About 90 minutesContinue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, July 24: The Moon passes Antares"

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Friday, July 24The Moon passes 0.6° south of the bright red star Antares in Scorpius at 6 P.M. EDT. This evening, the two remain nestled close, a lovely sight in the southern sky after sunset. You’ll find the pair in the south early this evening, slowly arcing down toward the west throughout the evening. AtContinue reading "The Sky This Week from July 24 to 31: The Southern Delta Aquariids peak"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  July 22: Dione passes north of Saturn The planet Mercury is stationary at 1 P.M. EDT. Located in the constellation Gemini, the tiny world is now rising before the Sun, visible for a short time in the east before sunrise. However, it’sContinue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, July 23: Mercury’s retrograde path ends"

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The crescent Moon visits Venus in twilight. After dark, we're in the peak month for "the Orion of Summer" with its Cat's Eyes. And cold-weather Cassiopeia is already poking up.

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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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