Early morning risers heading to work or school before sunrise are likely to notice a very bright, star-like object appearing low in the east-southeast sky just before sunrise. What is somewhat amazing is that just a couple of weeks ago this object wasn't there at all, but now it literally stands out with such brilliance as to almost command the attention of commuters who might be traveling in an easterly direction to "Look at me!"

The object in question is, of course, the planet Venus, which is currently amid one of its most spectacular forays into the morning sky, literally "vaulting up" into prominence.

On Oct. 24, Venus came to inferior conjunction, passing between the Earth and sun and shifting from the evening into the morning sky. And the view is only going to get better in the days and weeks to come!

Ascending in the morning

In terms of morning visibility, Venus is now in a literal and figurative sense "rising to the occasion." It's now rising before the break of dawn, more than 90 minutes before sunrise. From here on, it will rise three minutes earlier each day, so that by Dec. 17 it will rise 3 hours and 50 minutes before sunrise and blaze in a completely dark sky for more than two hours before the first vestige of morning twilight.

It will reach peak brilliance on Nov. 29, when it will shine at an eye-popping magnitude of -4.9. That's 12 times brighter than its nearest planetary competitor, Jupiter and a full 25 times more dazzling than Sirius, the brightest of all stars. If you live in a rural location with no light pollution to interfere, you might be able to make out that it is casting a visible shadow and if you follow it right on through sunrise, it will be evident to your naked eye in full daylight: a tiny white speck plainly evident against the blue daytime sky.

In a way, we could even regard Venus as this year's version of a "Christmas Star," glowing with stunning radiance ". . . in the east" like the biblical quote mentioned in St. Matthew.

What goes up, must come down

After reaching its high point in terms of morning visibility in mid-December, Venus will start a long, slow slide back toward the sun, rising about 1½ minutes later each morning from New Year's Day through late March. By then, Venus will be coming up as dawn is breaking, roughly 100 minutes before sunrise. Venus will continue to get gradually lower and rise progressively later during the spring and by late June it will be coming up less than an hour before sunrise, ultimately vanishing into the bright dawn twilight by July. Venus will then go on a "summer sabbatical" of sorts and will not reappear again until about this time next year when it will begin a very fine evening apparition.

So, if any of your friends or relatives remark to you that they saw a "strange UFO" on the way to work or school recently, you now can set them straight.

It's not E.T. It's only Venus.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope, The Old Farmer's Almanac and other publications.

I have been waiting to get my hands on a pair of Unistellar Envision smart binoculars since they were announced in 2024. Our editor-in-chief tried an early demo of them last year and said that they felt like something out of Star Trek. He was, of course, referencing the red augmented reality (AR) overlay in the Envisions that can identify night sky targets and landmarks, as well as displaying navigational tools. These are the first pair of smart binoculars that can identify targets in the night sky, such as planets, stars and deep space objects.

The build is solid and while they aren't the most lightweight binoculars, the body is hiding that extra technology that enables the AR overlay in the right hand lens. Each pair ships with a soft carry case, a padded neck strap, a USB-C cable and rubber caps for the eyepieces and lenses.

I would highly recommend setting these binoculars up in the daytime, as you definitely need a few minutes to get used to the controls and to perform the diopter adjustment. After powering on, all I had to do was connect the model to the Unistellar app, which recognised the device easily and then watch the onboarding videos. Unistellar also recommends performing a 360-degree calibration before your first use to help ensure the best performance.

You need to have location services set to "always" for the Unistellar app so that it can work out your exact location and give you an accurate reading on the augmented reality (AR) display for locations of night sky targets and landmarks.

I haven't had chance to use the night mode on these binoculars yet, thanks to cloudy skies, but I did use the topographical identification and was impressed with the ease of identifying landmarks around my local area. Besides the night and daytime modes, there is also a navigation mode which displays your cardinal direction alongside degrees of your azimuth and elevation angles.

I had a chance to try out the target lock feature on a geographical landmark with a friend and they found the target easily via the indicator on the AR display. The issue with swapping between two people is that the diopter adjustment only be accurate for one person and I can imagine that constantly changing it during field observation would be annoying. My friend also had to adjust the focus wheel to get the AR overlay sharp enough to read but it was a minor inconvenience.

The controls are intuitive and easy to use once you are used to the placement on the top panel. On the left you have the "next" button for advancing a guided tour to the next target, the "target lock" button and the "mode" button for cycling through the different display modes. On the right is the calibration button for adjusting the augmented reality (AR) display against your real-world view and the power button, which doubles up as a switch to turn the AR display on and off.

I'm looking forward to putting the Unistellar Envisions through their paces as I spend more time with them and get some clear skies to try them out on some stars. I think that these are going to be a great tool for learning my way around the night sky, as well as being invaluable when trying to teach others about constellations and targets. With extra functionality expected in future software updates and a plan to allow third-party app development in 2027, I am excited about the possibilities of the exciting new world of smart binoculars.

The first time I showed someone the Andromeda galaxy (M31), our conversation did not go quite as planned.

I'd carefully worked my way across the sky, starting from the Great Square of Pegasus and hopping from star to star until I was confident I had the right patch. I pointed the telescope, got M31 in its crosshairs and proudly announced to my wife that I had found the closest giant galaxy to the Milky Way. Would she like to see it?

She then stayed quiet for a little too long as she looked through the eyepiece. Then came an unexpected question. "Is it near that little smudge?" Hmmm. "Err, no. It is that little smudge," I replied.

There was a pause. Of course, I knew exactly what had happened. We'd both seen photographs of M31 — a vast spiral galaxy with a brilliant center, sweeping dust lanes and hundreds of billions of stars. What we were actually looking at was a grayish blur that could easily have been mistaken for a mark on the eyepiece.

That apparent disappointment is now my favorite part of finding Andromeda because the unimpressive smudge is real. The light entering your eyes has been traveling across space for about 2.5 million years. No screen, photograph or telescope is necessary. You are intercepting ancient light in your backyard. Technically, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), about 2.7 million light-years away, can be seen with the naked eye, so it is therefore the most distant object the naked eye can see. But not mine — I've never seen it. M31 is a much more realistic naked-eye target.

What's happening and when to look

Early November is an excellent time to find M31 from the Northern Hemisphere. It's high and well placed during the evening, and this week the moon is becoming particularly cooperative. New Moon falls around Nov. 9, giving us several evenings with little or no moonlight to wash out faint deep-sky objects.

I usually begin with the star Alpheratz, one of the corner stars of the Great Square of Pegasus. You go two stars left, two stars up, and you arrive at M31. Another route — and a good way to check you're in the right place — starts in Cassiopeia, the distinctive W-shaped constellation high in the northeastern sky on autumn evenings. You can use its second V-shape as an arrow pointing straight at M31.

You can do that star-hop with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars, but M31 is visible to the naked eye only under a very dark sky. However, don't look for a miniature version of the photographs. Expect a faint, elongated patch with a slightly brighter middle.

There's another beginner trap to avoid. Images make Andromeda look compact, but its full apparent extent is enormous — several times the width of the full moon — and our eyes usually pick up only the much brighter central region. Once you know that, the smudge starts making more sense.

How and when I'm watching it

I'm going to look for Andromeda this week in the least heroic way possible. No expedition. No mountain-top observing location. No elaborate equipment. I'll wait until it is properly dark, step outside and then use Cassiopeia and the stars of Andromeda to work my way toward M31. I'll then reach for my 10x50 binoculars, which are rarely far from my side after dark, whether I'm at home or traveling. They gather enough light to make the galaxy's bright central region much more obvious without turning the exercise into a technical one.

A really useful skill here — whether looking unaided or through binoculars — is averted vision. Instead of staring directly at the galaxy, look slightly beside it. The more light-sensitive parts of the retina away from the center of our vision can make faint objects easier to detect. It feels slightly ridiculous the first time you do it — deliberately not looking at the thing you're trying to see — but it works.

If light pollution means you need binoculars, that still counts. No one gets a prize for detecting Andromeda unaided. After all, the extraordinary part isn't how you see it. It's what the light has done before reaching you. When those photons began their journey, modern humans did not exist. They crossed intergalactic space for roughly 2.5 million years and ended their trip in your retina. Stargazing is often described as looking back in time. With Andromeda, that phrase stops being a metaphor.

Stargazer's corner: November 6-12, 2026

This is the week you've been waiting for if you want to spend time on faint objects rather than fighting moonlight. Without a bright moon overhead, spend some time on Andromeda, but revisit the Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC 884). Binoculars show it beautifully, and unlike M31, it becomes more obviously crowded with stars as you increase magnification. Two other large, bright open star clusters in this region that look great in 10x50 binoculars are the glittering stars of NGC 752 in Andromeda and M34, a bright, hazy patch in Perseus.

Also keep an eye out for "shooting stars" because the Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks overnight on Nov. 11-12. Rates are low — around five meteors per hour under ideal conditions — so don't expect them to "light up the night sky". But they can produce bright, long-lasting 'fireballs' that can add a bit of pizzazz to a stargazing session.

Constellation of the week: Andromeda

Now that you've found its jewel, the Andromeda galaxy, it's worth trying to construct the constellation itself. As with M31, start with the Great Square of Pegasus and Alpheratz at its northeastern corner. Although it looks like part of the square, Alpheratz actually belongs to Andromeda. From Alpheratz, follow a curving line of stars away from the square through Mirach and on toward Almach. That gives you the basic shape of Andromeda — not the easiest constellation to imagine as a mythological princess, but a useful chain of stars to learn.

The northern lights could put on an impressive display this weekend as a colossal coronal hole on the sun fires a stream of high-speed solar wind toward Earth.

Minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, with a chance of moderate (G2) conditions on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

If G2 conditions materialize, the northern lights could be visible as far south as New York and Idaho.

What is happening?

The culprit behind the potential uptick in northern lights is a large coronal hole on the sun, a region where the sun's magnetic field opens up. They allow streams of charged particles known as the solar wind to escape more easily into space. Coronal holes appear darker in ultraviolet images because they are cooler and less dense than their surroundings.

And this particularly large — and rather oddly shaped — coronal hole is sending some seriously speedy wind our way.

The U.K. Met Office forecasts solar wind speeds between 342 and 404 miles (550-650 kilometers) per second, considerably faster than the typical speed of around 249 miles (400 km) per second.

The fast solar winds are expected to arrive around Nov. 6-7 and could persist through much of the weekend. It could interact with Earth's magnetic field, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms and fueling spectacular aurora shows. The stronger the storm, the farther south the northern lights can potentially be seen.

Where will auroras be visible?

Under G1 conditions, auroras may be visible from northern Michigan and Maine, but if activity intensifies to G2 levels, skywatchers farther south, including those in New York and Idaho, could be in for a treat.

But remember! Aurora forecasts are notoriously tricky. Much depends on the strength and orientation of the magnetic field carried by the incoming solar wind, particularly whether it points southward, allowing more energy to transfer to Earth's magnetic field.

Northern Hemisphere aurora forecast courtesy of the U.K. Met Office

To give yourself the best chance of seeing the northern lights, keep an eye on those aurora forecasts, head somewhere dark away from city lights if you can, with a view of the northern horizon.

To stay updated on space weather and know the best times and places to catch auroras, consider using a space weather app tailored to your location. One app I recommend is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available on both iOS and Android. Another great tool is the "Space Weather Live" app on iOS and Android, which offers more in-depth insights into current space weather conditions and their potential for aurora activity.

The Pococo Galaxy Star Projector has firmly established itself as a fan-favorite home planetarium, backed by almost 3,000 Amazon reviews and a stellar 62% five-star rating. Its standout performance easily earned it a permanent spot on our buyer's guide to the best star projectors as the best value choice on the market. This early Black Friday deal is offering 24% saving off the retail price, with a $25 discount.

You can get the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector, on sale for just $79.99 on Amazon.

If you're looking for an early Christmas gift, then the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is currently at its best price of the year and is worth picking up now, as this deal is marked as a limited-time offer.

• We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

With an impressive $25 discount, the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector hits a genuine sweet spot for both casual stargazers and detail-obsessed space fans, easily doubling as ambient mood lighting for unwinding, studying or meditation.

During testing, its no-fuss operation proved to be a real highlight. The interface is stripped back to just three intuitive buttons dedicated to power, rotation, and an auto-shutoff sleep timer.

Cord-free convenience is another massive win; the integrated battery charges via standard USB-C, letting you easily shift the projector from a bedside table to a shelf without tethering it to a wall socket. Eco-conscious buyers will also appreciate the thoughtful chassis construction, which incorporates recycled plastics.

Unlike cheap novelty lasers, the Pococo relies on swappable, scientifically accurate optical discs to cast high-fidelity snapshots of the cosmos across your walls and ceiling.

You get two discs included in the box to get you started immediately, with optional themed expansion packs available for roughly $53. However, if you wish to add to your disc collection straight away, the Pococo Expansion Packs are also currently 20% off on Amazon. That takes these six disc sets down to just $43.19, from the usual $53.99. Expansion packs include a series of packages, including the Moon and stars, fixed stars and nebulas and also the immersive planets.

Key Specs: Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.7 x 4.7-inches (157 x 120 x 120mm), weight: 1.7 lbs (771g), max. size of projection: 39 x 39 ft (12 x 12m), rechargeable battery.

Product launched: September 2022.

Price history: With a launch price of $120, the price has dipped over time and sat around the $99 mark, only dipping for sale events, like Black Friday. However, the current $79.99 price is one of the lowest prices we've seen.

Review consensus: The Pococo Star Projector ticked all the boxes for us as an overall excellent projector, and we think it's a worthwhile competitor to more expensive rivals. It has a similar functionality to the best in guide Homestar Flux, and we think its imagery is just as good. Add the fact that the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is rechargeable, and with its current discount, it's arguably better.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best star projectors

Buy if: You don't want to drop too much money and want a star projector that combines soothing lights with detailed imagery of planets, constellations and nebulas.

Don't buy if: You're looking for the best money can buy; the Homestar Flux Home Planetarium Star Projector is our best in guide, currently priced at $259 on Amazon.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Black Friday is still weeks away but we've spotted this early telescope deal on a Celestron telescope designed with beginners in mind.

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a great entry-level telescope that delivers better views of the moon, planets and some deep-sky objects. It's also suitable for children while you decide if you want to drop serious money on a bigger telescope further down the line.

You can buy the Celestron Travel Scope 70, on sale right now for $90 on Amazon.

• Check out our Black Friday page, where we bring you the best deals of Black Friday 2026, including early telescope deals.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

Moving from stargazing with the naked eye to using specialist optics, like binoculars and telescopes, is a wonderful experience. You get to see those wonderful objects in the sky up-close and in much more detail. The problem? A lot of the best telescopes cost eye-watering prices or are so big that you have to sacrifice floor space in your home. You might want one of those models and are still figuring out which one to buy. What to do in the meantime?

Grabbing a small budget model like the Celestron Travel Scope 70 won't dent your bank account and will provide you with better views of the moon, planets and stars without requiring its own observatory. We reviewed the Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 and gave it three and a half stars for its portability, affordability and the great views of the moon it delivered.

It is especially ideal for beginner astronomers or children and a great starting telescope to nurture a lifelong hobby and interest in the night sky. It won't give you the most HD views but it is great for getting a better view of the moon, Jupiter and some star clusters.

With Black Friday arriving Nov. 27, we are expecting prices to drop across a range of skywatching gear, technology and Lego, so stay tuned to our Black Friday page for the best prices on gear we have experience with.

Key features: 70mm aperture, fully coated optics, a carry bag, a collapsible, full-height tripod, 10mm and 20mm eyepieces, a finderscope and Celestron's Starry Night Software Basic Edition.

Price history: This scope dipped to $81 during Amazon's June Prime Day event, but this is the cheapest it has been since then.

Price Comparison: Amazon: $90 | B&H Photo: $90 | Best Buy: $90

Review consensus: This is a great beginner-friendly telescope and comes with a couple of eyepieces to get new users on their skywatching journey. It has a strong review consensus on Amazon that praises the ease of assembly and portability of the model.

