Anthony Wood

Anthony Wood

Skywatching Writer

Anthony Wood joined Space.com in April 2025 after contributing articles to outlets including IGN, New Atlas and Gizmodo. He has a passion for the night sky, science, Hideo Kojima, and human space exploration, and can’t wait for the day when astronauts once again set foot on the moon.

Latest articles by Anthony Wood

A simulation of the moon's surface, with the northern lunar region 'Mare Frigolis' outlined in teal.

ispace's Resilience spacecraft lands on the moon this week: Here's how to see the landing zone on the lunar surface

By Anthony Wood published

The lander won't be visible from Earth, but its landing site on Mare Frigoris will be.

Stargazing
The Cat's Eye Nebula can be seen hanging against a backdrop of stars. The nebula has a wispy blue outer shell and a bright inner core.

Amateur astronomer captures ghostly outer shell of the Cat's Eye Nebula (photo)

By Anthony Wood published

The planetary nebula is located 3,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco.

Astrophotography
The moon half-lit moon is pictured against a dark sky at its first quarter phase. Dark lunar seas mark the upper portion of the lunar surface and the line dividing the night side from the day side is lined with shadowed craters.

Don't miss the half-lit first quarter moon rise tonight: Here's what to look for

By Anthony Wood published

The first quarter moon is the perfect opportunity to explore shadowed craters lining the terminator.

Stargazing
Venus is shown above the horizon in a simulated pre-dawn hours of June 1, with the locations of Neptune and Saturn shown to the upper right. a close up picture of Venus's half-lit disk is shown to the left hand side of the screen.

Venus is at its farthest from the sun on June 1: Here's how to see the bright 'morning star' this weekend

By Anthony Wood published

Venus will rise in the eastern sky in the pre-dawn hours of June 1 alongside Saturn and Neptune.

Stargazing
An artist's impression of a fireball colliding with Earth's orbit

Watch a brilliant 'fireball' meteor explode over China on May 28 (video)

By Anthony Wood published

It was likely a sporadic meteor unrelated to any major shower.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
A simulation of the night sky showing the location of the moon on May 31 above the western horizon. Mars and the bright star Regulus can be seen to the upper left of the crescent moon, with Pollux and Castor to the lower right close to the horizon.

Don't miss the crescent moon shining close to Mars on May 31

By Anthony Wood published

As the bright star Regulus and the Beehive Cluster shine close by.

Stargazing
An image of the waxing crescent moon pictured against the dark sky. The lunar sea Mare Crisium can be seen as a dark oval marking the lit section of the moon's surface.

See a lunar scar darken the crescent moon on May 30

By Anthony Wood published

Lunar maria or 'seas' formed when lava flooded impact basins billions of years ago.

Stargazing
A simulation of the night sky showing the crescent moon located beneath the bright stars Castor and Pollux in the night sky on May 29, forming a celestial smiling face.

A 'smiley face' will appear in the night sky on May 29: Here's how to see it

By Anthony Wood published

The universe will smile back at us on May 29, thanks to an uncanny cosmic alignment

Stargazing
Silvery noctilucent clouds are pictured shining above the Neris River in Vilnius, Lithuania as an orange sunset fades near the horizon.

Noctilucent cloud season 2025 is upon us! Here's how to spot elusive 'night-shining' clouds

By Anthony Wood published

But you'll need a little luck.

Stargazing
The sun is pictured setting between the high-rise buildings lining New York's 42nd street on July 11, 2023, during the Manhattanhenge season.

How to see Manhattanhenge 2025: Expert tips for catching New York’s iconic sunset spectacle

By Anthony Wood last updated

The 2025 Manhattanhenge season starts today with the half sun visible on the New York grid.

Stargazing
The location of the moon is shown in the night sky on May 22. Saturn can be seen close to the lower left of the moon, with Neptune just beyond. The stars of nearby constellations are outlined in blue, and a yellow circle shows the field of view of a pair of binoculars.

See the crescent moon rise close to Saturn and Neptune early on May 22

By Anthony Wood published

Remember: A telescope or binoculars will be needed to spot far-flung Neptune!

