Joe Rao

A striking sight to the unaided eye; even more so with binoculars.

The comet will come closest to Earth on Oct. 20. There's hope that it may become bright enough to glimpse with the naked eye.

A rare August morning alignment brings Mercury, a thin crescent moon and the Beehive Cluster together in the predawn sky. Here's how you can see it for yourself.

Spot Saturn near the moon on Aug. 11! See them with the naked eye and learn what to expect through a telescope.

While moonlight might steal the spotlight, it won't steal the Perseids' show.

Venus and Jupiter meet in the morning sky on Aug. 12. Catch their dazzling conjunction just before sunrise with the crescent moon joining later!

What could we choose as the seven most remarkable celestial objects visible either with our eyes or with a small telescope?

The moon's crescent limb will cloak and uncover stars from the iconic cluster before sunrise.

Rise and shine! Venus, Aldebaran and the moon team up for a dazzling dawn display.

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.

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 at its farthest point from the sun on July 3. So why are temperatures so high across the U.S.?

Most people have never seen the Little Dipper, because most of its stars are too dim to be seen through light-polluted skies.

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.

The sun will reach its most northern point on June 20, marking the start of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

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.

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."

Astronomy has lost one of its most assiduous calculators of eclipses with the passing of astronomer Fred Espenak, known widely as "Mr. Eclipse."

Jupiter teams up with an exceedingly narrow crescent moon for the last time this year in the evening sky on May 27.

A slender crescent moon, will form a spectacular pair with the brilliant planet Venus during the dawn morning hours of May 23.

The bright constellations of winter have departed in the west, while the stars of spring are climbing the eastern and southern skies.

The Red Planet will buzz the Beehive during May 4-5, with the moon joining the party on May 3.

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.

Some people probably believe that the twinkling effect is produced by the stars themselves, but that is not the case at all.