✅ Buy it if: You are a total beginner or just need something light that can be taken away on a trip.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something that has more room to grow with you as you get more experience stargazing. Our best telescopes guide has other options that are more expensive, but many of them offer more room to grow after you have learned the basics.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Students gathered under the stars in Hawaii recently to explore the awesome nature of the night sky together.

What is it?

From Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, more than 1,400 students on the Big Island of Hawaii gathered for the Journey Through the Universe event to explore astronomy together.

The Journey Through the Universe program is currently in its 23rd year. It was originally developed by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and later introduced in Hawaii by the international Gemini Observatory, a program within the U.S. National Science Foundation's NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory) that works with the Department of Education Hilo-Waiākea.

The program aims to introduce students in the Hilo-Waiākea public school system to astronomy as well as the incredible science that happens across Hawaii. The students who participate range from preschoolers to seniors in high school, so the program introduces some students to astronomy and helps others explore possible careers in STEM fields.

This year, the program brought in 19 volunteer educators from scientific institutions like Maunakea Observatories and supported hands-on activities and lessons that went from the classroom to under the Milky Way.

Why is it incredible?

This image shows a growing love for astronomy in progress. From the red glow of a skywatching night (red light doesn't interfere with our ability to see at night like white light does) to the scattered telescopes and students standing under the stars, this scene paints a larger picture.

This is just one program, but in bringing together volunteers, educators, scientists and students, the program has created an incredible and enduring learning experience.

Whether or not students walk away wanting to pursue a career in STEM, this incredible immersion in astronomy can help to foster a lifelong appreciation for science and nature. It's always a great idea to gather under the stars and explore together.

Heads up stargazers! The Taurid meteor shower is upon us, bringing multiple peaks of activity that could see spectacular shooting stars and fireballs brighten November's sky. Here's where and when to look.

What is the Taurid meteor shower(s)?

Every autumn, Earth plows through streams of debris left behind by Comet Encke, a 3-mile-wide (4.8-kilometer) ice body that orbits the sun once every 3.3 years.

These debris streams produce two branches of the Taurid meteor shower: The Southern Taurids, active from Sept. 20 to Nov. 20 and the Northern Taurids, active from Oct. 20 to Dec. 10.

As Earth plows through the debris streams, tiny particles slam into our atmosphere at 65,000 miles per hour (104,607 kilometers per hour), producing dazzling streaks of light across the night sky.

Both branches of the Taurid meteor shower appear to travel away from a point of origin — or radiant — located in the constellation Taurus, which rises in the southeastern sky during November evenings.

The Taurids are known for spawning brilliant fireball meteors, which can flare brighter than Venus as pebble-sized pieces of debris enter and burn up in the atmosphere.

When to look for Taurid shooting stars

The Southern Taurid shower features two distinct yearly peaks, the first of which occurred on Oct. 14. The second takes place overnight on Nov. 4-5 and is associated with an increase in fireball activity, when up to five meteors per hour could be seen blazing across the sky.

The Northern Taurid stream, meanwhile, is expected to peak overnight on Nov. 11-12 with the same predicted hourly rate of up to five meteors per hour streaking across the dark, near moonless sky.

How to spot Taurid meteors

Head out to a dark sky location around midnight on the night of the peaks, when the shower's radiant in the constellation Taurus is positioned high in the southeastern sky, maximizing the number of meteors that can be seen.

Remember not to stare directly at the radiant. Meteors seen close to the constellation Taurus strike our planet almost head-on, and so will have the shortest trails. Instead, pick out a patch of sky a little distance away, where the shooting stars will be at their most eye-catching as they skim through Earth's atmosphere.

Never use a telescope or binoculars to hunt for meteors, you want to take in as much of the sky as possible, not limit your field of view! And be sure to wrap up warm and allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark — a vital and often overlooked step for anyone hoping to catch even the faintest of meteors.

Check out our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, along with our guide to capturing fast-moving meteors if you want to create a permanent memory of the next big shower.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your photos of Taurid meteors with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

On Aug. 2, 2027, the moon's shadow will sweep across some of the most iconic filming locations from Star Wars, plunging them into darkness during what's being called the "eclipse of the century".

The path of the 2027 total solar eclipse will cross southern Tunisia, where several locations were used to bring the fictional desert planet Tatooine to life. From the dunes of Mos Espa to the rocky Jundland Wastes, Star Wars fans will have the rare opportunity to experience totality at the very places where their favorite scenes were filmed

But not every famous filming location will experience totality, so choosing where to watch will be crucial. Here are four locations that fall directly in the moon's shadow. All times, totality durations and historical cloud cover data come from Time and Date.

1. Eriguet dunes (Mos Espa)

With a massive budget and three prequels to make, Lucasfilm built a new film set that would double as the Mos Espa spaceport on Tatooine for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. This is where Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jar Jar Binks and Padme get stranded, where they meet Anakin Skywalker and where the podrace takes place. Now abandoned, it's in the middle of nowhere, between two huge salt lakes and subject to the intense heat and moving Eriguet dunes — but it is firmly within the path of totality. Nearby are two other shooting locations — the Ong Jemel outcrop, where Darth Maul arrives on the scene, and Yardang, where Qui-Gon and Darth Maul battle — the first-ever lightsaber duel filmed on location.

2. Maguer Gorge (Jundland Wastes)

Often called "Star Wars Canyon" by fans and crew, Maguer Gorge in Jebel Sidi Bouhlel doubled as the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. It's where Luke Skywalker is attacked by Tusken Raiders, where Obi-Wan Kenobi first appears and where Luke and Obi-Wan discover the slaughtered Jawas. The canyon also provided the distant view of Mos Eisley — the famous "wretched hive of scum and villainy." On Aug. 2, 2027, you'll likely be pointing your macrobinoculars at the eclipsed sun rather than Tusken Raiders.

Steven Spielberg later filmed here for Raiders of the Lost Ark, including the scene in which Indiana Jones threatens to destroy the Ark with a bazooka. Just south of Dghoumès National Park is a desert oasis called Bouhlel Sdada, used for the archaeological dig scenes in Raiders.

3. Ajim (Mos Eisley)

Djerba Island's palm trees, beaches and Mediterranean horizons will make it a popular destination for eclipse chasers after a long totality away from the heat and crowds of Luxor in Egypt. It's also home to three notable Star Wars filming locations. The original movie's Mos Eisley footage was shot here, with Ajim doubling as a Stormtrooper checkpoint ("These are not the droids you're looking for"), the Cantina exterior, and an alley near Docking Bay 94 where stormtroopers watch the Millennium Falcon blast off. In reality, it's an abandoned bakery.

4. Amghar Mosque (Obi-Wan Kenobi's house)

Just north of Ajim, this mosque — originally a fisherman's house — was used as a stand-in for "Old Ben's" house, where Obi-Wan Kenobi gives Luke Skywalker a lightsaber. It was used purely for photography, and no actors set foot here. It was also cut from the movie's Special Edition in 1997, so you'll only find it in the original version. Completists might also want to check out Sidi Jemour Mosque to the north, which was used for scenes with Biggs Darklighter that didn't even make the final cut. IYKYK …

How to go on a Star Wars tour in Tunisia

Tunisia's Star Wars locations are spread across the south, so the easiest way to see several is on an organized tour or with a private driver and guide. Tozeur is the main base for visiting Mos Espa, Ong Jemel and Jebel Sidi Bouhlel, with local operators offering half-day and full-day 4x4 excursions into the desert. Djerba Island is the other major hub for three sights. Longer multi-day tours typically connect Tozeur with Matmata, home to Hotel Sidi Idriss — the Lars Homestead — as well as Djerba.

One tour company, Star Wars Tours, is running a (sold-out) special departure called "Eclipse tour from the Outer Rim" that witnesses totality at the Mos Espa set. Other Star Wars-focused tour operators include Galaxy Tours, though one-day trips to the Mos Espa set from Tozeur are also available.

Where else to watch the eclipse in Tunisia

Tunisia is surely one of the most attractive destinations for the Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse. Historical cloud cover is exceptionally low, while totality reaches around five and a half minutes near the centerline. It also offers established tourism infrastructure and generally lower August temperatures than Egypt, making it an obvious alternative for eclipse chasers hoping to avoid the biggest crowds around Luxor.

You can, of course, visit the Star Wars sets in the days before or after the eclipse. For Tunisia's maximum duration of totality, consider Sfax, where darkness lasts 5 minutes, 41 seconds, or nearby Chaffar Beach, with its long, open Mediterranean coastline. Offshore, the low-lying Kerkennah Islands get around 5 minutes, 39 seconds. Inland, Sidi Bouzid offers about 5 minutes, 33 seconds beneath typically dry skies, while the spectacular Roman amphitheater at El Jem gets 4 minutes, 23 seconds. On Djerba Island, meanwhile, beaches and extensive resort infrastructure make combining an eclipse chase with a conventional Mediterranean vacation particularly easy — with a view of Mos Eisley thrown in for good measure.

Betelguese, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, has been putting on quite a show lately — but not in the way you might expect.

The famous red supergiant in the constellation Orion has been growing noticeably fainter in recent months.

Of the 21 brightest stars in the night sky, Betelgeuse is perhaps the most enigmatic. Its changing brightness poses a puzzle: how do the star's pulsations, dust eruptions, and a possible companion contribute to its fading?

A giant star with a puzzling name

Even the translation of Betelgeuse's name is contentious. For a long time, it was thought to be a corruption of three Arabic words, usually translated as "The Armpit of the Giant." However, other experts in star nomenclature now dispute that interpretation, proposing instead "The Hand of al-Jauzā," with al-Jauzā referring to Orion.

Although classified as a red supergiant, Betelgeuse usually appears more orange than red— golden orange or deep topaz. It is one of the most famous stars in its class. Henry M. Neely (1877-1963), for many years a popular lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium, described its restless behavior in his book A Primer for Stargazers:

"(Betelgeuse) expands and contracts spasmodically, like an old man with his strength almost entirely spent, panting in the asthmatic decrepitude of old age."

The rhythms of a changing star

Betelgeuse naturally expands and contracts like a beating heart. As an aging red supergiant, it has a regular pulsation cycle of roughly 430 days: when it expands, its outer layers cool and it dims; when it contracts, they heat up and it brightens. Among first-magnitude stars — the brightest category of stars in the night sky — it is the only marked variable. Its scale is equally remarkable: located 650 light-years away, Betelgeuse is among the largest and most luminous stars of its class, with a luminosity of about 14,000 suns at maximum and 7,600 suns at minimum. Only a few such objects have been identified in our galaxy.

British astronomer Sir John Herschel (1792-1871) first noticed Betelgeuse's variability beginning in 1836. Astronomers describe apparent brightness using magnitude: lower numbers mean brighter stars. In April 2023, Betelgeuse reached magnitude 0.0 — as bright as Vega, the fifth brightest star. At minimum brightness, such as in 1927 and 1941, its magnitude may fall to +1.2, making it appear about three times fainter.

Three threads run through this mystery: Betelgeuse's roughly 430-day pulsation, its much longer recurring dimming cycle, and the exceptional Great Dimming of 2019—2020. Keeping them, separate helps explain why one cause need not account for every change in brightness.

A longer cycle and a possible companion

Alongside its roughly 430-day pulsation, Betelgeuse shows a mysterious 2,100-day (5.75-year) dimming cycle. Known as a "Long Secondary Period," this longer cycle puzzled astronomers for a century. Some suggested that one or more stars might orbit Betelgeuse; others found no evidence for such companions or actively refuted their existence.

At long last, in January 2026, researchers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) located in on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, published the clearest images and direct evidence of a faint companion star orbiting the red supergiant. Formally named Alpha Ori B, Jared Goldberg, an astrophysicist researching the phenomenon, nicknamed the companion star "Betelbuddy," though in deference to the new definition of Betelgeuse's name meaning "the hand of al-Jawzā," the name Siwarha was ultimately chosen for the probable companion star, which means her bracelet in Arabic.

In this explanation, Siwarha orbits deep within Betelgeuse's outer chromosphere, a layer of its atmosphere, circling about every six years. As it moves through gas and dust ejected by the supergiant, its gravity creates a dense wake of gas, with ripples and shockwaves that disrupt stellar winds and mass loss. When the concentrated dust trail passes between Earth and Betelgeuse, it can make the main star appear decidedly dimmer.

Compare Betelgeuse with Aldebaran

Betelgeuse recently experienced another sharp drop in brightness. Since this past August, it has faded from magnitude +0.5 to +0.95 and now appears just a trifle dimmer than the similarly hued orange star Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull. This decline may be another example of the dimming described above, although the brightness change alone does not establish its cause.

Aldebaran can be used as a comparison to Betelgeuse, since they both happen to be in the general vicinity of each other. If you want to make such a determination yourself, keep in mind that Aldebaran currently rises in the east-northeast before 7 p.m. local standard time, followed about 90 minutes later by Betelgeuse, which will emerge from beyond the eastern horizon. By 11:30 p.m., both stars will be well placed for viewing in the east-southeast part of the sky.

Betelgeuse marks Orion's right shoulder. To locate Aldebaran, look for the three bright, evenly spaced stars that form Orion's belt. Draw an imaginary line through the three belt stars and extend it upwards and to the right. Follow that line for about two fists' width at arm's length (roughly 22 degrees) until you hit a sideways, V-shaped cluster of stars known as the Hyades, which forms the face of Taurus. Aldebaran sits right at one end of that V-shape, glowing with a distinct orange-red color as the "angry eye" of the bull charging toward Orion.

View them late tonight; which star appears brighter?

The Great Dimming of 2019—2020

The changes visible now invite comparison with a far more dramatic episode: The Great Dimming Event of 2019—2020.

Between October 2019 and February 2020, Betelgeuse experienced an unprecedented, dramatic plunge in brightness — losing over two-thirds of its luster, falling from magnitude +0.5 to +1.7; the rank of a second magnitude star. It then returned to a more normal brightness, reaching an unusually bright peak of 0.0 by the spring of 2023. While the sudden dimming caused internet and media speculation that Betelgeuse was about to die as a spectacular supernova, infrared structural and chemical models showed no significant change in the star's luminosity; Betelgeuse was still firmly in its helium-burning phase and is expected to live for another 100,000 to perhaps many hundreds of thousands of years before it explodes.

So, what caused The Great Dimming? The mystery was ultimately solved by compiling data from the Hubble Space Telescope and ground observatories.

Apparently, Betelgeuse "sneezed."

A massive bubble of superhot plasma rose from a giant convection cell inside the star and blasted into space. As this ejected gas moved millions of miles away from the star, it cooled rapidly and condensed into solid silicon monoxide dust. This giant stardust cloud acted like a literal screen, blocking a substantial portion of the star's light from our viewpoint. This event was exacerbated because the massive eruption perfectly aligned with the lowest point of the star's 430-day pulsation cycle as well as the orbital interference of the companion star Siwarha.

From the standpoint of producing the absolute maximum possible dimming of Betelgeuse, this cosmic trifecta was the perfect storm!

Untangling the mystery

Betelgeuse has long been known as a variable star, and recent breakthroughs are helping astronomers untangle its erratic behavior. Internal pulsations and massive dust eruptions contribute to its changing brightness, while gravitational interactions with the newly reported, probable companion explain the longer dimming cycle. Together, these mechanisms paint a richer picture of why Orion's giant star fades and brightens.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope, The Old Farmer's Almanac and other publications.

Budget primes can be, surprisingly, excellent choices for photographers shooting all subjects. It’s all too easy to get carried away with the best specs, such as a large maximum aperture and impressive optical design often seen in more expensive options. But affordable lenses like the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II FE (APO) have the potential to impress and delight in equal measure.

The 35mm f/1.8 is a compact and lightweight lens offering a reasonably fast maximum aperture, making it a prime candidate for astrophotography. It’s also the same size and almost the same weight as the Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 FE (APO), another lens that could potentially grace your camera bag.

