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Joe Rao

SPACE.COM SKYWATCHING COLUMNIST — Joe Rao 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, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon FiOS1 News in New York's lower Hudson Valley.

Articles by: Joe Rao

A skywatcher in silhouette appears to hold up the night sky in the Azores, Portugal, in this photo by Miguel Claro. The constellation Sagittarius glows at the left, with Scorpius on the right.

Sagittarius Carries a 'Milk Dipper' and 'Teapot' into the Summer Sky

By Joe Rao

Dozens of Perseid meteors appear to sprint toward the Milky Way over Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park in this composite taken by astrophotographer Cody Limber during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12, 2018.

The 2019 Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks Soon: Here's What to Expect

By Joe Rao

August is regarded as "meteor month" with the appearance of one of the best displays of the year: the annual performance of the Perseid meteor shower, the most famous of all meteor showers.

In the southern sky on the evening of Friday, Aug. 9, the waxing gibbous moon will land just to the upper left (celestial northeast) of the bright planet Jupiter. Both objects will fit within the field of view of binoculars (red circle).

See the Moon Near Jupiter (and Twinkly Red Antares, Too!) This Friday

By Joe Rao

On Friday evening, assuming your skies are reasonably clear, you'll be able to see the moon passing near to the largest planet in the solar system: Jupiter.

Mercury will spend all of August in the eastern predawn sky, but it will only be observable with relative ease until the final week of the month.

See the Elusive Planet Mercury in the Dawn Sky This August

By Joe Rao

If there ever was a planet that I feel has gotten a bad rap for its inability to be readily observed, it would have to be Mercury, known in many circles as the "elusive planet."

After the moon has completed the first quarter of its orbit around Earth, the relative positions of the Earth, sun, and moon cause us to see it half-illuminated - on its eastern side. A first quarter moon always rises around noon and sets around midnight, so it is also visible in the afternoon daytime sky. The evenings around first quarter are the best times to see the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight.

The Brightest Visible Planets in August's Night Sky: How to See them (and When)

By Joe Rao

Here's how to see three naked-eye planets visible in August's night sky.

The Black Moon arrives on Wednesday, July 31.

Black Moon 2019: What It Is (and Why You Can't See It)

By Joe Rao

Wednesday's sky (July 31) is host to a somewhat unusual lunar event in the Western Hemisphere: a second new moon in a single month, which some people call a "Black Moon."

A meteor streaks across the sky.

Catch a Shooting Star with 2019's Summer Meteor Showers

By Joe Rao

Anyone gazing at the summer night sky for even a short length of time is likely to spot a few "shooting stars" darting across the sky.

The constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion is visible above the southern horizon this summer.

See Scorpius the Scorpion Scuttle Along the Night Sky This Summer!

By Joe Rao

Next to Orion the Hunter, probably the most beautiful constellation in our sky is Scorpius the Scorpion.

Aquila is particularly impressive in the southern sky this week.

Aquila the Eagle Flies High in the Southern Sky This Week

By Joe Rao

If you look up high in the southern sky this week around midnight, you'll be able to see a pattern of stars that resembles a jet plane.

The total lunar eclipse of January 2019.

The Last Lunar Eclipse of 2019 Occurs Tuesday, Just in Time for Apollo 11 Celebrations

By Joe Rao

On the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11 tomorrow, the moon will be darkened by Earth's shadow in a partial lunar eclipse.

During July, Saturn will be well-positioned for observing all night while it moves retrograde (westward) through the stars of northeastern Sagittarius. Look for it as a medium-bright, yellowish object in the lower part of the southeastern sky, sitting east of the Milky Way. The ringed planet will reach opposition on July 9. On that night, Saturn will rise at sunset. Its minimum separation from Earth of 9.03 AU (839 million miles or 1.4 billion km) will cause Saturn to shine at a maximum brightness of magnitude +0.05 and exhibit an apparent disk diameter of 18.4 arc-seconds. The rings, which will narrow every year until the spring of 2025, will subtend 42.86 arc-seconds across. On July 15, the bright, nearly full moon will be positioned 2.5 degrees to the right (west) of Saturn.

