Latest articles by Joe Rao
The night sky is changing this August — here's which planets to watch
Venus dominates the evening sky while Mercury and Jupiter stage a beautiful dawn pairing you won't want to miss.
Beyond the Perseids: 6 meteor showers worth watching this summer
The Perseids may steal the spotlight, but six lesser-known meteor showers could also light up summer skies.
The moon, Mars and the Pleiades form a stunning lineup before dawn on July 11. Here's how to see it
A slender crescent moon, Mars and Aldebaran and two sparkling star clusters will create a beautiful predawn scene for early risers on July 11.
Venus takes center stage with 2 easy-to-see sky shows this July. Here's when and where to look
Venus pairs up with Regulus on July 9 before meeting a slender crescent moon on July 17.
The second Manhattanhenge of 2026 occurs this week: When and where to see the sunset spectacle
Twice a year, the setting sun perfectly aligns with Manhattan's street grid, creating one of New York City's most spectacular skywatching events.
What did the night sky look like on the 1st Independence Day 250 years ago?
As the U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday, here's what Benjamin Franklin and other colonists would have seen when they looked up on July 4, 1776.
Want to see Uranus? July 4 could be your best chance in decades
The Red Planet and Uranus will appear close together before dawn on Independence Day morning.
July's planetary lineup is changing — and Venus is the last one standing
Venus dominates the evening sky while Saturn, Mars and Uranus put on a show for early risers.
Watch out for the giant scorpion hiding in the summer sky
Scorpius is one of the few constellations that actually resembles its namesake — and this summer is the perfect time to find it.
Why do stars appear different colors in the night sky?
Discover why some stars shine blue, white, orange or red and what those colors tell us about the cosmos.
Don't miss the moon and Saturn put on a spectacular show before sunrise June 10
Set your alarm for June 10 as Saturn shines beside a bright crescent moon in the predawn sky.
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline a stunning planet parade through June. Here's when to see it
Three planets, two stars and one moon create a spectacular June sky show.
3 bright planets light up June's night sky — Here's where and when to look
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline a spectacular month of planetary viewing.
Don't wait for the full moon: Here's when the moon looks best through a telescope
Long before the full moon rises, shifting sunlight transforms the lunar surface into one of the sky's best telescope targets.
Venus and a razor-thin moon steal the show after sunset tonight
Look west after sunset to catch Venus shining beside a delicate crescent moon in the twilight sky.
4 bright stars form a giant 'diamond' in the May night sky: Here's how to find it
Look for the Great Diamond of Spring in May's night sky and discover the rich realm of galaxies within.
Will the moon ruin the Eta Aquarid meteor shower this week? Here's what to know
A bright waning gibbous moon may wash out this week's Eta Aquarid meteor shower peak — but early risers could still catch a few shooting stars.
3 planets will put on a sky show in May — when and how to see them
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline May's skywatching, with stunning moon pairings and a three-planet display.
A bright star will disappear for up to an hour tonight — here's what's happening
The moon will briefly hide Regulus in a dramatic occultation visible across parts of the eastern U.S.
The moon and Jupiter steal the show after sunset tonight
A half moon passes close to Jupiter on April 22, creating a striking scene.
The Lyrid meteor shower returns with ideal viewing conditions! Here's what to look out for this week
After months of quiet skies, the Lyrids return with fast, bright meteors and dark, moonless viewing conditions before dawn.
Watch Comet MAPS get destroyed by cataclysmic fragmentation near the sun
A dramatic breakup near the sun erased hopes of a bright comet lighting up the evening sky this week.
Venus shines at its best in spring and summer 2026 — here's what to look for
Venus returns as a brilliant evening star in 2026, with dazzling conjunctions, peak brightness and stunning views through the summer.
