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, the Farmers' Almanac 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
![a flash of green light on the horizon during sunrise over the sea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WV3Bh8TGjQFCK3YNNtxz3g-320-80.jpg)
What causes the strange green flash at sunset and sunrise on Earth?
By Joe Rao published
There are very special cases, when the sky is very clear and exceptionally transparent, that a green flash can be glimpsed just as the very topmost part of the sun is rising or setting.
![night sky illustration shows the location of the sun during the summer solstice.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vEL7nbAvxLmPdJmNyNcx76-320-80.jpg)
June Solstice 2023: How twilight zones affect day length
By Joe Rao last updated
June 21, the day of the northern summer solstice, has much more than 15 hours of sunlight if the extensive twilight periods around dusk and dawn are taken into account.
![Sky map of the crescent moon and bright stars castor and pollux on June 19, 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KT9WUe9ypZZBQnha5d5JR6-320-80.jpg)
The moon, Venus, Mars and bright stars shine in a summer celestial gathering this week. Here's how to see it.
By Joe Rao published
The crescent moon joins Mars, Venus and some of the brightest stars to kick off the summer 2024 skywatching season.
![night sky June 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uGtce6cZ8hkLzqKhuCcLt6-320-80.jpg)
Don't miss Jupiter and its 4 Galilean satellites shine near the crescent moon tonight
By Joe Rao published
Night owls and early risers will be treated to a late-night spectacle as a bright Jupiter and the moon will appear close together in the night sky overnight.
![the stars of the spring night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/85cLEhWnrF4rf3pMDbwTGc-320-80.jpg)
See the stars of the Spring Triangle reach high in the sky this month
By Joe Rao published
Within the stars of the Spring Triangle is the "Realm of the Galaxies," a veritable treasure trove of numerous star cities.
![a blue-green comet in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s6zGWLcUsDh835jhb9zp96-320-80.jpg)
40 years ago, a comet came out of the blue in a surprise Earth flyby. Here's what we know now.
By Joe Rao published
Forty years ago this month, there came a show stopping celestial sight — literally a bolt out of the blue — as a new comet was discovered close to Earth.
![a spiral galaxy in deep space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2jiC9BY262JH7hh9pEsdDM-320-80.jpg)
This new supernova is the closest to Earth in a decade. It's visible in the night sky right now.
By Joe Rao published
During the last few days, astronomers have been pointing their telescopes toward a familiar celestial object in our spring night sky for a look at a rare event: A new supernova.
![Graphic illustration showing the moon shining to the lower left of Venus and Mars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pWtEidQWV3jioDVXv6Htcb-320-80.jpg)
Watch the moon, Venus and Mars engage in a celestial dance this week
By Joe Rao published
See the moon shine between Venus and Mars next week as the two planets, along with, Pollux and Castor engage in a series of interesting configurations.
![The crescent moon approaches Jupiter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rwGtgCdy4Ao23BtmWtizVa-320-80.jpg)
See Jupiter hide behind the moon during a lunar occultation early on May 17
By Joe Rao published
Early in the morning on Wednesday, May 17, gas giant Jupiter and its four bright Galilean moons will pass behind a very thin crescent moon.
![Venus above Mt. Fuji](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UpS7doSjRHUgejSodcgMhU-320-80.jpg)
Don't miss Venus in the late night sky right now before it turns into a 'Morning Star'
By Joe Rao published
Venus will begin staying out later and later in the coming weeks until it leaves the night sky to become a dazzling fixture in the predawn morning through the end of 2023.
![green auroras in the sky above a snowy riverbank](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WTuBwjkFR5sPpvJWYyKbfF-320-80.jpg)
A powerful eruption on the sun could create widespread auroras tonight
By Joe Rao published
A pair of eruptions seen on the sun might lead to a display of auroras for parts of the northern and central United States on May 11.
