Joe Rao
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, the Farmers' Almanac 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 fuzzy white orb leaves a tail behind it as it soars past background stars, which appear as streaks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JajBxaFNTpG3XfeeX9AfCF-320-80.jpg)
A comet predicted to light up the sky in 2024 may already be doomed
By Joe Rao published
While some comet experts think Comet Tsunchinchan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) will "soon be no longer," others think it's doing just fine.
![The outline of an orange circle floats in the center of a black, starry sky, its top and bottom to massive to fit in frame. In the center, a bright star Spica shoots out three blue lines diagonally left and right, and one upward slightly right. A quarter moon shines to the right of Spica.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/63SMotWtpk7F93uvXG5A4Q-320-80.jpg)
Watch the moon cover up the blue giant star Spica on July 13
By Joe Rao published
On Saturday, July 13, the moon will pass in front of bright blue star Spica in the night sky. The star will disappear behind the moon before reappearing on the other side.
![streaks of light cross the starry night sky above a desert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nXKjnf3aRZwsEAaHdVXnjH-320-80.jpg)
Perseid meteor shower returns to our skies this month to kick off summer 'shooting star' season
By Joe Rao published
2024 will be a very good year to watch for the Perseids, because bright moonlight will not interfere.
![a colorful ring of gas seen against background stars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/avhzt9yGqULBPG5vxnZznB-320-80.jpg)
The gorgeous Ring Nebula makes a stunning skywatching sight this week
By Joe Rao published
Head outside this week at around 10 p.m. local daylight time and face due east and locate the Ring Nebula for a summertime skywatching treat.
![a bright full moon rises over the ocean, reflecting across the surface of the water](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o9cz2yr7ZZPhLmTe3vDPMJ-320-80.jpg)
Strawberry Solstice Moon of June 2024 shines tonight for summer stargazers (video)
By Joe Rao published
This month, let's turn our attention to two celestial objects that can readily be seen even from bright cities. One is our nearest neighbor in space, while the other is a familiar pattern of stars.
![illustration of earth against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rqiT5YDv84qFEzao8BM6rh-320-80.jpg)
June solstice 2024 brings changing seasons to Earth on June 20 — What to know
By Joe Rao published
Summer will officially arrive in the Northern Hemisphere on Thursday (June 20) at 4:51 p.m. EDT (2051 GMT) — the June Solstice. Here's what you need to know.
![the silhouette of a telescope in front of a starry night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vBP4qXqGqRPUxbuf85vDui-320-80.jpg)
The brightest planets in July's night sky: How to see them (and when)
By Joe Rao last updated
Reference Many of the most popular planets for skywatching begin reappearing in the night sky throughout July.
![A small central green circle captures a small point, Saturn, and the third quarter moon. A larger yellow/orange circle, expanding beyond the top and bottom, can also be seen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Njoe2gTSQM8w9tHgtV7upS-320-80.jpg)
See the moon and Saturn meet in the night sky early on May 31
By Joe Rao published
Saturn will appear just above the third quarter moon in the sky in the early hours of Friday (May 31).
![an illustration of the night sky showing six planets and the moon in a line in front of the background stars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zqgqqfa9oFbLk4HtWfe2PD-320-80.jpg)
Will a 'rare' lineup of planets be visible to the naked eye in the night sky on June 3?
By Joe Rao published
Skywatchers who plan to rise early and step outside on June 3 expecting to see a stunning display of visible planets will be quite disappointed, at the very least.
![two images; on the left is a vintage illustration of earth crisscrossed with arcing lines showing the paths of eclipses; on the right is a vintage portrait of a man in a suit with a large mustache](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s8tfsvbKNG3ExGtiPrzG2R-320-80.jpg)
The original 'Mr. Eclipse:' How a 19th-century astronomer calculated the dates of over 13,000 eclipses
By Joe Rao published
For nearly a century, the 1887 book "Canon of Eclipses" was considered to be the authoritative work on solar and lunar eclipses.
![a fuzzy white orb leaves a tail behind it as it soars past background stars, which appear as streaks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VpGxnymLXkyjKPZSxsBrT4-320-80.jpg)
A comet approaching Earth could become brighter than the stars this fall
By Joe Rao published
By the end of this summer, we may have a good idea as to whether we'll have a bright naked-eye comet gracing our early autumn evening sky, known as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS).
![a giant transparent crab in the night sky in captured within a yellow circle. The full moon hangs in the center. Just to its left, a point is labeled "Antares," connecting blue lines tracing points to indicate the constellation shape.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nF3ED2Ty25ipYNBivixq5S-320-80.jpg)
How to watch bright red star Antares disappear behind the moon on May 23
By Joe Rao published
For the third time this year, the bright red star Antares will be occulted or hidden by the moon on Thursday, May 23.
