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
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.
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).
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Hercules, the mighty strongman of the summer sky
By Joe Rao published
A staple of mythology, the hero Hercules has a strange celestial story.
What makes a planet look bright? It's complicated.
By Joe Rao published
The planets are a dynamic bunch, and throughout the year as seen from Earth, these celestial bodies appear not only to move across the sky but also to brighten and fade in turn.
Venus and the moon pass a fading Mars in the evening sky this weekend
By Joe Rao published
Catch the trio above the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset.
Aphelion Day 2021: Earth is farthest from the sun today!
By Joe Rao published
On July 5, 2021, Earth will be at the farthest point in its orbit around the sun, also known as aphelion.
Look up! Now is a great time to see Centaurus and his neighbors in the night sky
By Joe Rao published
This month, lying just above the southern horizon as darkness falls is a bright complex of stars stretching along the southern Milky Way. They include the constellations of Centaurus, Lupus and Crux.
Venus and the moon will shine bright in the night sky tonight
By Joe Rao last updated
Venus and the moon will shine bright together in the night sky tonight (June 11)!
'Ring of fire' eclipse 2021: When, where and how to see the annular solar eclipse on June 10
By Joe Rao last updated
Northern and eastern sections of North America will experience a dramatic solar eclipse next Thursday (June 10).
The Leonid Meteor Shower 2019 Is Peaking Now: Here's What to Expect
By Joe Rao last updated
It's going to be a poor year for one of the most famous meteor showers, the Leonids.
Watch Venus play 'peekaboo' with the crescent moon Friday morning
By Joe Rao last updated
If you live in the northeast U.S. or Canada, mark Friday, June 19, on your calendar. That morning the moon will rise with the brilliant planet Venus hidden behind it.
Bright Comet ATLAS could blaze into view this month
By Joe Rao last updated
Already visible in telescopes and high-power binoculars, the comet may be bright enough to see with the naked eye by the end of April.
See Venus and the Moon Shine Together in Post-Christmas Gift (Earthshine, Too!)
By Joe Rao last updated
On Saturday evening (Dec. 28), a lovely crescent moon will join Venus in the twilight sky, making for an eye-catching post-Christmas celestial ornament.
The Harvest Moon of 2020 rises tonight! But why is it in October?
By Joe Rao last updated
When the full moon shines tonight (Oct. 1), it will mark the Harvest Moon of 2020.
Sunrise at Copernicus crater: How to see the 'Monarch of the Moon'
By Joe Rao last updated
You can see the moon's famous Copernicus crater along the lunar terminator — the line lunar between day and night — on Thursday (Aug. 27).
See Mars with Jupiter and Saturn in the dawn sky in March
By Joe Rao last updated
This is a good week to check out progress of the planet Mars as it continues toward an unusually close approach to the Earth in early fall.