Why (and How) to Skywatch When Winter Temperatures Plummet By Joe Rao One of the big news stories nationally over the past few weeks has been the invasion of the polar vortex in the northern tier of the United States.
The Brightest Planets in February's Night Sky: How to See them (and When) By Joe Rao Here's how to see three naked-eye planets visible in February's night sky.
How to See Venus and Jupiter Early Tuesday! Two Brightest Planets Meet Up at Dawn By Joe Rao Now that Sunday night's total lunar eclipse has passed into history, get ready for the two brightest planets to unite in a stunning dawn conjunction.
Under a Blood Moon: A Look at Famous Lunar Eclipses in History By Joe Rao On the evening of Jan. 20, the moon will undergo a total eclipse, visible over all of the Americas.
The Stages of the Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse of 2019 Explained! By Joe Rao No avid skywatcher ever misses a total eclipse of the moon. Here's what to expect from this one.
Blood Moon 2019: Why the Coming Lunar Eclipse Spawns Memories of Mr. Magoo By Joe Rao Whenever we have a total eclipse of the moon approaching, as we do now, my mind always drifts back to my very first total lunar eclipse more than half a century ago.
Full Moon Names (and More) for 2019 By Joe Rao Here is a list of all the full moon names, dates and times (for the Eastern time zone) in 2019, beginning with the 'wolf' moon in January, to the 'cold' moon in December.
Blood Moon 2019: A Great Total Lunar Eclipse Is Coming Soon! By Joe Rao More than three years have passed since most of North America saw a good total lunar eclipse. So be sure to put a big circle on your calendar for Sunday, Jan. 20.
Eclipse Season 2019 Kicks Off with a Partial Solar Eclipse This Weekend! By Joe Rao Eclipse season kicks off with a partial solar eclipse this weekend.
The Top Skywatching Events to Look for in 2019 By Joe Rao Here are the 10 most noteworthy sky events — including multiple meteor showers and eclipses eclipses — that will take place in 2019.
When, Where and How to See the Planets in the 2019 Night Sky By Joe Rao Here is a guide to when certain planets will appear brightest and most visible in the 2019 night sky, including Mercury's rare transit of the sun in November!
The Christmas Night Sky: A Yuletide Stargazing Guide By Joe Rao December is the month of the winter solstice, which a large part of mankind associates with such celebrations as Nativity festivals.
Swift As the Moon's Shadow: Special Solar Eclipse Flight Planned for July 2019 By Joe Rao For the next total eclipse of the sun, set for July of next year, an aircraft will fly into the shadow of the moon. And this journey is special.
Here's the Weather Forecast for the 2018 Geminid Meteor Shower By Joe Rao For those hoping to get a glimpse of tonight's Geminid meteor shower, the weather across the United States will either be very good or very bad.
Will the Long-Forgotten Andromedid Meteors Return with a Flurry Tonight? By Joe Rao Once upon a time, there was a small comet that led to a big meteor shower. Is that mysterious shower set to return?
The Small Comet 46P/Wirtanen Flies Close By Earth Next Month! Here's What to Expect. By Joe Rao As you read this, a small comet is on its way toward making a very close pass of Earth in mid-December — its best appearance over a period of four centuries.
Pegasus, the Flying Horse, Marks Mid-Autumn Skies By Joe Rao Step outside this week between 6 and 8 p.m. local time and look overhead and toward the south to see one of the landmarks of the mid-autumn sky: the Great Square of Pegasus, the flying horse.
The 2018 Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend! Here's What to Expect By Joe Rao Come early Sunday morning (Nov. 18), the famous Leonid meteor shower will reach its peak, with lesser numbers expected on the preceding and following mornings.
Predawn Antares Rocket Launch Saturday Will Be Visible Along US East Coast By Joe Rao An Antares rocket is due to launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, early on Saturday (Nov. 17) morning and should be visible, weather permitting, from parts of the Eastern Seaboard.
Venus Brings an Early Morning Light, Just Before Sunrise By Joe Rao Early morning risers who head out to work and school before sunrise should notice a very bright, star-like object in the east-southeast sky.