With a highly attractive price tag of just $399 / £385, and mount options for Nikon Z and Sony FE, many astrophotographers will be wondering if this is a lens worth considering. It features 13 elements in 10 groups, as well as featuring an apochromatic (APO) design for reducing chromatic aberration as much as possible. As much as possible is key here because not all lenses are as successful as the manufacturer claims, although that’s not a comment on the 35mm f/1.8. Read on to discover if this could be one of the best lenses for astrophotography.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens review

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Performance

• Sharp images for the price
• Sweet spot at f/8-f/11, not ideal for astro
• Some astigmatism at the edges of the frame

For a budget lens, the 35mm f/1.8 produces great, yet not perfect, image quality. On the plus side, images are nice and sharp, particularly in the centre, even when shooting wide open at f/1.8. At this aperture setting, though, there is some astigmatism at the left edges of the frame. This is where stars appear as crosses. This is a surprise since it’s an APO lens, and, equally surprising, it’s isolated, but it is something you have to consider.

You do have to zoom into the image to see it, so it may not be a dealbreaker. Photos shot at f/1.8 are sharpest in the centre, with some fall-off towards the edges, with the corners exhibiting the least sharpness. There’s also the strongest vignetting at f/1.8. At the time of writing, there’s no Adobe Lightroom lens profile for the lens, but you can manually remove the vignetting and even create a preset of your own.

The vignette disappears as soon as f/4, with a gradual increase in sharpness across the frame between f/2.8 and f/5.6. f/8 and f/11 appear identical in terms of sharpness and occupy the sweet spot, while diffraction is clearly at work when you stop down to f/16. In reality, it’s unlikely you’d shoot beyond f/11 with this lens, even if you were shooting landscapes.

Overall, image quality is impressive despite not being perfect and stopping down to f/2.8 when shooting astro does provide greater clarity across the frame. This is, as you know, at the expense of having to shoot at a slightly higher ISO setting to compensate.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Design

• Compact and lightweight
• Manual aperture ring
• Weather sealed

While f/1.8 lenses may not have the speed and light-gathering capabilities of faster f/1.4 and f/1.2 lenses, they’re considerably smaller and lighter. The lens only has a 58mm filter thread, so if you use any night filters, they will be at the less expensive end of the price scale.

For some photographers, the slight speed reduction of f/1.8 is a worthy compromise, and at 3.33 x 4.37 in / 69 x 76 mm with a weight of 12.52 oz / 355 g, the 35mm f/1.8 is beautifully compact and balances well with camera bodies.

Build quality is excellent, and it’s fair to say the lens belies its budget price tag. The metal build alongside the manual aperture ring gives the 35mm f/1.8 a much more premium look and feel.

The aperture ring can also be set to A for in-body aperture adjustments, as well as offering the ability to switch the aperture click on and off. The latter is most popular with videographers. There’s also a customizable Fn button on the side.

The lens is weather-sealed against light rain and dust, with a rubber gasket on the lens mount. The front element also features a water and smudge-resistant coating, which is certainly useful for outdoor photography. Plus, there’s a minimum focusing distance of just 13.4 in / 34 cm, which is useful for daylight photography but of no consequence for astrophotography.

The 35mm f/1.8 is made up of 13 elements in 10 groups, and as previously mentioned, features an APO design, which is intended to eliminate chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes.

The elements include two extra-low dispersion (ED), three high refractive index (HR) and one ultra aspherical (UA). The UA lens is claimed to be Viltrox’s LAB Series quality, which matches the Viltrox flagship line-up.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Functionality

• Smooth manual focus
• Internal focusing
• Stepping motor-powered AF

When it comes to features, prime lenses are always pretty basic, with few features to shout about. The 35mm f/1.8 is certainly no exception, but its build quality and overall design hold up alongside its image quality and reasonably fast maximum aperture. It does, however, have a few points worth mentioning.

One feature that many Viltrox lenses have, including the 35mm f/1.8, is a USB-C Port on the lens mount. This allows you to use a smartphone app or a desktop app to quickly and easily update firmware. This is so much easier than having to download a file to your memory card and installing lens updates via the camera, which is how most native lenses have to be updated.

The manual aperture ring features click and clickless operation via a switch on the side, so you can easily see what aperture you’re using at a glance. The focusing ring is smooth and offers comfortable resistance, making manual focus a breeze. It’s also wide enough to rotate using gloves, although, being a compact lens, it’s narrower than what you’d expect on a larger and faster prime lens.

Autofocus (AF) is reasonably fast and silent, being powered by an stepping motor (STM). The AF performance seemed to improve after the firmware update that was installed via the desktop app before testing fully commenced.

This functionality isn’t, of course, relevant to astrophotography, but it’s still a useful point to mention in case you intend to use the lens with autofocus in the day. Focusing is also internal, so the front element doesn’t rotate during focusing like cheap and cheerful kit lenses.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO)

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO) was tested with the Sony A7R V, which offers an unforgivingly high resolution. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality for an all-round approach to testing.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): User reviews

Online reviews echo one another, praising the AF 35mm f/1.8 for its sharpness and cost. Users appreciate that while it’s certainly not in the league of Sony’s premium G Master lenses, it represents great value for money. Some reviewers mention great build quality and looking good when paired with their Sony camera.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO)?

Prime lenses can be expensive, especially if you’re looking at those with an f/1.4 or f/1.2 maximum aperture. The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO) is a budget option in the Viltrox line-up, but with decent overall performance alongside impressive image quality for the price, this is a great 35mm lens for those on a budget. It’s also compact and lightweight, which could be useful if you often head out shooting with several lenses in your kit bag.

Just going back to image quality, images are sharp, but when shooting astrophotography at f/1.8, there was some astigmatism at the left edges of the frame. This is where stars appear as crosses. You can only really see this when you zoom in to 100%, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re looking for the closest to optical perfection you can find.

When a weather-sealed prime lens with a manual aperture ring costs just $399 / £385, you can’t help but take notice. Build quality is excellent and the lens undoubtedly looks and feels like it would be more expensive than it is.

Considering all of this and the image quality, the lens is fairly priced and is still at the release price, so it could become more affordable in the future. Just like other Viltrox lenses, in the box you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens case.

If this lens isn't for you

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is part of Viltrox’s flagship lens series and offers a much faster maximum aperture, as the name suggests. It’s also more expensive, larger and heavier.

If you’d like a wider lens, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a fantastic option offering exceptional image quality alongside a compact build and light weight. A potential must-have for Sony users.

If you’d like to go wider still, the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is an absolute beast of a lens, offering an ultra-wide light-gathering field of view alongside a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture.

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It came from outer space, exploding high above the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina.

That April 1 event — an incoming meteor, also termed a bolide — was observed by both U.S. space-based military and civil sensors.

Hush-hush U.S. government satellite sensors detected the speedy fireball cutting through our atmosphere. The object's brightness peaked at an altitude of nearly 60 miles (90.5 kilometers) over the South Atlantic.

That dazzling spectacle was also caught by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration's GOES-E and Europe's Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Imager-1 satellite. Those two independent spacecraft in geostationary orbit detected the bolide via onboard lightning imagers.

This skyfall show is among a number of recent episodes that spotlight the value of combining multi-sensor data to not only portray fireball dynamics but also to help appreciate human-caused space debris impacts, as well as strengthening planetary defense knowhow.

Catastrophic fragmentation

Take, for instance, another extraterrestrial incident.

In this case, an April 24, 2025 fireball over south-central Alaska yielded one of the most densely recorded "seismoacoustic" datasets ever obtained for a nature-made bolide en route to busting up.

A network of 37 seismic stations, 16 single infrasound sensors, and four infrasound arrays recorded 30 ballistic and multiple fragmentation arrivals. All this was complemented by Doppler weather radar detections of falling meteorites and independent optical video observations.

Now, toss in for good measure yet another encounter.

A roughly 12-foot-wide (3.7 meters) space rock plowed through Earth's atmosphere over northwest Queensland, Australia, on May 20, 2023, accompanied by a raucous round of sonic booms. And U.S. government space-based sensors caught the fall.

Researchers later determined that the object underwent catastrophic fragmentation, producing one of the 20 most energetic events reported by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) since 1988 and the most energetic seen over Australia. It was equivalent to the explosion of a 7.1-kiloton bomb.

Location, time and estimated energy

"For many fireballs, U.S. Government detections reported through NASA's CNEOS database provide an important starting point by establishing that an event occurred and, in many cases, providing basic parameters such as location, time and estimated energy," explained Elizabeth Silber, a senior research and development physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

"Civil and scientific observing systems can then add independent measurements that help refine and validate that initial characterization," said Silber.

CNEOS, which is based at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, is NASA's center for computing asteroid and comet orbits and their odds of striking Earth. CNEOS computes high-precision orbits for such objects in support of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

Different and complementary information

"The Alaska event is an especially useful example, because it was not reported by U.S. Government sensors in the CNEOS database. In this case, the event was reconstructed almost entirely from civil and scientific observations," Silber told Space.com.

She said that the seismic and infrasound data constrained the trajectory and acoustic energy, the video provided independent optical information, and the weather radar detected material from the fireball falling to Earth.

"So, the real strength is that these systems provide different and complementary information," said Silber. "When a U.S. Government detection is available, civil data can independently validate it and add much more detail. When one is not available, as in this case [for Alaska], the civil networks can still provide a surprisingly complete reconstruction."

Independent view

The Alaska study shows how valuable it is to put together diverse types of observations once an event has occurred, said Silber. Each measurement responds to a different part of the event.

"Seismic and infrasound sensors record the atmospheric shock waves and can constrain the trajectory, fragmentation and energy," she added. "Optical observations provide an independent view of the luminous flight. Doppler weather radar can detect surviving material after it has slowed and entered dark flight."

Bottom line: no single sensor tells you everything.

"Combining independent observations lets us move from simply knowing that an event occurred to determining how the object traveled through the atmosphere, where it fragmented, how much energy it released, and whether material may have survived to the ground," said Silber.

'Hard rain' is gonna fall

Researchers got pretty lucky with the April 1, 2026 event over the South Atlantic, according to NASA's Rob Landis, a planetary defense specialist: Two civilian spacecraft located at different locations in geosynchronous orbit allowed them to conduct a rather unique investigation of this bolide.

"With two civilian resources, we can actually discuss things more openly," Landis, who's now a visiting vehicle integration manager for the International Space Station at NASA's Johnson Space Center, told Space.com.

Lightning-watching instruments not designed for detecting bolides, he said, "afford the science community to discuss these events and these sensors in a forthright, open manner. These lightning imagers give us opportunistic bonus science for those who study the 'hard rain.'"

Landis said that, in his personal view, there's a lot of smaller stuff getting through the atmosphere.

"To the casual observer, these certainly produce wonderful natural fireworks and are mostly harmless," Landis said. But, he stressed, it's important to be able to distinguish between natural events and human-made ones.

"It would be a horrific tragedy if any nation responded to a natural event — if they misinterpret it as a preemptive strike," cautioned Landis.

Real-world tests

So, in the big picture, having collaborative, multiple and independent ways to observe atmospheric entries is of benefit to planetary defense thinkers.

"Planetary defense is not only about finding an object before it reaches Earth," Silber said. "It is also about understanding what happens during atmospheric entry — that is, how the object fragments, where it deposits its energy, how accurately we can reconstruct its trajectory and whether material survives to the ground."

Incoming events provide "real-world tests" of the methods and models used to answer those questions, said Silber.

Harkening back to the recent Alaska fireball fall, Silber said, was particularly valuable because it was unpredicted, yet the dense ground-based network allowed the trajectory and energetics to be reconstructed in considerable detail.

"From a planetary-defense perspective, that kind of redundancy is extremely useful. Space-based observations, seismic and infrasound networks, optical cameras, and weather radar each provide different information, and each has its own limitations," Silber said.

When several observation techniques are available, researchers can cross-check one another and produce a much more complete characterization of an event.

"That improves post-event situational awareness, helps validate physical models and strengthens our ability to interpret future atmospheric entries, whether they involve natural objects or artificial reentries," Silber concluded.

This is a great month for planet watching, either in the evenings or mornings. During convenient evening hours, the planet of choice is Saturn, visible well up in the southern sky during mid-to-late evening hours. Telescopically, the southern side of its famous ring system is currently tilted about 6½ degrees to our line of sight.

Around the middle of the night, Mars and Jupiter come into view above the east-northeast horizon and just before the break of dawn are in excellent position, soaring high in the southern sky in the vicinity of the Sickle of Leo the Lion. Watch how Mars approaches Jupiter early in the month, passes it on Nov. 16, then spends the rest of the month sailing away to the east.

Meanwhile, in the predawn morning sky, Venus literally vaults into prominence as the month progresses. And from midmonth on through the end of November, Mercury asserts itself, appearing as a very bright "star" to the far lower left of Venus.

In our schedule, remember that when measuring the angular separation between two celestial objects, your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees. Here, we present a schedule below which provides some of the best planet viewing times as well directing you as to where to look to see them

Reminder: On Nov. 1 — where applicable — change clocks back one hour from Daylight Saving Time. On this date, the clock hour from 1 to 2:00 a.m. is repeated, thus making this day the longest of the year: 25 hours long. The mnemonic is: "Spring Ahead, Fall Back."

Mercury

Mercury, hidden during inferior conjunction with the sun on Nov. 4, will emerge in the eastern morning sky after the second week of the month to undergo an excellent morning apparition for the Northern Hemisphere. This rocky little world arrives at its greatest western elongation (20 degrees) from the sun on Nov. 20; its most favorable morning apparition of the year for mid-northern observers. From Nov. 16 to Nov. 26 speedy Mercury will rise in the east-southeast before the beginning of astronomical twilight, more than 95 minutes before sunrise.

Venus

Venus is a good reason to be up at the crack of dawn in November; it's a silvery lamp that rises above the east-southeast horizon. Venus was at inferior conjunction on Oct. 24. But the steep angle of the ecliptic at dawn in late autumn helps Venus vault noticeably higher with each passing day for observers at mid-northern latitudes. On Nov. 1, it rises 55 minutes before the sun. But just several days later on Nov. 5, viewers around 40 degrees north latitude can see Venus come up one hour and 25 minutes before the sun and shine 15 degrees above the horizon at sunrise. As November ends, Venus rises nearly 3½ hours before the sun and hangs nearly 35 degrees up at sunrise.

All month Venus brightens impressively and on the penultimate day of the month it will reach the pinnacle of its magnificent brightness, shining at magnitude -4.9, rising almost 3½ hours before the sun. If there's snow on the ground, check for shadows made by Venus's light. Through a telescope, the phase of the planet looks most remarkable early in the month. That's when you may be able to glimpse Venus when it's only a few percent illuminated, a hairline crescent close to an arcminute long; about 1/30 the apparent diameter of the moon. Venus is not alone in the dawn sky.

Its leap takes it up into the proximity of the bluish 1st-magnitude star Spica in Virgo on the morning of Nov. 3. The star will be sitting 2.4 degrees to the upper right of Venus. During this month, Venus seems to perform a dos-à-dos with Spica and at first seems destined to soar up and catch it. Instead, the closest it gets to this star is 1.8 degrees to its upper left early on the morning of Nov. 19.

On the morning of Nov. 7, a striking array of a waning crescent moon, brilliant Venus and Spica awaits early risers low in the east-southeast sky about an hour before sunrise. The trio will be bunched together inside of a circle measuring only about 2½ degrees in diameter.

Mars

Mars, shining at magnitude +0.9, is in Leo in the morning sky and is easily found on the morning of Nov. 2, using the moon as a guide. That day it sits a couple of degrees to the left of the moon. In addition, on that date, Mars is positioned 5 degrees to the upper right of much brighter Jupiter.

Mars has been hiding in the glare of the sun, or in the dead of the early morning hours, for the last year and a quarter. Now it finally rises in the east before midnight. Each night, watch the orange-yellow planet move a little closer to Jupiter. They'll be in conjunction on Nov. 16 (See Jupiter below).

