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 solar eclipse of Dec. 14, 2020 as seen from Piedra del Aquila, Argentina.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9rtbHiXS9DdknjSPgx2WB-320-80.jpg)
The only total solar eclipse of 2021 will cross Antarctica early Saturday. Here are its stages explained.
By Joe Rao last updated
Early Saturday morning, a total solar eclipse will darken skies at the bottom of the world.
![This diagram shows the stages of the partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 18-19, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNqvGnnDiodZkDfWcvvEXW-320-80.jpg)
The Beaver Moon partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 19 will be the longest of the century. Here are its stages explained.
By Joe Rao last updated
Here are the stages of the Beaver Moon lunar eclipse of Nov. 19, which will be the longest lunar eclipse this century.
![A visible lunar corona surrounds the blood moon eclipse of July 27, 2018, in this image captured by astrophotographer Miguel Claro in Portugal's Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve. [<strong>Full Story: <a href=“http://www.space.com/42318-lunar-eclipse-cloudy-halo-video.html” target=“_blank”>Total Lunar Eclipse Gets a Cloudy Halo in Cool Time-Lapse Video</a></strong>]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/obmzvBiErVc83MkUkpoaHF-320-80.jpg)
Beaver Moon eclipse weather forecast: Here's what to expect in the US for the nearly total lunar eclipse
By Joe Rao last updated
Much of the Nation's midsection should be in fine position weatherwise, to get a view of the upcoming "almost" total lunar eclipse scheduled for late Thursday night/early Friday morning (Nov. 18-19).
![Members of the New York Amateur Observers' Society on the 86th floor Observation Deck of the Empire State Building on Dec. 13, 1974 (a Friday), with their instruments set up in hopes of observing a partial solar eclipse. Unfortunately, cloudy skies precluded a view of that day's promised celestial show. The author (me) is the 6th person from the left.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nbZY8vjRw9ViXA7t6PJtsG-320-80.jpg)
How the Beaver Moon lunar eclipse of Nov. 19 has shades of 1967
By Joe Rao last updated
Our upcoming lunar eclipse has a direct connection to an eclipse that occurred in the late 1960s.
![The Leonid meteor shower peaks overnight on Nov. 16-17, 2021, with the best views arriving before dawn on Nov. 17.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6gQ2w5ZjvBVc5i9iDEfF3-320-80.jpg)
The Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight! But don't expect to see much.
By Joe Rao published
The Leonids are likely to be a major disappointment in 2021, partly because of the expected lack of any significant activity, but mainly because of the full moon.
![The stars Vega, 61 Cygni and Delta Cephei are located near the zenith, or the point directly overhead, around 8 p.m. local time as seen from midnorthern latitudes.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/L2UNVN6S8HdqGPjKcA9VyA-320-80.jpg)
Some celestial yardsticks are visible in the night sky
By Joe Rao published
In our sky this week, there are three stars that have been used to demonstrate how to measure stellar distances: Vega, 61 Cygni and Delta Cephei.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xCUSB2FbNNqYNMCG67oKrA-320-80.jpg)
Let's explore the personalities of some of the brightest stars in our sky
By Joe Rao published
If like me, you have been watching the night sky for a long time, you will begin to recognize certain stars and constellations as old friends.
![A brilliant fireball from the Taurid meteor shower lights up the night sky over a NASA Marshall Space Flight Center camera in Tullahoma, Tennessee on Oct. 28, 2014.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/reqygnU7map8VZonAa8UoA-320-80.png)
The Taurid meteor shower of 2021 is peaking now. Here's what to expect.
By Joe Rao last updated
The annual Taurid meteor shower made of bits of the comet Encke is peaking Friday, Nov. 5.
![Venus in ultraviolet light, as seen by NASA's Pioneer-Venus Orbiter in 1979.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LFFW4bjagi2mwPQC6givTd-320-80.jpg)
Brilliant Venus is putting on a sky show! How to track it for the rest of the year
By Joe Rao published
Venus is the first planet you'll spot these days — maybe even before sunset, if you know where to look in the south-southwest sky.
![Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes captured this photo of a Taurid meteor over Assateague Island National Seashore along the eastern shore of Maryland around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5th. The Taurid meteor shower <a href=http://www.space.com/34587-taurid-meteor-shower-guide.html>will be visible</a> through late November.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hsEnDHWDsAmZNU4QLgJVEi-320-80.jpeg)
An overview of the fall skies of 2021
By Joe Rao published
There's a lot to look at between now and the December solstice: two eclipses, four meteor showers, Venus reaching its pinnacle in brilliance and a potential bright comet!
