Joe Rao

Joe Rao

Skywatching Columnist

Joe Rao is Space.com's skywatching columnist, as well as a veteran meteorologist and eclipse chaser who also serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky & Telescope and other publications. Joe is an 8-time Emmy-nominated meteorologist who served the Putnam Valley region of New York for over 21 years. You can find him on Twitter and YouTube tracking lunar and solar eclipses, meteor showers and more. To find out Joe's latest project, visit him on Twitter.

Latest articles by Joe Rao

A starry night sky glows pink with blue balls of light dot the right side of the image

The stars of Orion's belt are 200,000 times brighter than our sun, and winter is the perfect time to see them

By Joe Rao published

The Orion constellation is home to some of the most luminous stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

Stargazing
A orange and blue night sky with a glowing crescent moon and a bright dot for the planet Mercury with a series of silhouettes of trees in the foreground

Now's your best chance to see Mercury all year — Here's what you need to know

By Joe Rao published

Mercury puts on its best evening show of 2026 this February, with bright views after sunset and a helpful crescent moon.

Stargazing
A black and white image shows a gray background speckled with dots with a crosshairs and a box circling a specific dot in the center of the image

Will a bright comet adorn our early spring sky? Why astronomers are getting excited about Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)

By Joe Rao published

Some astronomers have noted that its faint magnitude "does not bode well for the comet's survival past perihelion."

Comets
A series of gray circles of the moon imposed upon each other with a red circle in the middle showing a total lunar eclipse

How to use the moon on Feb. 4 to plan your view of March's total lunar eclipse

By Joe Rao published

A February moon offers a practical preview of where to look for March's total lunar eclipse.

Lunar Eclipses
A glowing strip of the Milky Way galaxy is seen in a dark gray and purple starry night sky overlooking a lake surrounded by silhouetted jagged peaks on all sides with a glowing bright dot in the center of the image casting a yellow column of light on the dark water

From Jupiter to Mercury: the brightest planets of February 2026

By Joe Rao published

From dazzling Jupiter high in the evening sky to elusive Mercury low at sunset, February 2026 offers one of the year's best planetary lineups.

Stargazing
A small brown rodent pokes its head out of a snowbank, its whiskers and head covered in snow.

Groundhog Day isn't the halfway point of winter — the real one arrives tomorrow

By Joe Rao published

Astronomical winter reaches its true midpoint on Feb. 3, as daylight gains begin to accelerate across the Northern Hemisphere.

Stargazing
You can't see a black moon but this image shows a very slim crescent of a slightly illuminated moon visible in the days following a black moon.

Black Moon: What is it and why does it occur?

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference A Black Moon is a rare occurrence. Here we explore what causes them and when the next one will happen.

Reference
A purple and orange night sky with a few twinkling white stars overlooks distant city lights with a river and two dark banks in the foreground

Two cosmic dogs rule the winter sky — here's how to spot them this week

By Joe Rao published

Learn how to spot Sirius, Procyon and their canine constellations, and discover the myths and science behind the dog stars.

Stargazing
A silhouette of a person stands in front of a green flashlight beam on the edge of a lake with trees and hills in the distance all underneath a dark blue starry sky.

Bundle up and look up: 5 winter sky wonders every stargazer should look out for

By Joe Rao published

From Orion's glowing nebula to the sparkling Pleiades, these winter targets reward anyone willing to brave the cold.

Stargazing
during a total solar eclipse the sun appears as a dark spot with bright white light beaming out from behind. A series of phases surround the main eclipse image, showing the moon take a progressively bigger "bite" out of the sun.

What is a solar eclipse?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference A solar eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over Earth. We explore the type of solar eclipses here.

Reference
A close up of the planet Jupiter in the darkness of space with a labeled dot for its moon Io.

January belongs to Jupiter: See the king of planets in the night sky this month

By Joe Rao published

Jupiter currently shines as a brilliant silvery "star" in the constellation Gemini the Twins, low in the east-northeast sky as dusk slowly fades. You really should catch the show.

