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
![The total lunar eclipse of Jan. 20-21, 2019, captured by astrophotographers Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre from the suburbs of Boston. From left to right: The start of totality, at 11:41 p.m. EST on Jan. 20; the middle of totality, at 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 21; and the end of totality at 12:44 a.m.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Gp68nVBzgHM8BXDcnBshSX-320-80.jpg)
See the fiery Blood Moon rise in a total lunar eclipse in May's must-see skywatching event
By Joe Rao published
If the weather is clear, skywatchers across most of the Americas, Europe and Africa will have a view of one of nature's most beautiful spectacles: a total eclipse of the moon.
![The moon sets after a partial lunar eclipse in November 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GWJhEgaiYiAorrWx7p9C2M-320-80.jpg)
May's lunar eclipse and a wild-card meteor shower may offer double spectacle
By Joe Rao last updated
May offers an unusual skywatching bounty: the possibility of two major celestial highlights occurring within the span of a single month.
![The Eta Aquarids meteor shower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/d4SjbJ8cSarJKxNLFL3ZtN-320-80.jpg)
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is the legacy of Halley's Comet in May's night sky
By Joe Rao last updated
Do you remember Halley's Comet? The last time this famous object was visible was in 1986, 36 years ago.
![The first solar eclipse of 2022 will happen on April 30.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tU8qgR6JSCWFHpnizv6yTn-320-80.jpg)
First solar eclipse of 2022 occurs Saturday. Here's what to expect.
By Joe Rao last updated
This year, humans on Earth will experience four eclipses: two of the sun and two of the moon. The first of these is a solar eclipse set to take place on Saturday, April 30th.
![A diagram showing the location of the moon, Jupiter and Venus before sunrise on April 26, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VJsTurYejx5nNpQcJhSLxi-320-80.jpg)
Venus and Jupiter align this week in spectacular morning sky shows
By Joe Rao published
The celestial highlight in the days ahead will involve the three brightest objects in the nighttime sky: the moon and the planets Venus and Jupiter.
![The planet Mercury will be visible in the evening sky about 40 minutes after sunset in the late April 2022 night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u5tbTVv3v3mQxe6tvL5qmD-320-80.jpg)
Elusive planet Mercury will shine after sunset in the April 2022 evening sky
By Joe Rao published
Mercury will join the evening sky of April after sunset starting on April 16. Here's how to see it.
![A comet known as C/2021 O3 (Pan-STARRS) may be visible in the night sky in April 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ErduJaUFmbk9SgMyqVpgZm-320-80.jpg)
Recently discovered Comet Pan-STARRS could be visible in April's night sky (maybe)
By Joe Rao published
Recently discovered comet Pan-STARRS is heading towards the sun in late April, but will we be able to see it?
![The predawn sky in April 2022 brings a dance of morning planets as Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn are all visible before sunrise.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XAV8fqiHhN3LZwMAxukUDm-320-80.jpg)
April's sky brings dance of 4 morning planets: See Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn.
By Joe Rao published
As the planets rise in April we're given stunning views, if you know where to look.
![Orion and Canis Major shine in the night sky. There are four celestial dogs hidden in the constellations of the spring night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/veqeMQsmfuQ5FiwRzFpbWP-320-80.jpg)
The mighty dog constellations of the spring night sky
By Joe Rao published
Four dog constellations are now visible in the night sky, if you know where to look
![Aurora borealis above camping tent](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8nLV6HgnBzgEEg29q3HqTP-320-80.jpg)
Spring is typically aurora season each year. Here's why.
By Joe Rao last updated
News One celestial sight that many have never witnessed but yearn to see is the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights
![This NASA graphic offers an introduction to the constellations visible in the Northern Hemisphere.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zDHiTCNw6TDUC8XEt4GHWj-320-80.jpg)
Can you really purchase and name a star?
By Joe Rao published
Some companies make money out of 'selling stars', or rather selling opportunities to name them, perhaps as a gift to a loved one. But is it really worth the money?
![March is a month of transition, as we change seasons from winter to spring. Here's some strange things to see in the night sky.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pPZqLDKRwgRgyyJLknxgGL-320-80.jpg)
March night sky wonders: Strange sights to see every year
By Joe Rao published
Reference A look into the March night sky for some sky objects with unusual solar system planets, stars and constellations.
![Orion the Hunter illustrated against a photograph of the sky at twilight](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3NVk4betZjonYM5CB4arPR-320-80.jpg)
Tour Orion the Hunter as we visit a constellation icon
By Joe Rao published
A look at the constellation of Orion: its history, shape and position
![The Harvest Moon of Oct. 1, 2020](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AU7q4xrY33dh5KALA2eazZ-320-80.jpg)
How frequent is the full Harvest Moon?
By Joe Rao last updated
The Harvest Moon is always the full moon closest to the time of the autumnal equinox.
![In this stunning night sky photo, the full arc of the Milky Way galaxy glitters over a photographer's shadow at the construction site for the European Southern Observatory's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), on the Chilean mountain Cerro Armazones.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WUCynKkbic2oBm3N3utuPW-320-80.jpg)
How dark is your night sky? An observer's guide
By Joe Rao published
Just one in five Americans lives under a sky dark enough to make out all four stars of the Little Dipper's bowl with the naked eye. Are you one of them?
![This beautiful satellite image shows the Andromeda galaxy, the Milky Way's closest neighbor at about 2.5 million light-years away, glowing in ultraviolet light.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YYoWaCcGfaFbgA4XhDxKFP-320-80.jpg)
Book reviews for three guides to the stars and constellations
By Joe Rao published
In this column, I'll provide reviews of three books that I consulted during my formative years in the hobby.
![Jupiter is the only naked-eye planet in the sky after sunset in February.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NKMV9Me6LvqGi3WKugQWhk-320-80.jpeg)
Farewell, Jupiter! The gas giant will disappear from the evening sky this month
By Joe Rao published
It will soon be time to bid a fond adieu to an object that has been a fixture in our evening sky since late last summer: the planet Jupiter.
![This image of M45, or the Pleiades star cluster, was taken by Ron Brecher in October 2016.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uXc6pEh2ygipxxkWNPgULB-320-80.jpg)
The top 5 deep-space objects to look for in the winter night sky
By Joe Rao published
Check out the most beautiful star clusters in the winter night sky.
![Canis Major and Canis Minor are visible in the south-southwest after sunset.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2mmh66aj24P8W79WDUTYt6-320-80.jpg)
How to spot Canis Major, the big dog of winter
By Joe Rao last updated
The constellation of Canis Major is visible in the winter sky this month.
![A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites for the U.S. Space Force, on Jan. 21, 2022.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xvb5o4yM4AwYkNcUscCmbG-320-80.jpg)
Space Force satellite launch could create a luminous cloud in tonight's evening sky
By Joe Rao published
Skywatchers in the Western Hemisphere may see a fuel dump from a satellite that launched earlier today on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
![Astrophotographer Chris Schur captured this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/axKraPELwMHn4W4f8mRD3M-320-80.jpg)
Brightening Comet Leonard may be visible without a telescope. Look near Venus.
By Joe Rao published
Skywatchers will have a chance to see Comet Leonard — the brightest comet of 2021 — near Venus in the evening sky tonight (Dec. 17).