
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, 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

See the moon cross the Pleiades for the last time this year on July 20
By Joe Rao published
The moon's crescent limb will cloak and uncover stars from the iconic cluster before sunrise.

See Venus, the moon and fiery star Aldebaran form a dawn triangle this weekend
By Joe Rao published
Rise and shine! Venus, Aldebaran and the moon team up for a dazzling dawn display.

The Perseid meteor shower kicks off summer 'shooting star' season this week. Here's how to see it
By Joe Rao last updated
Each summer, skywatchers around the world look forward to the famous Perseid meteor shower, but often overlook four lesser showers that peak between July 29 and Aug. 16.

How to see China's Tiangong space station and the ISS in the predawn sky this week
By Joe Rao published
The International Space Station and China's Tiangong Space Station will be visible for early risers. Here's how to make a dual sighting.

Earth is farthest from the sun today. So why is it so hot?
By Joe Rao published
Earth is at its farthest point from the sun on July 3. So why are temperatures so high across the U.S.?

The brightest planets in July's night sky: How to see them (and when)
By Joe Rao last updated
Reference A guide to the bright naked-eye planets in July 2025 and the best times to view them.

Look for the 'Other Dipper' this summer: How to find Ursa Minor, the Little Bear with a little help from the North Star
By Joe Rao published
Most people have never seen the Little Dipper, because most of its stars are too dim to be seen through light-polluted skies.

How to see Mercury, the moon and the Gemini twins pass close together in the night sky this week
By Joe Rao published
On June 26, you'll have an opportunity to behold the sight of a slender waxing crescent moon positioned just to the right of Mercury.

Summer solstice 2025 brings changing seasons to Earth on June 20
By Joe Rao published
The sun will reach its most northern point on June 20, marking the start of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

How to see Mars visit a bright star and the moon this June
By Joe Rao published
During the latter part of June, Mars will put on a couple of eye-catching shows, teaming up first with a bright star and then, late this month, with the moon.

How to see the 'Horse and Rider' in the Big Dipper's handle this summer
By Joe Rao published
Mizar, a star in the Big Dipper's handle, has a tiny companion. This star, Alcor, was known to the ancients. The pair was popularly known as the "Horse and Rider."

Fred Espenak, astronomy's 'Mr. Eclipse', dies at 71
By Joe Rao published
Astronomy has lost one of its most assiduous calculators of eclipses with the passing of astronomer Fred Espenak, known widely as "Mr. Eclipse."

See Jupiter pair up with a sliver of the moon tonight
By Joe Rao published
Jupiter teams up with an exceedingly narrow crescent moon for the last time this year in the evening sky on May 27.

The moon and Venus kick off Memorial Day weekend with a lovely conjunction early on May 23
By Joe Rao published
A slender crescent moon, will form a spectacular pair with the brilliant planet Venus during the dawn morning hours of May 23.

From Leaping Leo to the Big Dipper: Here's how to see the bright stars of spring rising in the east this season
By Joe Rao published
The bright constellations of winter have departed in the west, while the stars of spring are climbing the eastern and southern skies.

See the moon and Mars buzz a cosmic Beehive this weekend
By Joe Rao published
The Red Planet will buzz the Beehive during May 4-5, with the moon joining the party on May 3.

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks May 6. Here's what to expect from the 'crumbs' of Halley's Comet
By Joe Rao published
The annual Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is due to peak on the morning of May 6. thanks to debris left by the famous Halley's Comet.

The brightest star in the night sky shows off this spring: How to see a scintillating Sirius
By Joe Rao published
Some people probably believe that the twinkling effect is produced by the stars themselves, but that is not the case at all.

Easter is coming late in 2025, astronomically speaking. Here's why
By Joe Rao published
Easter falls on the Sunday that follows the first full moon occurring on or after the day of the spring equinox. So it seems like Easter should be this weekend. Here's why it isn't.

What to expect from the newfound Comet Swan: An observer's guide
By Joe Rao published
Here's an observers' guide to the newly discovered Comet 2025 F2 (SWAN), which is visible in northern skies right now.

Lyrid meteor shower 2025 peaks this month: Could we be in for a surprise outburst this year?
By Joe Rao published
The Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest known of the annual showers, peaks this year with only some small interference from a waning crescent moon.

How to see Venus light the sky as the bright 'morning star' through fall 2025
By Joe Rao published
After putting on a great show in our evening sky since the fall of 2024, dazzling Venus puts on a spectacular showing for early morning risers for the balance of 2025.

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.
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