Latest articles by Joe Rao
The Summer Triangle dominates the night sky long after summer begins to fade. So what makes Vega, Altair and Deneb a distinctly summer sight?
The moon and Jupiter will meet before dawn on Sept. 8, before the moon hides the giant planet from view in a rare daytime occultation.
Venus is sinking lower into the sunset this September, but the brilliant Evening Star won't be gone for long.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible this September. Here's when and where to look.
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.
Joe Rao took to sea aboard the cruise ship Le Boréal to watch the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. Here's what it was like.
Venus dominates the evening sky while Mercury and Jupiter stage a beautiful dawn pairing you won't want to miss.
The Perseids may steal the spotlight, but six lesser-known meteor showers could also light up summer skies.
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 pairs up with Regulus on July 9 before meeting a slender crescent moon on July 17.
Twice a year, the setting sun perfectly aligns with Manhattan's street grid, creating one of New York City's most spectacular skywatching events.
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.
The Red Planet and Uranus will appear close together before dawn on Independence Day morning.
Venus dominates the evening sky while Saturn, Mars and Uranus put on a show for early risers.
Scorpius is one of the few constellations that actually resembles its namesake — and this summer is the perfect time to find it.
Discover why some stars shine blue, white, orange or red and what those colors tell us about the cosmos.
Set your alarm for June 10 as Saturn shines beside a bright crescent moon in the predawn sky.
Three planets, two stars and one moon create a spectacular June sky show.
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline a spectacular month of planetary viewing.
Long before the full moon rises, shifting sunlight transforms the lunar surface into one of the sky's best telescope targets.
Look west after sunset to catch Venus shining beside a delicate crescent moon in the twilight sky.
Look for the Great Diamond of Spring in May's night sky and discover the rich realm of galaxies within.
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.