On the morning of Nov. 26, Mars, having brightened to magnitude +0.6, passes 1.7 degrees to the upper left of the first magnitude star Regulus in Leo. The color contrast between the orange-yellow planet and blue-white star is striking, especially in binoculars.

Jupiter

Jupiter is high enough for a steady telescopic view by 3 a.m. But its dusky cloud belts and Red Spot can be seen more clearly when the planet is highest in the southeast soon after dawn breaks.

On Nov. 3, shortly after 1 a.m. local time, look low toward the east-northeast horizon to watch the moon slowly ascend the sky. The 1st magnitude star Regulus will be evident sitting a degree to the moon's left. And sitting about 5 degrees above the moon will be Jupiter, appearing as a brilliant "star" shining with a steady, silvery light.

Mars passes 1.2 degrees to the upper left of Jupiter on Nov. 16; the giant planet outshining the red planet 13-fold. Late on Nov. 29 and into the early hours of Nov. 30, look low toward the east-northeast horizon for a gathering of the waning gibbous moon, with Jupiter, Regulus and Mars. These four celestial bodies cover an expanse of roughly 7 degrees going from right to left. Best views will come around the time of the break of dawn when they'll appear to soar high in the southern sky.

Saturn

Saturn is situated in the northeast corner of the non-zodiacal constellation of Cetus the Whale (or Sea Monster). It crosses the southern meridian around 9:45 p.m. at the beginning of November and about two hours earlier at the month's end. All evening, it is excellently placed for telescopic viewing of its glorious ball and rings. At magnitude +0.6, Saturn is easily the brightest point of light in its section of the heavens. It can also be told from the stars by its steady, yellowish light.

On the evening of Nov. 18, take note of Saturn mimicking a bright "star" shining about 6 degrees below the waxing gibbous moon.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope, The Old Farmer's Almanac and other publications.

The moon dives towards the glowing heart of the constellation Leo for a spectacular rendezvous with Mars and Jupiter overnight on Nov. 1-2, as the glittering stars of the Beehive Cluster shine nearby. Here's what you need to know.

Look to the eastern horizon an hour after midnight to see the 45%-lit waning moon shining less than 5 degrees from the red light of Mars — roughly the width of your three middle fingers held at arm's length to the night sky.

Jupiter's bright light will gleam just below the red planet, with the bright star Regulus lining up beyond to form a dazzling procession leading back to the horizon. The stars of the Beehive Cluster (M44) can be found twinkling 10 degrees from the unlit side of the lunar disk around this time, in the middle of the constellation Cancer.

Stargazers in Australia, Indonesia and a host of other island nations and territories will see the moon pass directly in front of Jupiter, hiding its light in an event known as an occultation starting at 3:45 p.m. EST (2045 GMT) on Nov. 2 , according to In-The-Sky.org. However, the exact visibility and timings depend on location.

The cosmic pile-up serves as a spectacular reminder of the scale and diversity of targets on display in the night sky. After all, the moon appears largest from our Earthly perspective, but in reality it's less than half the diameter of Mars.

Jupiter, meanwhile, is over 20 times wider than the red planet, while mighty Regulus is up to four times larger than the sun, andcould easily fit all the planets of the solar system in its vast expanse.

By moonrise on the night of Nov. 3, the lunar crescent will have leapt past Jupiter and Mars, to appear just 1 degree from the blue-white light of Regulus for viewers in the U.S. Meanwhile, viewers in several South American countries including Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia will see the moon occult Regulus beginning at 6:59 EST (1024 GMT) on Nov. 3. The exact timings for a selection of South American countries can be found below, courtesy of In-The-Sky.org.

Want to get a closer look at the moon and planets of the solar system? Then be sure to check out our picks of the best telescopes and binoculars for exploring the night sky, including the Celestron NexStar 8SE, which we rank as the best motorized telescope out there.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

There could be more than just ghosts and ghouls lurking in the skies this Halloween! From Saturn's spectacular rings to shooting stars and even a space station flyover, the night sky has a few treats of its own in store for U.S. skywatchers on Oct. 31.

Based on the latest national forecast, skies will be mainly clear on Saturday evening over most of New York State, northeast Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New England as well as a swath of the southern and central Great Plains, central Rockies, a portion of the Pacific Northwest and central and south Florida, as costumed kids arrive at the door looking for candy or some other Halloween treat.

Temperatures will be mostly in the chilly 40s across the Northeast US, upper 50s and 60s for the nation's midsection, warm 70s to near 80 for the southern US, including Florida and the Gulf Coast, and 40s for much of the western US. Unfortunately, a storm moving across the nation's heartland may spell rainy skies for parts of Iowa and Nebraska, south to the Gulf Coast.

For those blessed with a generally fair evening, there will be views of mid-autumn stars and constellations plus a bright planet shining prominently in the early evening sky. If you plan to accompany children around your neighborhood, you might want to enlighten them by pointing out some of those objects that will be visible in the sky. Better yet, if you have a telescope, give your visitors a treat of a different kind: Give them a close-up view of some of those celestial sights.

At the top of the viewing list: The lord of the rings

At around 7 p.m. local time, tell your young audience to make a clenched fist with their hands and then hold them out at arm's length. Now, tell them to go "two fists" up from the east-southeast horizon and they will see a bright star, shining with a yellow-white hue. Now, direct your telescope toward that "star" and when you gaze through the eyepiece, you will not be looking at a star at all . . . but a planet!

Saturn.

This sixth planet out from the sun, just might be the most beautiful of all. Its rings are still readily evident, although currently they appear somewhat edge-on with the south face tilted only about 6 and a half degrees to our line of sight. A telescope magnifying 30-power will bring them out; they appear to bisect the ball of the planet. While this is far from their appearance compared to other years, the view should still look impressive to those who have never seen the ringed planet for themselves.

And watch out for fireballs!

Because they are active over Halloween, the Taurid meteor shower is sometimes called the "Halloween Fireballs." The bits of debris that make up the Taurids are a little larger than average, so they can result in brighter meteors and even fireballs, or exploding meteors (called bolides), that streak across the sky and leave incandescent trains in their wake. While they are most active during the second week of November, a few forerunners can show up on Halloween night, darting from out of the east-northeast part of the sky. So, if you or your young visitors see something resembling a flare from a Roman candle sweeping majestically across the evening sky, it may very well be a Taurid meteor.

And for those in the Northeast U.S., a space station!

Not the International Space Station, but the Tianhe-1 core module, the first module to launch of the Tiangong space station. It was launched into orbit on 29 April 2021, as the first launch of the final phase of the Tiangong program, part of the China Manned Space Program (Project 921). On Halloween evening, Tianhe-1 will be following a track from Chicago to New York at an altitude of 240 miles (385 km) and should be readily visible to the naked eye across the Northeast US within a few minutes of 7 p.m. EDT, wherever skies are reasonably clear.

The Tiangong Space Station should appear to resemble a very bright star moving across the sky on a general west-to-east course. For places near and along the flight path, the Space Station will appear to pass almost directly overhead. For those situated south of the track, Tiangong will reach its highest point above the northern horizon; those situated north of the track will see the station peak high in the south.

If you see it, tell your young viewers that three astronauts are currently living and working aboard the Tiangong Space Station, of which the Tianhe core module serves as the main living quarters. If you would like specific details on when and where to see the Space Station from your hometown, check out Heavens-Above, a non-profit website and mobile application that tracks satellites, the International Space Station (ISS), comets, and astronomical events in real time.

Another website that provides live information, including an orbit map on Tianhe-1, is NY2O.com. Check its menu list on the right side of the page and look for the blue box: "10-Day Predictions for CSS (Tianhe-1)."

Helpful hints for young telescope viewers

In the September 2019 issue of The Astronomical League Magazine "Reflector," author Richard W. Schmude Jr., offered some tips for those who plan to do public outreach for astronomy on Halloween:

"Firstly, children sometimes grab or touch the eyepiece, so use an inexpensive one. I gently warn children not to touch the telescope. In my area, parents have learned to tell their children not to touch the telescope. In some cases, a child will grab the eyepiece, causing the telescope to shift. For this reason, a Dobsonian telescope with a good finderscope is a good choice for Halloween outreach. A small stool or booster ladder may help very small viewers. Sometimes, parents hold their children up to look through the eyepiece. One may also place a monitor-connected video camera in the telescope and people can easily see the object on a screen." "Finally," adds Mr. Schmude, "I have my bag of goodies next to my telescope so that the children get two treats!"

Whatever your weather, Happy Halloween from all of us at Space.com!

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope, The Old Farmer's Almanac and other publications.

I used to make a basic mistake with meteor showers — I treated the zenith hourly rate (ZHR) like a timetable. If a shower were advertised at 20 meteors per hour, I'd go outside expecting something roughly every three minutes. After 10 quiet minutes, I'd start wondering what I was doing wrong. After half an hour, I'd start to doubt the whole idea of meteor showers.

The Northern and Southern Taurids cured me of all that. Two linked meteor showers that peak around Nov. 4-5 and Nov. 11-12 this year, they each manage only about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions. In reality, you may see fewer. You may spend a long time seeing none. So what's the point?

I've come to regard their paucity of "shooting stars" as a feature, not a flaw, for the Taurids have taught me to stop counting meteors and instead just observe the sky. I go outside for Taurus, the Pleiades, Auriga, and whatever else happens to be visible. If a Taurid crosses the sky, excellent. If not, the evening hasn't failed. The reason is that they are also known for occasionally producing very bright meteors, or fireballs — although "occasionally" is important. Don't go outside expecting a procession of them.

What's happening and when to look

The Taurids hit Earth's atmosphere at about 18 miles (29 kilometers) per second. That's relatively slow for a meteor shower. It's one reason Taurids can be more memorable than meteors from faster showers.

For observers across much of the Northern Hemisphere, Taurus rises in the east during the evening and becomes increasingly well placed as the night progresses. Later evening into the overnight hours is therefore the best time to watch.

I love looking at the night sky around Taurus, but you really don't need to stare at it if you're looking for Taurids. The radiant is indeed within Taurus (close to the Pleiades), but meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. Look roughly east or southeast, then watch as much sky as possible for an hour or so.

This year the moon helps out. The new moon falls on Nov. 9, leaving only a young waxing crescent around the shower's peak. It sets during the evening, giving us properly dark skies later on.

How and when I'm watching it

My Taurid observing strategy involves doing little direct meteor observing. I'll likely head outside once Taurus is reasonably high in the eastern sky, probably sometime in the later evening, and give myself other things to look at. The Pleiades are an obvious target — it's exciting to have this little open cluster back in the evening sky. So are the Hyades open cluster and bright orangey Aldebaran, also in Taurus. I'll probably set my smart telescope on the Pleiades and leave it alone to build up a long integration while I spend as much time as I can taking in the whole sky. Meteors are a naked-eye event and demand your attention — the second you avert your gaze from the night sky, a "shooting star" will appear. All stargazers know that!

I won't travel for hours to find perfect darkness. A darker location will reveal fainter meteors, for sure, but the Taurids' occasional bright members can be seen from less-than-perfect skies. A backyard is fine for this one — make travel plans only for August's Perseids and December's Geminids (moon phases allowing).

Nor will I keep score. Meteor rates are statistical descriptions, not promises. Five per hour does not mean one meteor every 12 minutes. You could see two close together and then nothing at all for hours. We're all so used to being told exactly what to expect, but the night sky doesn't work like that — you need to be open to whatever it throws at you (or not). Once you stop expecting the sky to do what you want, meteor showers become more enjoyable.

Stargazer's corner: Oct. 31-Nov. 5, 2026

The moon is moving out of the early evening sky this week, which is exactly what stargazers wait for at this time of year. It reaches third quarter around Nov. 1, rising later at night and leaving the evening dark. That gives us a useful 10-night window for observing before moonlight becomes an issue.

I'm planning to use it for the Andromeda galaxy. From a genuinely dark location, M31 can be spotted with the naked eye as a faint patch. From brighter suburban skies, binoculars make life much easier. The beginner mistake is expecting anything resembling the photographs. Through binoculars, I'm looking for a subtle misty glow, not spiral arms. If you want a more impressive view, get yourself a smart telescope — they do a wonderful job on M31.

There's another practical change this weekend. Daylight saving time ends across most of the U.S. and Canada on Nov. 1. The stars haven't changed their schedule, of course, but getting outside under a dark sky after dinner — and even before — suddenly becomes much easier.

Constellation of the week: Taurus

Although you don't need to stare at Taurus, the Bull, to see Taurids, it's an obvious target this week. It's climbing into the eastern sky during the evening. Bright orange star Aldebaran — a red giant 67 light-years from the solar system (and the most luminous star within 100 light-years) — marks the bull's eye. It appears to sit within a V-shape of stars that forms the bull's face. This is the Hyades, the closest open cluster of stars to the solar system at just 150 light-years.

My latest stargazing obsession

The origin story of both Taurid meteor showers is genuinely awe-inspiring. They're associated with debris left in the inner solar system by Comet 2P/Encke, which orbits the sun once every 3.25 years (1,200 days) — the shortest orbital period of any known comet in the solar system, according to NASA. The second comet ever discovered, Encke, was discovered in 1786 and spans about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) in diameter. It last reached perihelion — its closest point to the sun — on Oct. 22, 2023, and is due to do so again on Feb. 10, 2027, but Earth encounters debris associated with the comet every year.

The picture is more complicated than a single comet trail. The Southern and Northern Taurids are part of the broader Taurid Meteoroid Complex, a vast swarm of interplanetary dust, rocks, comets and asteroids thought to be related to Encke. It's thought that it originates from a much larger object that fragmented as it got close to the sun, perhaps just 5,000 to 6,000 years ago or as much as 20,000 years ago. Fears that huge, mile-wide "planet killer" asteroids may still reside in the Taurid Meteoroid Complex appear to have been ruled out. Phew.

Each fall, Earth passes through different parts of this sprawling stream, producing two overlapping meteor showers — and, occasionally, the larger fragments responsible for the Taurids' famous fireballs.

China's secretive space plane is making a series of passes over the United States in the coming days and you could spot it with your own eyes!

The mysterious spacecraft, Shenlong, is currently orbiting Earth on its fourth mission. Although we don't know what it's up to, China's space agency has said it is testing technologies that "will pave the way for more convenient and affordable round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future."

Under favorable conditions, Shenlong is bright enough to spot with the naked eye, according to Spaceweather.com. But you'll need to set your alarm early, as some of the best viewing opportunities are in the predawn sky.

When and where to see China's space plane

According to satellite-tracking website Heavens-Above, skywatchers across the U.S. have several opportunities to spot Shenlong between Oct. 30 and early November, weather permitting.

Here are some of the most promising high-altitude passes for four major U.S. cities. All times are local, with the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 1 taken into account. Times are approximate and may change. Maximum elevation refers to the spacecraft's highest angle above the horizon, with 90° being directly overhead.

If clouds get in the way (or you forget to set your alarm), don't worry! There are several other opportunities over the coming days.

How can I see Shenlong from where I live?

These predictions are specific to each city, so your exact viewing times will depend on your viewing location.

To find out when Shenlong will pass over your location, head to Heavens-Above, enter your location (in the top right corner of the page), then on the homepage look for "satellite database" under the satellites subheader. And search for "PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4".

Select "visible only" to see upcoming passes and click on a date to bring up a detailed sky chart showing the spacecraft's predicted path across the sky, including where to look and when.

What will China's space plane look like?

To the naked eye, Shenlong will look like a small, steadily moving point of light, similar to a satellite gliding across the sky.

Its brightness can vary significantly. Veteran satellite observer Paul Maley spotted Shenlong from Paarl, South Africa, in February 2026, estimating its brightness at between magnitude +2.5 and +3.5 at its brightest, according to Spaceweather.com.

