Observing
When Good Meteor Showers Go Bad: Prospects for the 2014 Perseids
It’s that time of year again, when the most famous of all meteor showers puts on its best display. Why…
Comet Jacques Makes a ‘Questionable’ Appearance
What an awesome photo! Italian amateur astronomer Rolando Ligustri nailed it earlier today using a remote telescope in New Mexico…
Having Fun with the Equation of Time
If you’re like us, you might’ve looked at a globe of the Earth in elementary school long before the days…
Observing Challenge: 6 White Dwarf Stars to See in Your Backyard Telescope
Looking for something off beat to observe? Some examples of curious astronomical objects lie within the reach of the dedicated…
Would the Real ‘SuperMoon’ Please Stand Up?
‘Tis the season once again, when rogue Full Moons nearing perigee seem roam the summer skies to the breathless exhortations…
A Spectacular Set of Conjuctions on Tap for the Moon, Mars and Saturn this Weekend
Got clear skies this July 4th weekend? The Moon passes some interesting cosmic environs in the coming days, offering up…
How to See Pluto at Opposition as New Horizons Crosses the One Year Out Mark
Are you ready for 2015? On July 14th, 2015 — just a little over a year from now — NASA’s…
Ceres and Vesta Converge in the Sky on July 5: How to See It
I bet you've forgotten. I almost did. In April, we reported that Ceres and Vesta, the largest and brightest asteroids respectively,…
The Making of the Pillars of Creation
It’s one of the most iconic images of the modern Space Age. In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope team released…
Observing Alert: Distant Blazar 3C 454.3 in Outburst, Visible in Amateur Telescopes
Have an 8-inch or larger telescope? Don't mind staying up late? Excellent. Here's a chance to stare deeper into the…