![a streak of light stretches across a starry night sky above a lake](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3XP9vRF9tdx9sBv36aaqzj-320-80.jpg)
The ISS may be more visible in the night sky throughout May. Here's how to see it
By Joe Rao published
The International Space Station, the largest and brightest object now orbiting Earth, will provide excellent views for skywatchers across much of the Northern Hemisphere for much of May.
![a streak of green light zooms across the night sky above a lake](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZWskdHMSGyYspAATEmTD64-320-80.jpg)
Eta Aquarid meteor shower peak could spawn over 100 'shooting stars' per hour this weekend
By Joe Rao published
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on May 5, and this year looks favorable for a good light show put on by bits of Halley's Comet as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
![a vintage illustration of the night sky showing three cat-related constellations: leo major, leo minor, and lynx](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7UkYhH7Dhxboso9FeJc3L8-320-80.jpg)
'Cat nights' are here as Leo, Leo minor, and Lynx constellations prowl the evening sky
By Joe Rao published
Along with Leo, there are two other members of the cat family that are currently well situated and close together in the evening sky: Leo Minor, the Smaller Lion, and Lynx.
![a green streak of light zooms among the stars above a set of antenna dishes in the desert](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m7FKtvVubN9bvNwyfJZDgA-320-80.jpg)
The Lyrid meteor shower peaks this weekend, but don't expect much this year
By Joe Rao published
The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks overnight on April 21-22, but unfortunately a bright moon will make it difficult to spot any 'shooting stars' this year.
![a fuzzy green comet in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MgpoeQ8DFaHxtVtKCptU8A-320-80.jpg)
Here's how to see 'horned' comet 12P/Pons-Brooks at its brightest this week (video)
By Joe Rao last updated
All you'll need to see comet 12P/Pons-Brooks this month, besides fair weather and a little luck, are good binoculars or a telescope and sky map to help guide you.
![A NASA sky map showing the location of Jupiter near the crescent moon 1 hour after sunset on April 10, 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KRXFdXoZagV7zVGoo2zjfM-320-80.png)
See Jupiter close to a crescent moon (Mars near Saturn, too) in the 'View a Planet Day' night sky
By Joe Rao published
Jupiter and a slim crescent moon are the stand-out night sky sight in the evening sky right now.
![A composite of the August 21, 2017 total eclipse of the sun, showing the second and third contact diamond rings and Baily’s Beads at the start left and end right of totality, flanking a composite image of totality itself The diamond ring and Baily’s Beads images are single images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWVFUx4CqPp443jYwJm5iH-320-80.jpg)
Total solar eclipse 2024: Here's the national weather forecast for April 8
By Joe Rao published
What does the weather look like for the April 8 total solar eclipse? Here we take a look at the national weather forecast to find out.
![a map showing what the sun will look like across the united states during a solar eclipse on april 8, 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ARc57yw8KnCu5mHb6Vv6bn-320-80.gif)
Total solar eclipse April 8, 2024: What you'll see if you're outside the path of totality
By Joe Rao last updated
On April 8, 2024, if the weather is fair, you should have no difficulty observing a partial eclipse of the sun from much of North America - even outside the path of totality.
![a mostly cloudy sky obscures the sun and a person is below holding a camera up towards the sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EuTZzaGbCD3RiiYKWnoVz5-320-80.jpg)
What happens if it's cloudy for the April 8 solar eclipse?
By Joe Rao last updated
Here's why clouds might not be a big issue for the total solar eclipse on April 8 and what you can see if they decide to make an appearance.
![People watch the total solar eclipse from El Molle, Chile, on July 2, 2019. - Tens of thousands of tourists braced Tuesday for a rare total solar eclipse that was expected to turn day into night along a large swath of Latin America's southern cone, including much of Chile and Argentina.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QeCqqspLpuUxqrzUUrrNHW-320-80.jpg)
Stars, planets and more will be visible during the total solar eclipse on April 8. Here's where to look
By Joe Rao published
When the total solar eclipse travels across North America on April 8, the skies will darken. Here's what to look for during totality.
![total eclipse with white corona and a airplane flying beneath it.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mPuXZXtEWGeQpPq2maK26L-320-80.jpg)
How to earn a 'black belt' in solar eclipse chasing
By Joe Rao published
We explore how eclipses repeat and what it takes to earn a 'black belt' in eclipse chasing, according to our skywatching columnist Joe Rao.