Maley reported that the spacecraft was easily visible to the naked eye under dark, moonless skies, but noted that it could also become much fainter, potentially dropping to magnitude +6.

To give yourself the best chance of spotting Shenlong for yourself, head somewhere dark, away from city lights.

What is Shenlong?

Shenlong is a reusable spacecraft that launches aboard a rocket before eventually returning to Earth for a runway landing, much like the U.S. military's X-37B space plane.

China has revealed relatively little about its activities, although the spacecraft has been observed interacting with other objects in orbit. Just days ago, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency released a remarkable new photograph of Shenlong, offering a rare glimpse into this mysterious spacecraft.

Halloween is almost upon us! To celebrate we've pulled together a series of short "skywatching horror stories" perfect for getting you in the mood for the spooky season.

Granted, stargazing may not be the most hazardous of past times. But you'd be surprised how often things can go wrong. The best laid plans can be shattered by the unforeseen, unexpected phenomena can leave you scared witless, or mother nature itself can step in to remind us how little control we have over the environment around us.

Many of the stories serve as a cautionary tale, while others are simply..unfortunate. Be sure to share your stories of skywatching "horror stories" in the comments below for a chance to feature in next year's Halloween coverage!

An unexplained light show over France

And how better to kick off our Halloween skywatching tales than with a retelling of the strange event that terrified my entire family during a trip to France, two decades ago.

We had rented a house in the Charente, with few neighbors and no city lights. It was a stargazer's paradise, so each night we would sit outside as dusk's light faded to twilight.

One night, we stood transfixed as an electrical storm conjured sheet lightning in the distance, when without warning a shining ball of light burst into being on the near horizon. We watched, unsettled as the yellow-red light gently descended behind a row of oaks before passing over the nearby field.

My mom fled inside, convinced that we'd seen a UFO, while my dad and brothers stood and watched as the light silently flitted between the trees before disappearing from sight around five minutes after it had appeared.

We were alone in the darkness, trying to make sense of what we'd seen when a rustle in the bushes had us borderline sprinting inside, all pretences of bravery gone and images of alien greys in our heads.

It was almost certainly a boar.

Our best guess is that we saw some kind of rare electrical phenomenon that night, like ball lightning, which has been reported over 10,000 times throughout recorded history but is still very poorly understood.

My mom maintains that we narrowly avoided being abducted.

Total(ity) disaster

Our next entry comes from Space.com's Skywatching Editor Daisy Dobrijevic, who traveled all the way from the U.K. to the U.S. in the hope of seeing her first total solar eclipse, only to have totality ruined by a series of extremely unfortunate events!

"My first-ever total solar eclipse experience in Rochester, New York, on April 8, 2024, was memorable for all the wrong reasons, Dobrijovic explained. "I was attending the Rochester Museum & Science Center's ROC the Eclipse Festival, where thick clouds had completely obscured the sun. But even without seeing the eclipse itself, totality was extraordinary.

An ominous darkness raced across the sky, while rusty-red hues illuminated the clouds, creating an almost apocalyptic scene. The clouds looked as though they'd been lifted straight from a Renaissance painting. The atmosphere was electric as thousands of excited spectators watched daylight disappear. We couldn't see the eclipse, but we could certainly feel it.

Then, about 30 seconds into totality, disaster struck. We were standing in the museum's car park when the security floodlights suddenly flickered on, automatically triggered by the darkness. The harsh artificial lighting completely shattered the otherworldly atmosphere, robbing us of our chance to experience totality's eerie darkness.

Thousands of spectators erupted into boos, shouting, 'Turn off the lights!' After traveling thousands of miles for my first total solar eclipse, I'd been thwarted first by clouds, then by a car park's security lights. Talk about adding insult to injury!"

The winds of misfortune

Astrophotographer Dan Bartlett experienced a very different skywatching horror story after preparing his telescopes for a night of astrophotography at his home in the Eastern Sierra Mountains.

Nature had other plans. A security camera captured the sickening moment that an unexpected and sustained deluge of 77-mile-per-hour winds toppled Bartlett's Celestron Rowe-AckermannAstrograph 11-inch and 8-inch telescopes, mounts, accessories and all.

"A telescope owner's worst nightmare…Equal to dropping a prized eyepiece or telescope on a cement/concrete ground," Bartlett remonstrated with Space.com.

"When you first see the two scopes lying side by side, no longer upright, your reaction is to stand there and stare. Quick action of prevention is well past its timeliness. Eventually you start to pick things up and assess the damage."

"One might [put] me at fault for not taking down the scopes prior, and rightly so, however the scopes have survived sustained winds of 60+ mph winds over and over before," continued Bartlett. "You develop a level of complacency and no weather forecast in the days of the event predicted winds as high as was recorded.

Damage done? Severe. At least the dented tube of the RASA 11 has continued to win NASA APOD after APOD since the event. Oh, I now use sandbags on a heavier mount."

Bartlett continues to capture spectacular images of the night sky to this day.

An uncomfortably close look at Leo

High winds may be a potent adversary for the humble stargazer, but you know what else can complicate things? Literal mountain Lions, which is what American Meteor Society shooting star expert Robert Lunsford came face to face with on a stargazing outing to the western slope of Mt. Laguna, California.

"I was viewing alone in the local mountains many years ago," Lunsford recounted to Space.com. "Back then I often heard what I thought were juvenile mountain lions screeching in the dark. They were never too close until one night I shone my flashlight upon a full-grown cat about fifty yards away."

"The adrenalin was flowing big time as I kept that light on it. Luckily, it decided it wanted no part of me and headed back down the hill. Ever since then when viewing alone I sit in the bed of my truck to offer a little more sense of security."

Lunsford's cautionary tale serves as a potent reminder that you should always tell a friend or family member when you head somewhere remote for a spot of stargazing. And that you should probably do a little research on the local flora and fauna before making the trip!

Eyes on the stars foot in the ants

Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Gideon Bendavid-Walker had a run in with nature at a very different scale while leading a stargazing tour through the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the South Australian outback, under some of the darkest skies on Earth.

"I was running a tour from the sparsely used 1980's Dodwell Observatory as our main telescope was out for maintenance," Bendavid-Walker shared with Space.com. "It was going beautifully. I was out in the dark with my laser pointer, guiding a rapt group around the southern sky, when I felt a nip at my ankle. Then another.

Then rather a lot…

I quickly discovered that I was standing on a meat ant nest. By day they're easy to spot: a little circle of gravelly sand with a hole in the middle. At night, they're invisible, and meat ants do not take kindly to their nests being stood on."

For those of us unfamiliar with the Australian Outback, meat ants are known for being aggressive towards any they deem an intruder, have a nasty bite and are named for their habit of stripping the flesh from dead animals.

"Mid-constellation, I abandoned the cosmos and began hopping, slapping and yelling into the night. My startled guests rallied heroically, flooding the scene with torchlight (a cardinal sin for dark-adapted eyes, but quickly forgiven) and helping me evict the invaders.

The tour continued peacefully.

My dignity stayed behind with the ants."

The moral of the story — try to look down before looking up, it may save your ankles.

A relative disaster

There's a long and storied tradition of nature having its fun with astronomers, as proven by Arthur S. Eddington's complication-filled trip to West Africa, as told by Louise Devoy, Senior Curator at Royal Observatory Greenwich.

"What a nightmare....Cambridge astronomer Arthur S. Eddington watched anxiously as the skies over Principe, West Africa, clouded over with thunderous storms," Devon explained to Space.com. "As a Quaker Christian, he'd narrowly avoided jail for avoiding military service during the First World War, thanks to the intervention of Frank Dyson, the Astronomer Royal at Greenwich.

Dyson knew that Eddington was the best person to use the imminent total solar eclipse as a test of Einstein's 1915 theory of general relativity. Eddington and his colleague Edwin T. Cottingham had travelled thousands of miles to secure the best view but their plans were thwarted by every eclipse chaser's nightmare: thunderstorms, pesky mosquitoes and mischievous monkeys from the surrounding jungle who enjoyed tampering with the instruments.

Eddington and his colleague Cottingham only managed to secure one decent photograph through thin cloud. Thankfully, their Greenwich colleagues Charles Davidson and Andrew Crommelin at Sobral, northern Brazil, had better luck and their photographs confirmed Einstein's prediction."

A fall on Gold Hill

Our final tale of stargazing misfortune comes from award-winning landscape astrophotographer Josh Dury, who found himself in a race against time to stage a recreation of a famous scene from television history, with a Milky Way twist.

"One that comes to mind was the image I captured, titled: "Boy on Bike". The purpose of the image was to re-enact the classic scene from Ridley Scott's 1973 Hovis Advert through the lens of Astrophotography. I was hoping an assistant could model with the bike but plans collapsed, so I decided to do it myself.

Earlier that day, I had collected the bike from a local seller and purchased bread to resemble Hovis loaves. Driving to location in a 4x4 — bike in trailer, I dressed in outfit and progressed to Gold Hill.

Arriving before 2 a.m., there were bright LED lights still on. I had to wait until every single one turned off but one. I had to somehow get the bike into position on the steep hill, obtain focus and prepare the other elements — including a lamp and arranging the bread basket.

With the Milky Way moving into place, I really did not have much time. Setting up a star tracker and a prop set at the same time was a significant challenge.

Then, the epic finale. The weight of the lamp outbalanced the bike and collapsed with the most almighty thud (wheels still spinning). I could see lights in the street turning on!! I was mortified."

If these horror stories haven't totally put you off and you're interested in starting out on your own stargazing journey then be sure to read our expert tips for newcomers to the night sky, along with our picks of the best telescopes and binoculars for exploring the post-sunset realm.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Stars shine in the vast aluminum dish of the Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) in this photograph captured by astronomer and astrophotographer José Rodrigues during a recent visit to the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory in Chile.

What is it?

Rodrigues' image captures "airglow" infusing the night sky over La Silla with a soft orange glow, which is created as sunlight interacts with molecules in the upper atmosphere, according to the University of Lancaster.

The subtle phenomenon can be seen reflected in the 15-meter (49-foot) primary dish of the SEST telescope along with the myriad stars of the Southern Hemisphere, as the dome of the ESO's 3.6-meter telescope looms in the background.

Why is it incredible?

"Despite knowing about its 15-meter diameter beforehand, I was amazed by its size," Rodrigues noted in the ESO image release. The SEST first opened its great eye to the universe in 1987, at which time it was the only large telescope in the Southern Hemisphere tasked with collecting submillimeter wavelengths of light that exist beyond the visible light spectrum.

These specific wavelengths of light are emitted by wandering comets and colossal clouds of cold molecular dust and gas threaded throughout the Milky Way and beyond. SEST's observations improved our knowledge of ancient galaxies, star formation and so much more, with its perch 2,375 meters (7,792 feet) above sea level granting it a near unrivalled view of the heavens above.

The SEST telescope was decommissioned in 2003, though its work was continued by the more capable Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA).

With its working days over, the SEST telescope now stands as a quiet mirror reflecting the stars of the Southern Hemisphere night sky, seemingly pondering mysteries of the universe that it once tried to solve

Newly released photographs of the sun captured during the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse reveal the sun's outer atmosphere in unprecedented detail.

The images, released by researchers working as part of the Solar Wind Sherpas project coordinated by the University of Hawaii, also show rare structures in the solar wind known as smoke rings. Named for their resemblance to the circles blown by smokers, these vortices were first identified in solar eclipse photographs captured in 2008. The researchers had long struggled to explain the processes behind their formation. They now know the rings are a result of the temperature differences in the coronal plasma and spread along the sun's magnetic lines deep into interplanetary space.

"This year, we have managed to capture those smoke rings really well," Miloslav Druckmüller, a professor of mathematics at the Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, who leads the image processing efforts for the Solar Wind Sherpas Team, said in a statement. "They are beautifully twisted vortices and there are very many of them in the corona."

The images, taken from the Pico Trigaza mountain in Spain, also reveal a giant coronal hole — an opening in the sun's magnetic field lines — through which solar wind can escape more readily at very high speeds of up to 500 miles per second (800 kilometers per second).

Coronal holes are cooler regions in the sun's atmosphere that appear darker in extreme ultraviolet and X-ray images taken by probes in space. They form in regions where the sun's magnetic field lines extend outward into space rather than looping back to the surface, allowing high-speed solar wind to escape. These structures can persist for weeks or even months.

Solar eclipse photography provides a unique vista into the processes taking place in the sun's upper atmosphere, the corona, which remain hidden even to cutting-edge space-based observatories.

Space probes and astronomical telescopes on Earth rely on instruments known as coronagraphs to view the corona. As the corona is a million times dimmer than the sun's surface, researchers need to obscure the visible solar disk with an occulter to view it. This occulter, located inside the telescope, has to cover a larger area than just the solar disk itself to protect the images from the effects of diffraction.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon naturally blocks the sun's bright disk, allowing scientists to capture exceptionally detailed views of the inner corona that are difficult to obtain with conventional coronographs.

The November full moon reaches maximum illumination at 9:53 a.m. EST (1453 GMT) on Nov. 24, as the lunar disk sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky, appearing fully lit by its rays.

November's full moon is traditionally known as the "Beaver Moon", because it rises around the time when the small mammals take refuge in their dens, having stored enough food to survive the long winter months, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The Nov. 24 full moon also happens to be the first of three consecutive "supermoons". The non-scientific term is often bestowed on full moons that occur when the natural satellite is within 90% of perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The proximity can make a supermoon appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest full moon of the year, according to NASA.

When to see the November full moon

The November full moon will be below the horizon for stargazers in the U.S. when it turns full at 9:53 a.m. EST on Nov. 24. Instead, viewers in America will get their best view of the near-full Beaver Moon as it arcs towards the western horizon in the predawn hours of Nov. 24.

You may notice the lunar disk take on a gorgeous yellow-orange hue in the hour before moonset, as the bluer wavelengths of its light are scattered by Earth's dense atmosphere through a process known as Rayleigh scattering — the same phenomenon that turns the sky red at sunset.

November's supermoon may appear even larger as it travels close to the horizon thanks to a phenomenon known as the "Moon Illusion", which tricks us into thinking that the lunar disk is larger than it actually is while closer to foreground objects, compared to when it shines overhead. The moon will also appear fully lit to the casual observer on the evenings of Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, so there's no need to miss out if you struggle with early mornings!

The table below details local full moon timings for when the moon is 100% illuminated for a selection of cities spread across the globe (local moonset and moonrise times will vary based on your location):

Local full moon timings for November 2026

Why it's called the Beaver Moon

The November full moon is often called the Beaver Moon because it rises around the time that beavers retreat to their lodges after collecting enough food to see them through the winter.

It is also known as the Frost Moon by the indigenous Cree people of Canada and the northwestern U.S., and as the Digging Moon by the Tlingit, in reference to the animals that scratch around for fallen nuts in the hardening autumn earth, per the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The rising of the November full moon also marks the Hindu festival of Dev Diwali when worshippers light earthen lamps called "diyas" and offer prayers to celebrate Lord Shiva's defeat of the demon Tripurasura, after which the Hindu gods descended to Earth to celebrate, according to the Edinburgh Hindu Mandir & Cultural Centre.

Nov. 24 and the rising of the full moon also coincides with the Sikh celebration of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, when millions celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, according to the BBC.

What else to see in the sky around the full moon

Stargazers in the U.S. will be treated to a magnificent natural light show in the predawn hours of Nov. 24, when the near-full moon shines low on the western horizon less than 5 degrees from the bright stars of the Pleiades open star cluster.

The Pleiades and moon will be close enough to share the field of view of a pair of 10X50 binoculars, which will help reveal gorgeous detail on the lunar surface, while helping to resolve dozens more of the clusters blue-white stars as they cut through the deluge of moonlight.

Tear your gaze away from the moon and find a trio of spectacular multi-colored lights forming a tight triangle high in the southern sky. The red light of Mars will shine steadily above the twinkling star Regulus at the heart of the constellation Leo, with the yellow-white light of Jupiter to their right.

