The ‘Devil Comet’ is headed our way — and that’s OK
Comets have gotten a lot of press this year, but not all of it good. In particular, numerous headlines have popped up about a “Devil Comet” that’s bigger than Mount Everest on its way toward Earth —...
View Article2024 Full Moon calendar: Dates, times, types, and names
Full Moons wield a magnetic charm. This monthly event has been the inspiration behind myths, tales, traditions, and even farming. We’ll update this article multiple times each week with the latest...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from March 15 to 22: A conjunction of Venus and Saturn
Friday, March 15The waxing Moon sits in Taurus the Bull this evening, slowly sinking in the west after sunset. Luna hangs over the Pleiades (M45), a sparkling cluster of young stars that many observers...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from March 22 to 29: The Full Moon eclipsed
Friday, March 22Spring’s premier globular cluster, M3, is on display in the constellation Canes Venatici this evening. Not sure where that is? No problem! This somewhat lesser-known star pattern lies...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from March 29 to April 5: Comet Pons-Brooks puts on a show
Friday, March 29With a Moonless sky after sunset, tonight is a great time to target fainter deep-sky objects. After the sky grows fully dark, look north to find the Little Dipper, whose handle ends...
View ArticleThe ‘devil comet’ will be visible during the 2024 total solar eclipse
(Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2023 and has been updated.) On April 8, 2024, all eyes will be on the eclipsed Sun during totality. After all, it’s the main attraction. But as the...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from April 5 to 12: A Great North American Eclipse
Friday, April 5The Moon passes 2° south of Mars at midnight EDT, though neither is visible at that time. You can pick them up in the pre-dawn sky tomorrow, when our satellite has moved along the...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from April 12 to 19: Bid the winter stars goodbye
Friday, April 12 The stars famous for appearing in the wintertime sky are now setting soon after sunset these days, as spring gets well and truly underway. Look west about an hour after sunset tonight...
View ArticleThe Sky This Week from April 19 to 26: Look out for bright Lyrids
Friday, April 19The Moon reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, at 10:10 P.M. EDT. Our satellite will sit 252,043 miles (405,624 kilometers) away at that time. As the Moon rises...
View ArticleHow to see the Lyrid meteor shower: Peak times and where to look
Tonight and tomorrow morning offer you a chance to see one of the oldest known meteor showers: the Lyrids. The Lyrid meteor shower peaks late Monday night. The best time to catch shower meteors will be...
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