Stargazing
A NASA graphic showing the path of asteroid 2025 KF relative to that of Earth and the Moon

House-sized asteroid will pass within 72,000 miles of Earth on May 21

By Anthony Wood last updated

The asteroid poses no threat to the moon or Earth.

Stargazing
Startrails can be seen moving around the north star above an English country landscape

Night Sky Tour: North Stars past, present and future

By Anthony Wood published

Lets take a trip through time.

Stargazing
night sky map graphic

The moon hits its final quarter phase later this week: Here’s what to expect

By Anthony Wood published

Time for a trip to Tycho Crater.

Stargazing
The spiral 'Sunflower Galaxy' is pictured hanging against a black, star-strewn background. The galaxy features a bright core, with chaotic blueish spiral arms emanating outwards.

Amateur astrophotographer catches a cosmic sunflower in bloom

By Anthony Wood published

The spiral galaxy shines with the light of countless newly-born stars.

Astrophotography
The spiral galaxy M81 is pictured to the right of the Cigar Galaxy against the cloud-like backdrop of a nebula. Other galaxies and stars punctuate the image. The spiral galaxy M81 features sweeping spiral arms and a bright core.

Amateur astronomer captures Cigar Galaxy and Bode's Galaxy swimming in a spectral nebula (photo)

By Anthony Wood published

The galaxies are found about 12 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major

Stargazing
night sky map graphic

Watch red supergiant star Antares shine close to the near-full moon on May 13

By Anthony Wood published

It's all a matter of perspective.

Stargazing

May's full Flower Moon delights skywatchers worldwide with stunning lunar display (photos)

By Anthony Wood published

See the best photos of May 2025's full Flower Moon as it rose over landmarks and landscapes worldwide in a dazzling lunar display.

Stargazing
A full moon is pictured in the night sky with purple flowers framing the upper part of the image.

The 2025 full Flower Moon rises tonight: Here's what to expect

By Anthony Wood published

When and where to catch the 2025 full Flower Moon rise tonight (May 12).

Stargazing
A colorful portrait of the Rho Ophiuchi stellar nursery comprised of swirling gas clouds and dense, dark filaments. The globular star cluster M4 is located at the top right of the image, while the bright star Antares can be found almost directly below.

Amateur astronomer reveals a colorful portrait of Earth's closest star-forming neighbor (photo)

By Anthony Wood published

Amateur astrophotographer Greg Meyer has captured a colorful view of the Rho Ophiuchi star-forming region alongside Messier 4.

Astrophotography
A full moon is pictured through the leaves of a Jasmine plant.

May's full 'Flower Moon' blooms on May 12: Here's where to look

By Anthony Wood published

A perfect time to explore the lunar maria.

Stargazing
A graphic in which the moon is pictured close to the bright star spica. A section of the constellation Virgo close to Spica is shown with a blue line joining its stars. The location of the prominent star Porrima is labelled in the upper right of the image, while the star Haze is labelled in the upper left.

Watch the moon and bright star Spica meet in a celestial dance on May 9

By Anthony Wood published

I think we know who's supplying the c(r)atering for this dance party.

Stargazing
The potentially hazardous asteroid 612356 2002 JX8 is pictured against a field of blurry white stars, with its location highlighted with a white arrow.

A stadium-sized asteroid will fly past Earth on May 9, and you can watch it live

By Anthony Wood published

The 950-foot hunk of primordial matter is classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid," but that doesn't mean it has a chance of hitting Earth.

Stargazing
A graphic showing the positions of Venus, Neptune and Saturn in the eastern sky in the pre-dawn hours on the morning of May 8

Venus, Saturn and Neptune align in the predawn sky this week: Here's how to spot them

By Anthony Wood published

A treat for the early risers out there.

Stargazing
Two Eta Aquarid meteors can be seen streaming across the star studded sky above Sri Lanka, Light from settlements bordering a body of water can be seen spilling into the sky.

Eta Aquarid meteor shower 2025 delights stargazers around the world with dramatic shooting stars (photos)

By Anthony Wood published

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaked on May 5-6, and the astrophotography community were there to watch it unfold.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
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