Venus will also be visible as a dazzling "Morning Star" hanging low on the eastern horizon, with Mercury below, tracing out the path of the approaching sun.

Saturn, meanwhile, will make for a satisfyingly easy and visually spectacular target in the post sunset hours of Nov. 24, as it shines in the southeastern sky in the constellation Pisces, whose stars will be a challenge to spot in the light of the newly waning moon.

Observing tips

The November full moon presents a stunning opportunity to photograph the entirety of the Earth-facing lunar disk as its disk appears temporarily free from shadow. Be sure to make use of our expert guide to photographing the moon, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, if you want to upgrade your equipment.

• Use a tripod to keep your camera as steady as possible.
• Use a remote shutter/timer to prevent camera wobble.
• A smartphone stargazing app can help you find the exact point of moonrise on your local horizon.
• A lens with a focal length of 12-50 mm is useful for landscape photography, while a focal length of at least 400 mm is advised for capturing more detailed views of the lunar surface.
• The moon can be made to appear particularly large while close to the horizon next to foreground objects, where it may take on an orange-yellow appearance thanks to Rayleigh scattering. A cleaner, more "classic" view can be captured as it soars high overhead.

Upcoming full moons

These times mark the exact instant of full illumination. Your own moonrise or moonset may be hours earlier or later, depending on your location. For the best viewing plan, use an app such as Stellarium or SkySafari 7 Pro to find your local moonrise time and be sure to read our full moon calendar for comprehensive timings for each full moon in 2026.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your full moon photos with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s) along with your name, the location and any comments on what it was like to capture the picture to spacephotos@space.com.

The full "Hunter's Moon" wowed stargazers with a breathtaking display of natural light when it rose to dominate the autumn sky overnight on Oct. 25-26. Here are our favorite photos captured from around the world.

October's full moon is often known as the Hunter's Moon because it traditionally rose around the time that hunters would take to the newly harvested fields to catch animals to prepare as food for the coming winter.

Well, in 2026 the Hunter's Moon certainly succeeded in captivating the imagination and attention of photographers, who snapped the lunar disk alongside magnificent natural vistas, glowing cityscapes and ancient wonders. Read on to enjoy the most spectacular images of the Hunter's Moon.

Best photos of the full "Hunter's Moon" 2026

We begin with a beautifully detailed shot of the Hunter's Moon captured by photographer Bill Trojan, who sent in a spectacular view of October's full moon close to moonrise on Oct. 25, shortly before the lunar disk reached its point of 100% illumination.

Next feast your eyes on an atmospheric shot of the near-full moon captured by Tayfun Coskun as the lunar disk shone balefully over the skyscrapers of San Francisco on Oct. 25 ahead of moonset.

Coskun also captured this incredibly well-timed shot of a passenger jet as its landing gear appeared to skim the upper edge of the Hunter's Moon, while leaving contrails in its wake.

Veteran New York photographer Gary Hershorn was also able to line up a shot of the full Hunter's Moon rising behind the iconic architecture of the Empire State Building from Hoboken, New Jersey, on that same night.

Davide Pischettola, meanwhile, captured the moon as it loomed behind the stained glass windows and towers of the Basilica of the Madonna dei Martiri in the town of Molfetta, Italy, as a river of cloud appeared to crown the lunar disk.

Photographer Sayim Harmanci combined the ancient with the new in his composition by positioning Earth's satellite at the heart of a neon star that shines in the city of Hakkari, Türkiye.

Our next view of the Hunter's Moon was captured by Salih Zeki Fazlioglu as it gleamed red alongside the historic Galata Tower in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the mouth of the Black Sea.

Lisa Shislowski took this photo of the Hunter's Moon as its light illuminated clouds and reflected in the waters of the city of Plantation, Florida. " [The] Hunter's Moon was bright in the sky adjacent to the lighthouse at Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach," Shislowski told Space.com in an email. "Two different beacons of light—one natural, one man-made—but both with equal brilliance".

Selcuk Acar, meanwhile, managed to line up a spectacular shot of the October moon as it appeared to balance on the observation deck of the Hudson Yards skyscraper in New York on Oct. 24.

Next month's full moon will occur as the lunar disk draws closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit, giving rise to a dramatic supermoon that can shine up to 30% brighter and appear 14% larger than the smallest full moon of the year!

Be sure to read our guides on how to observe and photograph the moon to ensure that you're ready to make the most of the lunar spectacle, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography if you're looking to upgrade your gear.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

October's full "Hunter's Moon" treated stargazers to a mesmerizing natural light show when it rose overnight on Oct. 25-26! Check out our wrap article to see the best photos of the October full moon.

The October full moon rises tonight! Here's everything you need to know about the "Hunter's Moon," including where to see it, how it got its name and other tricks of the light and mind that could conspire to create a truly spectacular lunar light show.

October's moon reaches 100% illumination at 12:12 a.m. EDT (0412 GMT) on Oct. 26, as the lunar disk shines opposite the sun in Earth's sky. The shadowy terminator that separates the day and night side of the moon is conspicuously absent around this time, as are the shadows that throw craters into spectacular relief during the waxing and waning lunar phases.

Instead, it's a perfect time to explore the dark lunar "seas" that cover the moon's surface where lava flooded impact basins billions of years ago, before hardening to create enormous basaltic plains. Streaks of reflective material can also be spotted streaking away from bright young craters, where material from the lunar subsurface was excavated and cast across the moon's surface during brutal asteroid impacts.

Where and when to see the October full moon.

Stargazers in the U.S. will get their first view of the full moon as it climbs into the eastern sky at sunset on Oct. 25. Be sure to check out Time and Date's moonrise tracker to discover the exact timings for your location.

The moon often appears particularly large while close to the horizon, thanks to a phenomenon called the "Moon Effect," wherein our brains trick us into thinking that the lunar disk is larger while in close visual proximity to the ground than it is when overhead.

The moon can also take on a spectacular yellow-orange color in the hour after moonrise, as blue wavelengths of its reflected light — the shortest in the visible spectrum — are scattered during its oblique passage through Earth's atmosphere.

Why is the October full moon called the "Hunter's Moon"?

October's full moon is commonly known as the Hunter's Moon in the Northern Hemisphere because it rises soon after farmers have cleared away the summer's harvest, leaving the fields bare for hunters to catch their prey and prepare it as food for the winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

It's also called the "Migrating Moon" by the North American Cree people, in reference to the birds that travel to warmer climates around the time of its rising. The Ojibwe and the Haida know it asthe "Freezing Moon," to reflect the drop in temperature that occurs in autumn.

Want to make the most of the October full moon? Then be sure to check out our guide to observing the moon and photographing the lunar disk, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your photos of the October full moon with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

The spooky season is officially here! To celebrate, we've put together a list of five Halloween-themed skywatching targets that you can enjoy with nothing but the naked eye or binoculars and, of course, clear skies.

Over millennia, the night sky has helped shape human beliefs. In return, we have imprinted our myths, stories and perceptions upon it, seeing monsters and mythology in the twinkling lights of the stars and assigning sinister aspects to innocent cosmic objects.

Many of these ghostly impressions and meanings have survived to the present day. Here are a few of our favorites.

The Pleiades open star cluster

Don't be fooled by their beauty; the blue-white stars of the Pleiades are dripping in spooky lore. Ancient Celtic druids would hold the celebration of Samhain — the precursor to Halloween — when the star cluster reached its highest point in the autumn night sky at midnight.

The veil separating the worlds of the living and the dead was believed to be at its thinnest around this time, granting the departed a brief window to visit the living before the realms separated once again.

The Pleiades appears as a tight collection of six or seven bright twinkling stars to the naked eye, while a pair of binoculars will reveal dozens more of the 1,000-strong star cluster.

Stargazers in the U.S. can find the Pleiades using the three familiar stars of Orion's Belt, which glisten in the eastern sky in the hours preceding midnight. Trace an imaginary line upward through the trio of stars until you find the bright orange star Aldebaran, which represents an eye of the great bull represented in the constellation Taurus. The Pleiades can be found glowing less than 15 degrees above! (Reminder: Your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of sky.)

The 'Demon Star' Algol

Next we turn our gaze to the "Demon Star" Algol — a beautiful binary system that represents an eye of the monstrous Gorgon Medusa, whose severed head is depicted in the constellation Perseus.

The demonic eye appears to "wink" at us every 2.867 days, as one of a pair of co-orbiting stars eclipses the other, making Algol appear 3.3 times dimmer than usual at the climax, or "minima," of each 10-hour eclipse. Algol won't be eclipsed on Halloween night in 2026, though you may notice its light dim during the surrounding minima on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, according to Sky and Telescope.

Cetus, the sea monster

The night sky is often described as a sea of stars, so it's only fitting that a monster lurks within its depths. The constellation Cetus — also known as the sea monster, or the whale — can be found shining in the southeastern sky after sunset in late October, with the circlet of stars representing the monster's head glistening to the right of the Pleiades for viewers in the U.S.

In Greek mythology, Cetus was a mighty sea beast that terrorized the coast of Aethiopia under the command of the god Poseidon, according to the website for NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The sea beast was eventually killed by the hero Perseus, who in some tellings used the severed head of medusa to turn Cetus to stone!

Spiderwebs on the moon

Look to the lunar disk in the week surrounding the full moon on Oct. 26 and you may notice a bright network of spiderweb-like patterns surrounding the Tycho, Copernicus and Kepler craters.

Thankfully, these aren't the nests of some colossal moon-dwelling arachnids, but streaks of bright material cast across the lunar surface by the violent impacts that created the bright young craters. They're best viewed around the full moon phase, when the lunar disk shines opposite the sun in Earth's sky.

Halloween fireballs

Our last pick is going to take a great deal of patience, and a good amount of luck! Look out for bright, slow-moving meteors belonging to the Taurid meteor shower, which appear to streak away from a patch of sky close to the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus (hence the name).

The Taurids are comprised of two separate meteor showers — the Northern Taurids and Southern Taurids — which are active in late October as Earth passes through the debris trails left by the 3-mile-wide (4.8 kilometers) Comet 2P/Encke.

Taurids are known for producing bright "fireball" meteors, which are often called "Halloween fireballs" because they tend to coincide with the annual celebration. They're spectacular and can appear anytime after the constellation Taurus rises above the horizon, which is shortly after sunset in October for stargazers in the U.S.. But they're also very rare, so it's best to treat the fireballs as a bonus if you're lucky enough to spot one, rather than a target to plan your nights around, at least outside of the shower's peaks in early November.

Be sure to check out our beginners tips for skywatching if you're a newcomer to exploring the night sky, along with our picks of the best binoculars and telescope deals that'll have you exploring everything from the moon and stars to impressive deep sky objects in no time.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your Halloween astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Astrophotographer Tim McCollum captured a spectacular view of Orionid meteors sharing the night sky with a host of deep sky wonders on Oct. 21, as the annual shooting star display ramped up to peak activity.

Comet 1P/Halley may be over 3 billion miles (4.8 kilometers) from Earth, but that didn't stop it from putting on a breathtaking display earlier this week, as particles cast off by the ancient wanderer carved a fiery path through the autumn sky.

McCollum was able to capture a trio of vivid Orionid meteors as they streaked through the night sky above the city of Toccoa, Georgia, between 3-4 a.m. on Oct. 21. Each of the shooting stars can be seen racing away from the shower's apparent point of origin — or radiant — which is located close to the red giant star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion.

Successfully imaging a shooting star takes a combination of skill, luck and patience. McCollum photographed the meteors over the course of multiple 30-second exposures taken with a Canon EOS Ra camera and RF 28-70 f2.0 lens, which was fixed unerringly on the radiant with the aid of a star tracker. The individual exposures were then combined into a single composite image using the astrophoto software PixInsight.

The familiar stars of Orion's Belt glisten to the right of McCollum's image, close to the glow of the Orion Nebula — one of the nearest major star forming regions to Earth. The Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49) can also be spotted embedded in the dense starfield and dust lanes of the Milky Way's galactic plane, which runs diagonally through the composite image, as can numerous star clusters.

The Orionid meteor shower is active until Nov. 7, so be sure to head outside over the next few nights for a chance to spot one of Comet 1P/Halley's dazzling shooting stars. If you're lucky, you may even spot a Halloween Fireball belonging to the Taurid meteor shower, as Earth passes through the debris streams cast off by Comet 2P/Encke!

Why not read our handy guide to photographing shooting stars? You can also take a look at our picks of the best lenses and cameras for astrophotography available in 2026, including the Canon EOS R8, which delivers the essential interval shooting functionality you need to capture meteors without bursting the bank.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

The total solar eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027, has an ancient feel. It will certainly be a celestial event for the ages — at 6 minutes 23 seconds, it will feature the longest totality on land of the 21st century and the longest anywhere until 2114. However, its point of greatest eclipse occurs just a few miles from Thebes, the magnificent religious and political capital of ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom.

On the east bank of the mighty Nile is Luxor, the great city of the living, with its massive temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor. On its west bank is the city of the dead, which includes the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Modern Luxor, population 285,000, is set to become a focal point for eclipse chasers on Aug. 2, 2027, and will attract many thousands of international visitors. They'll come for the forecasted 0% chance of clouds and the era-defining duration of totality, but also to tour ancient Egypt's temples and monuments.

The chances of actually witnessing totality at any of the major temples are probably slim. Still, almost every eclipse chaser headed to Luxor will want to tour them before or after the eclipse. Visitors should be prepared for extreme August heat and check official opening and access arrangements before planning to watch the eclipse at any archaeological site. Certified eclipse glasses are essential during the partial phases; only during totality, when the sun is completely covered, is it safe to look without them.

Ancient monuments in the path of totality

Not all of ancient Egypt will experience totality. Egypt's top-ranking monument, the Pyramids at Giza, near Cairo, lies north of the path of totality and will get a 95% partial solar eclipse. Abu Simbel, on the shores of Lake Nasser south of Aswan, will also see a 92% partial solar eclipse. No matter, Luxor is home to some of the world's most impressive and well-preserved ancient monuments. Here are its temples, necropolises and palaces — and those nearby, also in the 160-mile (257-kilometer)-wide path of totality — that will have the moon's umbral shadow fall upon them on Aug. 2, 2027. All times, totality durations and historical cloud cover data come from Time and Date.

1. Karnak Temple

Dedicated to the god Amun-Ra — a fusion of the hidden god of the sun Amun and the ancient sun god Ra — this vast temple complex will be the hottest ticket in town for the eclipse. One of Egypt's most impressive and well-preserved ancient monuments, it's a place designed by ancient astronomers — the winter solstice sunrise still illuminates the innermost sanctuary. Access arrangements for eclipse day have yet to be confirmed, so keep an eye on official announcements before making plans to watch totality from the complex.

2. Luxor Temple

This is one of Egypt's best-preserved ancient temples and a must-see during the 2027 eclipse. It's on the banks of the Nile near the city center, so it's relatively easy to visit. Dedicated to the god Amun, it is known for its beautiful pillars and intricate carvings. A 75-foot (23 meters) tall obelisk on the east side of its entrance will point at the eclipsed sun almost directly overhead on Aug. 2, 2027. Its missing right-hand obelisk is in the Place de la Concorde, Paris.

3. Valley of the Kings

This incredible necropolis is home to the tombs of the pharaohs and is a testament to the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the ancient Egyptians. Of course, you don't want to be underground for totality, but some of the tombs are a must-see. Your tickets include entry to any three tombs of your choice from those open that day, with extra tickets available for the really impressive ones—the spectacular KV17 (Seti I), small but iconic KV62 (Tutankhamun), and KV9 (Ramesses V & VI). The latter's Corridor G has a ceiling decoration that may depict a deep partial solar eclipse from 1143 BC.

4. Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

If one temple is best suited to crowds for an eclipse, it's this vast, open-air gem dedicated to the legendary queen who became pharaoh. However, with almost no shade, it could be the least practical option. Three huge terraces rise above the desert floor and into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari to the west. It's an absolute masterpiece.