Stargazing
Large fully illuminated moon with large craters against a black background.

Full moon names 2026 (and how they came to be)

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference The full moon names for each month, why they're named so and what we can expect from these lunar events.

Reference
a telescope points upward at a starry night sky

Only 2 planets shine in January's night sky to the naked eye — here's where to look

By Joe Rao last updated

Reference Where are the bright naked-eye planets in January 2026 and when are the best times to view them?

Reference
White streaks of meteors are seen against a dark purple night sky with a frozen lake with lights below pushed against silhouetted mountains in the background

One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks at the worst possible time this week

By Joe Rao published

A daylight peak and a full moon combine to sabotage the powerful Quadrantid meteor shower in 2026.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
A glowing series of bright dots light up a starry night sky with an orange glow toward the bottom of the image where silhouettes of trees can be seen

What to expect from the planets in 2026 — key dates and sky events

By Joe Rao published

Your complete guide to the brightest planetary moments of 2026.

Stargazing
A series of white streaks of meteor showers are seen in a pale blue night sky over some mountain peaks at the bottom of the image

December's overlooked meteor shower peaks next week — will the Ursids surprise us?

By Joe Rao published

December's faint Ursid meteor shower returns under dark skies, offering a small chance of unexpected activity.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
A person stands with arms outstretched behind a bright orange tent looking up at the night sky full of streaks with meteors with a large flashlight beam pointed up.

Geminid meteor shower forecast: Will skies be clear across the US on Dec. 13–14?

By Joe Rao published

The Geminid meteor shower peaks Dec. 13–14, and the U.S. weather forecast will play a key role in what you'll see.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
Streaks of white light from the Geminid meteor shower are seen across an orange and blue sunset night sky with a silhouette of a tree and person in the foreground

Geminid meteor shower 2025 peaks next week. Here's what you need to know about this year's best meteor shower

By Joe Rao published

The Geminids return with near-perfect viewing conditions, offering skywatchers up to 150 meteors an hour under dark December skies.

Stargazing
A series of star maps of the night sky

Mercury is hard to spot, but you can catch it in the morning sky this month

By Joe Rao published

If you've never sighted this rocky little world for yourself, you'll never get a better opportunity than right now to see it.

Stargazing
A man and a woman with a child between them all point at a night sky above them with a telescope on a tripod behind them

Thanksgiving night sky 2025: Moon, Saturn and autumn stars put on a post-turkey show

By Joe Rao published

Enjoy a post-dinner stargazing session as the first-quarter moon, Saturn and the season's brightest stars light up the Thanksgiving night sky.

Stargazing
a group of stars in the sky roughly shaped like a horse

See the famous winged horse Pegasus fly in the autumn night sky

By Joe Rao published

A few hours after darkness falls during November, the unquestioned landmark of the autumn night sky occupies a commanding position high in the south: the flying horse Pegasus.

Stargazing
A series of star maps of the night sky

The Leonid meteor shower peaks next week. Here's what to expect

By Joe Rao published

For North America, the best time to look will be before dawn on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
A streak of white light from a meteor graces the top left image of a blue and green starry night sky

The Taurid meteor shower could put on its best show this week — keep your eyes peeled for fireballs

By Joe Rao published

There is still time to look out for Taurid meteors lighting up November nights.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
A series of star maps of the night sky

Don't miss Jupiter and the moon join up in the night sky this weekend

By Joe Rao published

Jupiter again teams up with the moon late Sunday night to put on an eye-catching show directly between Jupiter and the bright star Pollux, Gemini's brightest star.

Stargazing
A bright full moon shines just behind the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Don't miss the biggest full moon of the year rise on Nov. 5 — Here's what to expect

By Joe Rao published

The November full moon will be the closest and brightest full moon of the year.

Stargazing
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