Joe Rao

Algol, also known as the Demon Star, is quite possibly the most interesting star in the fall and winter skies, if you know when to look for its brightness changes.

Skywatchers will be treated to an eye-catching gathering in the south-southwest sky about an hour after sunset on Thursday (Oct. 22) — a large triangle formed by the moon, Jupiter and Saturn.

It's an excellent year to view the Orionids, which peak before dawn on Wednesday (Oct. 21).

October has already seen a Harvest Moon, now this week comes a "proxigean" new moon, and to finish out this month we'll have a "Halloween Micro Blue Moon." We'll explain.

Friday night is date night for two bright celestial meetups that will light up the sky tonight (Oct. 2 - Oct. 3).

Northrop Grumman will launch NASA cargo from Virginia tonight (Oct. 2) and it may be visible on the U.S. East Coast. Here's how to watch.

When the full moon shines tonight (Oct. 1), it will mark the Harvest Moon of 2020.

Mars is lighting up the night sky as the planet heads toward an unusually close approach to Earth on Oct. 6.

Autumn officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9:31 a.m. EDT (1331 GMT). And consequently, our evening sky is now one in transition.

The moon and Venus will form a triangle with the Beehive star cluster in the predawn sky on Monday (Sept. 14).

Just how many planets are visible without a telescope? Most people will answer "five," but there is a sixth planet that can be glimpsed without visual aid: the planet Uranus.

At this time of year, some might be attracted by the presence of an unusually bright star sparkling over the north-northeast horizon.

Every once in a while, something will appear in the sky that will attract the attention of even those who normally don't bother looking up.

Step outside around 8:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 28-29) and in a single glance you'll be able to partake in a gathering of the moon and the two gas giants of the solar system.

You can see the moon's famous Copernicus crater along the lunar terminator — the line lunar between day and night — on Thursday (Aug. 27).

As Venus makes a close approach to the moon Saturday morning (Aug. 15), you can catch some winter constellations without the cold.

The 2020 Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight tonight (Aug. 11 and 12). Here's the U.S. weather forecast.

Skywatchers beware: the moon will hinder attempts to observe the Perseids, typically one of the best meteor displays of the year.

Small asterisms, or star patterns, are often overlooked. One striking example of this than the Coat Hanger, which is now well placed for evening viewing in the constellation of Vulpecula.

The brightest comet to appear in Northern Hemisphere skies in nearly a quarter of a century will soon be ending its run as a naked-eye object.

This week, Jupiter and Saturn appear at their very best, with Jupiter having just arrived at opposition July 14 and Saturn to reach its own opposition July 20.

The early reviews are in: Comet NEOWISE is a hit!

After putting on a great show in our evening sky during the first half of this year, dazzling Venus puts on a spectacular showing for early morning risers for the balance of 2020.

Comet NEOWISE could become a tantalizing object for skywatchers in the July 2020 night sky.

The Full Buck moon of July 2020 will experience a minor penumbral lunar eclipse this weekend (July 4 and 5), but don't expect much.