5. Colossi of Memnon

This is where we get to temples that are fairly well known, but likely won't have as much pressure on them from eclipse chasers as the big three — Karnak, Luxor and Hatshepsut. However, anyone looking for ways to get temple architecture into images of an eclipse at zenith should look no further than these two large stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. Behind them are the ruins of the largest temple in the Theban Necropolis.

6. Medinet Habu

Getting off the beaten track in August 2027 will be near-impossible, but here's an option — the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. Featuring towering stone columns, colorful reliefs (despite being 3,200 years old) and famous carvings, it's bypassed by tour buses heading straight for Hatshepsut.

7. Ramesseum

Another temple that, without Karnak and Luxor nearby, would be rammed with visitors, is the Ramesseum — the mortuary temple of Ramesses II. Featuring the remains of a huge fallen statue that inspired Shelley's poem Ozymandias, it's in an area once used by the artisans who built the royal tombs, and slightly off the tourist route.

8. Temple of Khnum

If you want to avoid the scrum of eclipse chasers in Luxor on and around Aug. 2, the Temple of Khnum could be an option. Located in Esna, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Luxor, the so-called 'Rainbow Temple' (for its colorful ceilings) is dedicated to the ram-headed creator god Khnum. Dating from the Greco-Roman era, there's a vast Hypostyle Hall that sits below modern street level, which could be good for some shade.

9. Temple of Dendera

If you want to escape Luxor but (almost) keep its long totality, head to Qena, 40 miles (65 km) north, where one of Egypt's best-preserved and most beautiful temples stands. Dendera was the cult center for Hathor, one of the most important and popular deities in ancient Egypt and known as the 'lady of the sky.' The temple's entrance has six massive columns, each decorated with Hathor's head, and its ceiling features astronomical engravings.

10. Temple of Horus

Another great option for those who prioritize ancient Egyptian surroundings over the longest possible totality is the Temple of Horus, one of the most striking and best-preserved temples in ancient Egypt. About 68 miles (110 km) south of Luxor, it's dedicated to the sun and sky god Horus, one of the main gods in ancient Egypt, whose right eye represents the sun and left eye the moon. The temple's stone roofs are intact, so its Hypostyle Halls, inner chambers and central sanctuary provide some shade.

As you know, prime lenses come in a wide range of sizes and focal lengths, and every once in a while, one comes along and seems to grab you by the scruff of your neck. One such lens is the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE, which is an impressive and useful lens for astrophotography thanks to its wide-angle field of view and fast maximum aperture.

This lens is one of the wider prime lenses that are available and could be one of the best third-party lenses for astrophotography. With a price of just $464 (£533), this is one of the most cost-effective wide-angle primes, but rather than being a second-rate lens, its build quality and image quality are fantastic. It’s not the best, but it’s undoubtedly a lens you would enjoy.

Image quality is excellent overall, with no need for lens corrections, except for vignette removal when shooting wide open. With near-perfect sharpness and minimal distortion and aberrations straight out of the camera, perhaps the weight of the lens is a small price to pay.

The lens is made up of 15 elements in 12 groups and is built like a tank, with an all-metal body. It is pretty heavy, though, weighing in at 19.4 oz (550 g) despite its relatively compact size. Attach this lens to one of the best Sony cameras and you will have a formidable combination. The 16mm f/1.8 is also available in the Nikon Z-mount.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE lens review

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Performance

• Great image quality
• Impressively sharp at f/1.8
• Excellent corner sharpness

With a focal length of 16mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.8, this is clearly a great lens for astrophotography from a technical point of view. The light-gathering capabilities are excellent, to say the least, and during testing it was possible to shoot at a range of ISO levels with a moonless sky. Even ISO 800 was often high enough for a correct exposure.

The image quality produced by the 16mm f/1.8 is great, with excellent levels of sharpness across the frame. What’s most important here is that even corner sharpness is fantastic when wide open at f/1.8. This is the aperture setting where vignetting is at its strongest, but it reduces drastically when you stop down to f/2.8 and is completely gone by the time you stop down to f/4.

Luckily, though, there is a lens profile in Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom that completely removes vignetting. There’s also only minimal chromatic aberration and a tiny amount of barrel distortion, which is impressive given the wide field of view produced by the lens.

As mentioned before, sharpness is great wide open and improves incrementally as you stop down up to the sweet spot of the lens, which is f/8. Sharpness drops slightly at f/11, and it’s at f/16 where diffraction begins to soften the image overall. This increases further when you stop down to f/22.

These latter apertures aren’t relevant to astrophotography; the medium ones aren’t either but the sharpness produced at f/1.8 and f/2.8 is exactly what you want.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Design

• Weather-sealed build
• Compact yet heavy
• Great handling

The 16mm f/1.8 lens is something of an oddity in one respect: it’s both compact and heavy considering its size, although this comes down to its optical construction. The lens weighs 19.4 oz (550 g) with a size of just 3.35 x 4.06 in (85.2 x 103 mm). It does, however, balance well with Sony A-series cameras.

The 16mm f/1.8 is made up of 15 elements in 12 groups, including four ED glass and three aspherical lenses. The optical construction is designed to deliver sharpness, detail and high contrast with minimal distortion. It’s fair to say it achieves these. Of course, you will experience some perspective distortion when tilting the lens up to capture more of the night sky when there are ground elements in the foreground.

Unlike some wide-angle lenses, the front element isn’t bulbous, and it features an HD nano multilayer coating with a water-resistant and antifouling coating. The filter thread is also just 77mm, so you can easily attach screw-in and square filters if you use them for your astrophotography.

The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 10.6 inches (27 cm), which is great for landscape photographers but less important for astrophotographers.

Build quality is impressive thanks to an all-metal body and weather-sealing. This gives the lens a premium look, and it feels robust in the hand. There’s also a useful digital color screen that displays lens information.

When it comes to controls, there are possibly a few more on this lens than you might find on the average prime. There’s a manual focusing ring that’s wide enough for use when wearing gloves, a manual aperture ring that can be set to stepped and stepless operation using a switch on one side of the lens, two customizable Fn buttons and an AF/MF switch.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Functionality

• Small color digital screen
• Customizable Fn buttons
• 105.6-degree field of view

The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE is a full-frame lens offering a generous 105.6-degree field of view, allowing you to capture more of the night sky. This lens naturally works with all Sony FE bodies, and if you shoot APS-C, it will give you an equivalent focal length of 24mm. This means if you currently own an APS-C camera but plan to upgrade to full-frame, this lens could comfortably join you on that journey.

As prime lenses go, this one has a few more bells and whistles than most, so there are a few more things to talk about than usual. Focusing is internal, so the front element doesn’t rotate or extend outwards, which is great when using filters.

For astrophotography, manual focus is the only way to go, but this lens also has autofocus for when you’re shooting other subjects. The autofocus isn't the fastest we’ve seen, taking about 0.25 seconds to lock onto subjects when the lens is wide open, or 0.5 seconds when stopped down. This is driven by an SMT stepping motor, which is quiet but audible.

One feature that you don’t see on many lenses is a small color digital screen on the top of the lens. This shows the focus distance, aperture setting and the active Fn control. Is it a gimmick? A bit. Is it useful? Yes. For astrophotography, the screen is definitely useful because it’s illuminated.

As with most Viltrox lenses, there’s also a USB-C port on the lens mount so it can be powered. This allows you to connect the lens to the Viltrox Lens app via Bluetooth to update firmware and customize the Fn buttons and the digital screen’s welcome screen. This makes firmware updates incredibly easy, which is a great feature to have.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: User reviews

In online reviews, users consistently highlight the lens's value and image quality. Build quality comes up time and time again, thanks to the all-metal build.

Many users report that overall, the lens offers much more than you’d expect for the price and even more than some more expensive lenses.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE

The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE was tested in combination with the Sony A7R V, which offers an unforgivingly high resolution. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality for an all-round approach to testing.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE?

Since there are only a few alternatives to the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE, and given that it offers excellent value for money, this is absolutely a lens worth considering if you need a wide-angle prime.

Furthermore, you’ll struggle to find a similar alternative with the same balance of overall build quality and price. Image quality is excellent, even in the corners and edges of the frame when shooting wide open with minimal distortion.

The two customizable Fn buttons and the illuminated color screen that provides useful lens information are extremely helpful when shooting in the dark.

With a price of $464 (£533) and given its build quality, image quality and overall handling, this lens represents excellent value for money. And while it may be a full-frame lens, APS-C users can still enjoy a 24mm equivalent focal length, so it’s a useful lens for astrophotography whichever format you shoot with.

This is a professional-quality lens with a mid-range price tag, and like other Viltrox lenses, you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens case in the box.

If this lens isn't for you

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is a slightly less wide Viltrox lens with a much faster aperture and is part of the company’s flagship LAB series.

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a fantastic wide-angle prime offering excellent image quality in a compact and lightweight form factor.

The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is something of a beast, both in terms of specs and its size. With a 14mm focal length and f/1.4 maximum aperture, it’s perfect for astrophotography.

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Don't miss the Orionid meteor shower peak tonight (Oct. 21-22) as tiny shards of Halley's Comet collide with Earth's atmosphere to carve fiery streaks through the Autumn sky! But will the light cast by the waxing gibbous moon spoil the show?

The Orionid meteor shower activity peaks when Earth travels through the densest section of the debris trail left by Comet 1P/Halley. The comet is currently racing back towards the sun ahead of its next visit to the inner solar system in 2061.

Under perfect dark sky conditions 10 to 20 shooting stars could brighten the night sky each hour as the peak unfolds, according to NASA. However, the light cast by the waxing moon — just four days from being full — will likely reduce the number of visible meteors by hiding fainter Orionids from sight.

Orionid shooting stars will appear to travel away from a point of origin, close to the red star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, rising above the eastern horizon an hour before midnight for viewers in the U.S.

When and where to see Orionid shooting stars this October

Your best chance at spotting the fast-moving meteors will come in the hours before dawn on Oct. 22, after the moon has set and the radiant approaches its highest point in the night sky. It's best not to stare directly at the radiant, where the glowing meteor trails will be relatively short compared to those left by shooting stars that appear 45-90 degrees away from the bright star Betelgeuse, thanks to an effect known as foreshortening.

Try to travel away from city lights and allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark. Always make sure someone knows where you're going if you head somewhere remote to catch the shower and be sure to take a red light to ensure that you can find your way while also preserving your night vision!

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your Orionid shooting star photos with Space.com's readers, then please send your image(s), along with your name, location and comments to spacephotos@space.com.

The best stargazing apps can take your observation of the night sky to the next level, whether that's using augmented reality (AR mode) to identify stars or looking up the next lunar eclipse.

However, the bright light emitted by smartphone screens can prevent your eyes from adjusting to the dark. If you're using one of the best telescopes, you'll want to preserve your night vision even more. Fortunately, there are ways to all but eliminate this problem.

Why are bright screens bad for stargazing?

When you step out into the dark, it can take up to 20-30 minutes for your vision to adjust. The rod cells in your eyes build up a chemical known as rhodopsin, which gives you night vision.

However, bright light bleaches that chemical, negatively impacting your night vision. So when you look through a telescope, binoculars or just turn your eyes to the night sky after peering at a bright phone screen, it'll be harder for you to pick out fainter objects such as galaxies and nebulas.

One way of fixing this problem is simply to put your phone away and wait another 20-30 minutes. But if you're using a stargazing app to help you navigate the night skies, that's not really an option.

The good news is that, between individual stargazing apps and your phone's own built-in features, you can minimize the impact of your smartphone's screen light.

How to block white light in stargazing apps

Many of the best stargazing apps will let you enable a red light filter or similar, though this option may not always be present in the free version. Here's how to do that in three of our favorite stargazing apps:

SkyView: Tap the screen, tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then Display, then Night Mode and Red.

Star Walk 2: Tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then tap the button next to Night Mode.

Sky Tonight: Tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then Tools, then Night Mode.

All these modes will minimize the amount of white light coming from the app. However, be aware that this is only within the app. Once you go back to your phone's main menu, it will be at full color. With the red screen naturally looking darker, you may have turned up the brightness on your phone, so making the switch away from the app will be quite the shock.

If you want to dim your whole phone or put it into red light mode, here's how to do that on Android or iPhone.

How to block white light on Android phones

On Android, there are several ways to minimize the impact of bright light, depending on the model and make of phone you have.

One near-universal option is to dim your smartphone. Swipe down the notification panel from the top of the screen and you'll see a brightness slider. Slide this to the left to dim your phone.

We'd also recommend disabling adaptive brightness in the Display section of your phone's settings. You may also have an Extra Dim option in the Accessibility menu — just don't dim the screen to the point of not being able to see it at all!

Some Android phones, such as recent Samsung and Google Pixel models, also offer a Red Filter. On some, you'll find this in Accessibility, then Vision Enhancements, then Color Filter. You can then choose the color you want and also tweak the opacity.

All the above options will let you continue to use your smartphone for stargazing, while minimizing its negative impact on your night vision.

How to block white light on Apple iPhones

As with Android phones, iPhones have a built-in option to dim the screen brightness. In this case, you swipe down from the top of the screen and look for the vertical brightness slider, represented by a sun icon. Reduce the slider as much as you're comfortable with, dimming the screen while still keeping it visible.

Beyond that, recent iPhones also offer the ability to apply a color filter, again via their Accessibility options. Here's how to do that.

First, tap on the Settings icon, then pick Accessibility. Select Display & Text Size and go to Color Filters. Tap the Color Filter button. Then, pick Color Tint and move the Hue and Intensity sliders all the way to the right.

• We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

Spain is one of the easiest places in the world to experience the total solar eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027. The so-called "eclipse of the century" first makes landfall in Andalucía, where totality will last up to 4 minutes and 40 seconds during mid-morning, with the sun comfortably high at around 38-42 degrees above the horizon in the eastern sky. Excellent roads, plentiful accommodation and Málaga's international airport make this an obvious alternative to North Africa and the Middle East.

However, choosing where to watch requires some thought. Southern Spain's narrowing shape funnels the path toward the Strait of Gibraltar, potentially concentrating huge numbers of eclipse chasers around Tarifa, the Costa del Sol and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar during the peak summer holiday season.

From busy Mediterranean beaches to mountain villages, here's where to see the total solar eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027 in southern Spain. All times, totality durations and historical cloud cover data come from Time and Date.

1. Tarifa

At the southernmost tip of mainland Europe, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea, Tarifa is likely to be one of the country's busiest eclipse-watching locations because it will experience the longest totality in mainland Spain. Just 9 miles (14 km) across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco, the historic port town is known for its whitewashed old town, the medieval Castle of Guzmán el Bueno and its long, sandy beaches. Los Lances and Valdevaqueros offer wide horizons and plenty of open space.

2. Gaucín

For eclipse chasers who would rather head into the mountains than join the crowds on the Costa del Sol, Gaucín is an intriguing alternative. One of Andalucía's classic pueblos blancos, the whitewashed village occupies a spectacular position in the mountains above the coast, crowned by the ruins of Castillo del Águila. Its elevated setting offers sweeping views across the surrounding countryside towards Gibraltar and, on clear days, the mountains of North Africa. Crucially, heading inland doesn't sacrifice too much totality.

3. Gibraltar

Few places in Europe could provide a more dramatic setting for totality than Gibraltar, the tiny British Overseas Territory dominated by its famous 1,398-foot (426-meter) limestone Rock. However, eclipse chasers will need to view either from The Rock or its east coast, where elevated viewpoints and beaches face the Mediterranean and the eclipsed sun. However, Gibraltar has a potential complication — the easterly Levanter wind can create a distinctive cap of cloud over the Rock even when surrounding skies are clear. Another issue is accommodation, which is already at a premium. See Gibraltar Eclipse 2027.