![Mercury will reach dichotomy, meaning the planet appears half-illuminated as seen from Earth, on Oct. 23, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8P5zb3zwLvHF9p7KALPDNR-320-80.jpg)
How to spot the 'elusive' planet Mercury in the night sky this month
By Joe Rao published
For the next two and a half weeks, early-morning skywatchers will have an excellent opportunity to spot the so-called "elusive planet" — Mercury.
![The moon, Jupiter and Saturn will form a fetching triangle in the night sky in October 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jkqG56sE7VVEvmpd9KocbS-320-80.jpg)
Look up! The moon and 3 planets will gather after sundown this week
By Joe Rao last updated
Between Saturday and Thursday evenings (Oct. 9 to Oct. 14), the moon will visit not one but three bright planets: Venus, Saturn and Jupiter.
![NASA astronauts Kate Rubins, Alvin Drew and Mike Massimino give a star talk at a NASA "Star Party," in the David M. Brown Planetarium at the Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 19, 2013.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YVrsEMmtpkaRa9TLkQSYsS-320-80.jpg)
How to give a star talk
By Joe Rao published
For those with a knowledge of the night sky, there's a chance to share that knowledge and appreciation of the heavens with other people by giving a star talk.
![In this image we can see the asterism of the Summer Triangle a giant triangle in the sky composed of the three bright stars Vega (top left), Altair (lower middle) and Deneb (far left).](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JnDKXeQgt85UNy5QyRFPeG-320-80.jpg)
Far Eastern star legends: the princess and the herdsman
By Joe Rao published
The stars have provided inspiration for imaginative storytellers across the planet for millennia. This is the tale of two star-crossed lovers, Vega and Altair.
![corona borealis](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRfXEGbkXUnTra9CX5HVMd-320-80.png)
Two celestial crowns for late summer
By Joe Rao published
There are two star patterns representing crowns that are visible in our current late-summer evening sky: Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown) and Corona Australis (the Southern Crown).
![Jupiter, Saturn and the half moon, as seen from New York City looking south on the night of Sept. 16, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pPgHrAHYn3dC8SRVVbXGG9-320-80.jpg)
The moon will visit Saturn and Jupiter this week in skywatching doubleheader
By Joe Rao published
It's an excellent week to go skywatching as the moon creeps up to the two largest planets in our solar system.
![See the crescent moon form a triangle with Venus and the bright star Spica in the evening sky on Sept. 9, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g6oZWsjAZyK32PdGbGV8CR-320-80.jpg)
See the moon form a triangle with Venus and Spica tonight
By Joe Rao published
Thursday evening (Sept. 9) will bring a lovely celestial display involving the two brightest objects in the nighttime sky.
![The planet Venus gleams above the bright star Spica in the evening sky on Sept. 5, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XNYCgxAHS8GA5mBvEPwC2b-320-80.jpg)
Summer night sidelights: The stars to look for in the evening sky
By Joe Rao published
In this week's Night Sky column, we provide a potpourri of factoids concerning some of the more prominent objects appearing in the summertime sky.
![This sky map shows the view from New York City of the moon, Jupiter and Saturn on Saturday (Aug. 21) at 10 p.m. local time.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jRaMuLz5LrnM6zEF7weMGP-320-80.jpg)
See Jupiter and the moon make a close approach in tonight's sky
By Joe Rao published
Step outside around 45 minutes after sunset on Saturday evening (Aug. 21) and in a single glance you'll be able to partake in a gathering of the moon and the biggest planet of our solar system.
![The nearly-full moon of May, known as the Flower Moon, gleams against the twilight sky in this photo taken by Kevin M. Gill of Los Angeles, California, on May 6, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bDcJWabHP8VWuYC3qtTz9K-320-80.jpg)
The August 2021 full moon is, somehow, a Blue Moon. Here's why.
By Joe Rao last updated
We usually associate the term Blue Moon with a month containing two full moons. That won't happen in August, yet this month brings a Blue Moon nonetheless.
![A Perseid meteor streaks across the night sky in this 30-second exposure captured from West Virginia, on Aug. 11, 2021.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QCw6zwoSBp2Le56YKwUUDV-320-80.jpg)
Here's the US weather forecast for the Perseid meteor shower's peak tonight
By Joe Rao published
Clouds and smoke could foil the view for some skywatchers.
![A fish-eye view of Perseid meteors in 2016 as seen from West Virginia.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mnXD3zEb36kfZWVrR4LdAV-320-80.jpeg)
Perseid meteor shower peaks this month! New moon bodes well for skywatchers.
By Joe Rao published
Perseid meteors are already beginning to fall in a display that promises to dazzle skywatchers this month.
![A diagram shows Hercules in the late-July sky over New York City.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qv4kULSrXVoPf8tut8frcM-320-80.png)
Hercules, the mighty strongman of the summer sky
By Joe Rao published
A staple of mythology, the hero Hercules has a strange celestial story.