Saturn's Rings Shine Extra Bright This July: How to Catch Them

By Joe Rao

July will be a great month to view the rings of Saturn — here's how.

An image of the moon marking the landing spot of Apollo 11.

To the Moon! Celebrate the Apollo 11 Anniversary by Skywatching

By Joe Rao

What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 than to pull out binoculars and telescopes to try to spot the historic mission's destination?

Skywatcher James Tse snapped this view of the partial solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2011 from Christchurch, New Zealand.

Solar Eclipses: When Is the Next One?

By Joe Rao

Solar eclipses are one of nature’s grandest events. What is a solar eclipse? Why are there different kinds of solar eclipses? How do they work? And when is the next one? We explain.

A still from a simulation by the European Southern Observatory shows stars and planets that aren't otherwise visible during the daytime coming into view during totality.

What Planets and Stars Will Be Visible During the Total Solar Eclipse?

By Joe Rao

During totality on July 2, one of the things that you will see when the sun becomes completely hidden is the appearance of stars and planets — in what just moments before had been a daytime sky.

As the moon blocks the sun from view during the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, the sun's wispy corona came into view.

One Week Until the Great South American Total Solar Eclipse!

By Joe Rao

On Tuesday, July 2, a lot of ocean and a few tiny bits of land will lie under a moon-blackened sun.

The constellation Draco is particularly bright this week.

See Draco the Dragon in the Night Sky This Week

By Joe Rao

Draco the Dragon is well worth spotting this week, as it is particularly bright in the northern sky, winding around the Little Dipper.

The Earth as seen from space during a solstice on June 21, 2011.

Hello, Summer 2019! Today's Solstice Marks Season's Beginning

By Joe Rao

Summer is about to officially begin here in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the shortest nights and the longest days.

Saturn will be visible near the moon late on June 18, 2019.

See Saturn Near the Moon in the Night Sky Tonight! Here's How

By Joe Rao

Saturn has been looking stunning lately, and it's preparing to dance close to the moon to display an incredible celestial illusion.

A time-lapse image of the Perseid meteor shower — the Beta Taurids will be much more difficult to see.

Did the Beta Taurid Meteor Shower Cause the 1908 Tunguska Explosion?

By Joe Rao

Next month, astronomers will scan the Beta Taurid meteor shower in search of asteroids that might someday threaten a potentially catastrophic collision with Earth.

A view of Hercules' Keystone in the night sky over New York City on June 7, 2019, at about 10 p.m. local time.

Look for Hercules' Keystone in the Evening Spring Sky

By Joe Rao

On late spring evenings, a bright stellar "keystone" is well worth exploring with binoculars or a small telescope.

In the last days of May and early June, a cluster of carnivorous constellations appears high in the Northern Hemisphere sky.

Carnivores Roam the Springtime Night Sky

By Joe Rao

During the last days of May and the first of June, navigating a cluster of carnivorous constellations can help you identify star patterns, including the Great Bear (Ursa Major) and the Lion (Leo).

A train of SpaceX Starlink satellites are visible in the night sky in this still from a video captured by satellite tracker Marco Langbroek in Leiden, the Netherlands on May 24, 2019, just one day after SpaceX launched 60 of the Starlink internet communications satellites into orbit.

How to See SpaceX's Starlink Satellite 'Train' in the Night Sky

By Joe Rao

SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites in a train Thursday (May 24) and you can see them in the night sky now! Here's how to find out where and when to look.

Corvus, the Crow, as it will appear over New York City on May 25 at 9:30 p.m. local time.

Find Corvus, the Crafty Crow, In the Spring Southern Sky

By Joe Rao

Sky watcher Austin Moloughney sent in a photo of the moon rising behind Vimy Mountain, Alberta, Canada, on August 18, 2013.

May's Full Flower Moon Saturday Is, Somehow, a Blue Moon. Here's Why

By Joe Rao

Every comet is unique, and its composition and location in space dictate whether it will shine spectacularly as it passes Earth or if it will fizzle out.

When Will We See Another Bright Comet?

By Joe Rao

Recently, a friend of mine asked when we might be able to see a comet. He was surprised when I said there are several visible right now.