![a watch in a box in front of a sign reading "Time on the moon"](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q2yktk92n6HUn76pfXckxj-320-80.jpg)
What time is it on the moon? How a lunar clock debate led to an out-of-this-world timepiece
By Joe Rao published
What time is it on the moon? One wristwatch tried to answer that question, yet was largely forgotten by history.
![a meteor shower in the sky above a tent](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5vsy9dSjAVRZepwHHEvDDB-320-80.jpg)
Look for 'Earthgrazers' as the Eta Aquarid meteor shower overlaps the new moon on May 19
By Joe Rao published
The peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower unfortunately coincided with a bright full moon, but there is still time to catch a few stragglers was we approach the new moon on May 19.
![Person with telescope looking at moon and planets in night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Epz7RNLmeJZdwRrBc57ZUB-320-80.jpg)
When, where and how to see the planets in the 2023 night sky
By Joe Rao last updated
Reference This guide will tell you the best times to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in 2023, and clue you in about planetary meetups, conjunctions and more.
![a lunar eclipse above a tropical bay](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SLj4roDGMaS98XDLf4mLyH-320-80.jpg)
What time is the lunar eclipse on May 5?
By Joe Rao last updated
A penumbral lunar eclipse will take place at 11:13 a.m. EDT (1513 GMT) on Friday (May 5) and will peak at 1:24 p.m. EDT (1724 GMT).
![a tiny sliver of crescent moon in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BhFD6zYTC2QHpE5VfPn7K5-320-80.jpg)
The moon will appear as a tiny sliver tonight. Can you spot it?
By Joe Rao published
And on Thursday evening, April 20, everyone across North America will have an opportunity to sight an exceedingly young crescent moon. Try your own hand at finding it!
![a photograph of a total solar eclipse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TTJ3NqFuSRRyzjPHXPLDZe-320-80.jpg)
April 20 hybrid solar eclipse: An observer's guide
By Joe Rao published
On April 20, a hybrid solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Indonesia, East Timor, and Australia. Here's everything you need to know about this rare celestial spectacle.
![meteors streaking over a forest scene at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GKtoYzPn3h7wMFw2bXQfvf-320-80.jpg)
The Lyrid meteor shower begins April 16 to light up the spring night sky
By Joe Rao published
The Lyrids are an annual display of fairly fast meteors that may be seen any night from April 16 to 25.
![Sequence of total solar eclipse shows the sun disappearing behind the advancing moon and then remerging again.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LQCPvuJMQaJbULSsXqt947-320-80.jpg)
The Great American Solar Eclipse of 2024 is 1 year away! Where is the best place to see it?
By Joe Rao published
On April 8, 2024, a total eclipse will sweep across much of North America. Here we take a look at the weather prospects for the Great American Solar Eclipse.
![Venus will shine bright in the April 2023 night sky, as it often does.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iJccAMWj8pYKNh7ytaGZ7L-320-80.jpg)
April delights: Mercury, Venus and the Pleiades put on a sky show this month
By Joe Rao published
From now through mid-April, Venus will help you to identify the normally hard-to-find planet Mercury. And along the way, Venus will have a striking interaction with the Pleiades star cluster.
![two stars very close to one another in deep space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hM7uxLQF9baDjRstXvvLXQ-320-80.jpg)
The double stars of spring offer twice the skywatching fun this season
By Joe Rao published
Now that spring is officially here, we have a great view of some of the most interesting double stars in our sky.
![A man looks up at the dawn sky with a pair of binoculars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ANFmhpHqXt2EnvrfjPoyGS-320-80.jpg)
5 planets will align tonight and you won't want to miss it. Here's where to look.
By Joe Rao last updated
On March 27, a cosmic parade of five planets, the moon and a star cluster will line up in the night sky. Here's how to see the special event.
![graphic from Starry Night software showing the faintly illuminated young moon below Venus shining brightly.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tnh7w2rHxFqWdDUh2u7VG4-320-80.jpg)
Look up! See Venus shine next to the young moon tonight
By Joe Rao published
On Thursday, March 23, Venus will shine close to the slender slither of the young moon, providing an eye-catching sight in the night sky.