4. La Línea de la Concepción

Immediately north of Gibraltar, La Línea de la Concepción occupies the sandy isthmus between the Bay of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. Its location creates one of Spain's most distinctive possibilities for eclipse photography. On the Mediterranean side, Playa de Santa Bárbara is a wide sandy beach north of the border, with the immense Rock of Gibraltar rising to the south — a potentially spectacular foreground. The city has around 9 miles (14 kilometers) of coastline, providing plenty of alternatives for eclipse viewing.

5. Estepona

About an hour's drive southwest of Málaga Airport, Estepona is one of the Costa del Sol's most attractive resort towns, with a pedestrianized old quarter of whitewashed streets, colorful flowerpots and squares centered on Plaza de las Flores. For eclipse day, the mile-long Playa de la Rada is the obvious gathering place, with its broad Mediterranean horizon and proximity to the town center. Other attractions include Estepona Marina and the Sierra Bermeja mountains rising behind the coast.

6. Cádiz

Historic Cádiz occupies a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic and is packed with reminders of its long maritime past, including the Cádiz Cathedral, the Roman Theatre and Torre Tavira, one of more than 100 watchtowers once used to spot approaching ships. For eclipse day, the long, sandy Playa de la Victoria offers plenty of open space, while La Caleta provides a more historic setting between two coastal castles.

7. Málaga

Málaga may lose some duration compared with locations farther west, but it makes up for it with excellent transport links, plentiful accommodation and all the attractions of a major Mediterranean city. It combines the hilltop Gibralfaro Castle and Moorish Alcazaba with a Roman theatre, cathedral, museums and a lively historic center. For eclipse day, the obvious option is the coast. La Malagueta beach is within walking distance of the city center, while numerous beaches extend east and west along the Costa del Sol.

8. Torremolinos

One of the best-known resorts on Spain's Costa del Sol, Torremolinos combines a long Mediterranean beachfront with easy access to Málaga and its international airport. Its 4-mile (6-kilometer) promenade links broad sandy beaches, including Playa del Bajondillo and Playa de la Carihuela, offering plenty of potential eclipse-watching spots with views toward the eastern sky. For a higher vantage point, nearby Mount Calamorro rises almost 2,600 feet (800 meters) above Benalmádena, with panoramic views across the Costa del Sol and, on clear days, towards Gibraltar and North Africa.

9. Marbella

Marbella has around 17 miles (27 kilometers) of Mediterranean coastline, so eclipse chasers will have dozens of beaches to choose from, from San Pedro de Alcántara in the west to Cabopino in the east. Options include the sandy beaches and dunes around Cabopino, Las Chapas, Puerto Banús and San Pedro de Alcántara, all with open views across the Mediterranean. Away from the beach, Marbella offers a whitewashed old town centered on Plaza de los Naranjos, while the Sierra Blanca mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the resort.

10. Motril

Close to the northern edge of the path of totality, Motril gets a shorter eclipse than destinations farther west, but could be among the quieter places on Spain's Mediterranean coast from which to experience it. The largest town on Granada's Costa Tropical sits between the Mediterranean and the foothills of the Sierra de Lújar, with the Sierra Nevada rising beyond. Nearby Playa Granada and Playa Poniente offer broad coastal views.

Want to educate young children about the wonders of the cosmos? Depending on the time of year, your location and the weather, your hopes to see the night sky in real life might not be as easy as heading into the backyard and peering up. That's why one of the best star projectors might be the solution.

That's why we've picked out six star projectors that actually deliver scientifically accurate images, from projections of the northern hemisphere to breathtaking pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Any one of these will turn your home into a private planetarium. Each comes with several swappable images, and you can purchase additional slides/discs for the Homestar and Pococo models. If you're seeking to stimulate a child's interest in space and STEM or just take your friends on a journey through space, these are the scientifically accurate projectors to purchase.

The Orionid meteor shower peaks overnight on Oct. 21-22, triggering a spectacular display of shooting stars as Earth plunges through the densest part of the debris trail shed by Halley's Comet. Here's what you need to know.

When is the best time to see Orionid shooting stars?

Orionid meteors are best spotted between the hours of midnight and dawn on Oct. 22, when 10-20 shooting stars may be seen brightening the night sky each hour under ideal dark-sky.

The glare cast by the 74%-lit waxing gibbous moon will hide fainter shooting stars for much of the night. Thankfully, the lunar disk will set a few hours after midnight, leaving a window of beautifully dark sky before dawn in which to enjoy the full majesty of the annual meteor shower. Remember to use a trusted website like Time and Date to discover the exact moment of moonset for your location.

Where should I look to see Orionid meteors?

Orionid shooting stars will appear to originate from a patch of sky, or radiant, located close to the red giant star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, which glistens above the southeastern horizon for stargazers in the U.S. during the early hours of Oct. 22.

For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest. Be sure to head away from artificial lights and allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the dark for the best

What causes the Orionid meteor shower?

The Orionid meteor shower is active each year as Earth passes through the stream of debris left behind by Comet 1P/Halley, which was observed by a fleet of spacecraft when it last visited the inner solar system in 1986.

Shooting stars become visible when particles of the ancient comet collide with our planet's atmosphere at 147,600 miles per hour (237,539 kilometers per hour), vaporizing in a spectacular display of natural fireworks.

Hoping to catch a shooting star for yourself? Then be sure to read our guide to photographing meteor showers, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your Orionid photos with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

I used to think being interested in the night sky meant I had to try every meteor shower. If a calendar said "peak," I interpreted that as an instruction. I'd set an alarm, find several layers of clothing and go outside at around 2:00 a.m. when even the neighborhood cats seemed surprised to see me. Then I'd spend an increasingly resentful 45 minutes staring upward, occasionally see one meteor and wonder whether I was somehow doing it all wrong. As I've grown into stargazing, I've become much more selective.

The Orionids peak next week, and normally I'd be tempted. These fast meteors come from debris from Halley's Comet, which is enough of a connection to make almost anyone want to go outside. However, another object is in the sky this year — a big, bright waxing gibbous moon that will brighten the night sky and make "shooting stars" very hard to see.

That doesn't make the Orionids unobservable. In fact, there is a narrow window when the night sky will be free from moonlight. But it does make me far less inclined to sacrifice an entire night for them, and I certainly won't be trying to spend the night camping under a dark sky in a remote rural location far from light pollution. I've discovered that knowing when not to observe is an underrated stargazing skill.

What's happening and when to look

The Orionids are active from Oct. 2 through Nov. 7, with their 2026 maximum expected overnight on Oct. 21-22. They appear to radiate from a point near Orion, although the meteors themselves can streak across almost any part of the sky.

The shower happens because Earth crosses a stream of debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which was last in the inner solar system in 1986 and will return in 2061. Those tiny particles hit our atmosphere at roughly 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second, making Orionids particularly fast meteors.

Under ideal conditions, the International Meteor Organization gives the shower a zenithal hourly rate of 20 or more around maximum. But "zenithal hourly rate" is not the same as promising that I will personally see 20 meteors while standing in my backyard for an hour. It assumes an excellent dark sky, a well-placed radiant and unobstructed viewing. In reality, that's impossible — at the very least you'd have to have eyes in the back of your head. And on each side.

This year adds another complication. The moon reaches first quarter on Oct. 18 and continues waxing toward full on Oct. 26. On the peak night of the Orionids, an 80%-illuminated waxing gibbous moon will be in the night sky as it gets dark on Oct. 21 and sets around 03:00 a.m. local time across Europe and North America on Oct. 22. You can probably see the workaround. Sunrise is roughly 06:30 a.m. local time, which means astronomical darkness — when the sun is more than 18 degrees below the horizon, meaning complete darkness — lasts until around 05:00 a.m. local time (these times work as a ballpark, but you can (check the exact times of moonset and sunrise for your location on Time and Date).

So there is a dark window before dawn, and that is when I would try to see the shower if I were determined to see it. The Orionid radiant is also much better placed after midnight than it is in the evening.

Knowing exactly what's going to happen in the sky turns a casual meteor watch into a rather more calculated exercise.

How and when I'm watching it

My plan for the Orionids this year is the same as usual — after checking the moon phase and the moonset and sunrise times, there's one more variable. The weather forecast first.

If the forecast is excellent and I'm feeling enthusiastic, I'll target the period after moonset and before morning twilight on Oct. 22. If it's due to be cloudy, I'm staying in bed.

This sounds obvious, but I think beginners are sometimes given the impression that successful stargazing requires heroic commitment. It doesn't. A meteor shower is not a performance that disappears the moment the advertised "peak" passes. The Orionids have a relatively broad period of activity, so meteors can appear on nights either side of maximum, too.

If I do go outside at 3:00 a.m., I'll do so without two hugely valuable resources for meteor showers — a lawn chair and bags of patience.

Stargazer's corner: October 16-22, 2026

The moon reaches first quarter on Oct. 18, making stargazing tricky this week. That means I'm changing what I observe rather than declaring the week a write-off. The moon itself becomes an excellent target in early evening around first quarter. Sunlight strikes the lunar landscape along the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and night — throwing mountains and crater rims into strong relief. A cheap pair of binoculars can reveal a surprising amount. With a telescope, you can spend hours getting lost in the Montes Apenninus mountain range and three nearby craters — Eratosthenes and Archimedes on either side, and Plato above. Saturn remains another easy evening target after its Oct. 4 opposition. Look toward the eastern and southeastern sky after dark for its steady yellowish light. Even a modest telescope pointed at Saturn's rings will astound.

Constellation of the week: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is one of the easiest constellations I know to find because its five main stars form a conspicuous W — or, right now, something that looks suspiciously more like an M. Look toward the northern sky in the evening. From mid-northern latitudes, Cassiopeia is high and prominent during autumn, on the opposite side of Polaris from the Big Dipper. That relationship is more useful to me than memorizing exactly which way the W should point. Cassiopeia circles Polaris as Earth rotates, so its orientation changes through the night. From sufficiently northerly locations, it's circumpolar, meaning it never sets below the horizon.

If you love watching meteors, 2026 has given you plenty to enjoy. This summer, the annual Perseid meteor shower peaked on the day of a new moon — and a solar eclipse — so moonlight stayed out of the way. And there's more to look forward to: in December, the Geminids, the year's most prolific shower, will peak after a waxing crescent moon sets early in the evening, opening the door to excellent viewing.

Right between those two headline showers, the dependable Orionids take their turn, reaching peak activity around Oct. 21-22.

So, when and where can you catch the show?

When and where to watch

The Orionids take their name from the spot where they seem to fan out: Orion's raised club, just above and to the left of the reddish star Betelgeuse. Orion is usually a winter favorite, so in early autumn the mighty hunter doesn't fully clear the eastern horizon until after 11 p.m. local daylight time. Don't rush outside just yet though. Wait until around 2 a.m., when Orion is well above the horizon. By about 5 a.m., just before dawn, Orion reaches its highest point in the southern sky — and the view should be at its best.

Orionid meteors tend to be faint, so city lights can easily wash them out. If you can, head to a safe, dark rural spot. Get comfortable in a reclining lawn chair or sleeping bag, give your eyes time to adjust, and enjoy the view overhead and toward the southern sky.

Why the moon won't spoil the show

And what about the moon? A full moon arrives October 25-26, but there's still a welcome stretch of dark sky for several mornings before Wednesday.

By Oct. 21-22, the waxing gibbous moon will be resting among the dim stars of Capricornus, reaching its highest point around 8:45 p.m. local daylight time. Here's the good news: it will set shortly after 2 a.m., leaving roughly 3½ hours of dark sky before dawn. In that window, one observer may spot as many as 15 to 20 Orionids per hour. Because those hours line up with the shower's peak, the moon shouldn't steal the show this year.

Halley's Comet: the source of the Orionids

So, where do the Orionids come from? Their story begins with Halley's Comet—the same famous visitor behind May's Eta Aquarids.

Meteoroids are tiny leftovers from a comet's nucleus. As a comet nears the sun, frozen material on its surface turns directly into gas, a process known as sublimation. The comet becomes a kind of cosmic litterbug, sprinkling dust and debris along its orbit. Those pieces are tiny and brittle, with the consistency of cigar ash, and every swing past the sun leaves more behind.

Comets are among the solar system's oldest and most fascinating objects. They formed alongside the sun and planets about 4.6 billion years ago, yet they have changed remarkably little. Think of them as time capsules from the solar system's childhood. Far beyond the outer planets, they spend most of their time in a deep freeze, where temperatures hover just above absolute zero, -459.67°F (-273.15°C). In that extreme cold, chemical reactions largely stop, helping comets preserve material from those earliest days.

Over the past 100,000 years, Halley's Comet has probably circled the sun well over a thousand times, leaving a fresh trail of debris on every visit. Each October and May, Earth brushes close to Halley's orbit. Some of that dust meets our atmosphere at a breathtaking 41 miles (66 km) per second, lighting up as the streaks we call "shooting stars."

The Orionids have another lovely feature: about half of these meteors leave glowing trails that linger longer than those of equally bright meteors. Halley's composition may be the reason. The particles begin burning up about 80 miles (130 km) above Earth, perhaps because they're made of lightweight material from the comet's diffuse surface rather than its core.

Looking backward . . . and forward

Perhaps you remember seeing Halley's Comet when it last swept through the inner solar system in late winter and early spring of 1986. With an orbital period of 75.4 years, this celebrated visitor is due back in late July or early August 2061.

For a little perspective, average life expectancy is 79.5 years in the United States, 82.2 years in the United Kingdom, and 83.4 years in Canada. So, if you were born after 1980, there's a fair chance you'll be here to welcome the "mother of all Orionids" home in 2061.

As for me, I saw Halley in 1986 at the "advanced age" of 30. The odds of another reunion are pretty long — you can do the math.

Until then, I'll be more than happy to step outside early on Wednesday morning and greet a few of "Halley's children." I hope you'll join me.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope, The Old Farmer's Almanac and other publications.

I know perfectly well that the moon comes out during the day. I have known this for decades. Yet whenever I spot it in a blue afternoon sky, some primitive part of my brain still thinks it has turned up early.

I'm certainly not the only one. Many people don't understand how it could be visible in daylight. In their eyes, the moon is a nighttime object. Why? Because that's when they notice it — it appears brighter.

We tend to think of the sun as belonging to the day and the moon to the night because that's how they're usually presented to us as children. Astronomically, it makes little sense. The moon spends plenty of time above our horizon while the sun is also up — it spends half its time in the daytime sky, in fact.

If the moon, pale but unmistakable, looks slightly out of place against a blue sky, it's not — you are. This week is a great time to get used to seeing it there. Just past first quarter, the moon will spend each afternoon hanging in the daytime sky, becoming easier to spot as the sun sinks towards the horizon.

What's happening and when to look

The moon reached first quarter on Sunday, Oct. 18, and is now waxing toward full moon, which occurs early on Monday, Oct. 26 (Oct. 25 in some time zones). That puts it in the right part of its orbit to be conspicuous during the late afternoon this weekend.

Here's the useful bit to remember. Around first quarter, the moon rises roughly around midday. As it waxes towards full, it rises progressively later in the afternoon. By full moon, it rises around sunset.

That makes the days immediately after first quarter an excellent time to get into the habit of finding the moon before sunset. On Monday, Oct. 19, look southeast in the afternoon for a moon just over half-lit. Each afternoon this week, it will become a little more illuminated, move farther east against the background stars, and appear progressively later in the day.

You don't need to wait until dusk. In fact, that's the point. Start looking during the afternoon, when the sun is still well above the horizon. Once you find the moon, it can be surprisingly conspicuous against the blue sky.

How and when I'm watching it

I'll start looking in the mid-to-late afternoon this week, when the waxing moon should already be high enough to find easily. You can check the exact moonrise time where you are, but there's no need to catch it as it rises. Look towards the east or southeast and scan the blue sky.

Once you've found the moon in daylight, keep checking on it as sunset approaches. The moon doesn't suddenly become brighter, of course. Instead, the surrounding sky darkens, increasing the contrast until the pale daytime moon seems to switch on at dusk and grow increasingly brilliant.

Binoculars will give you a superb view at dusk, particularly along the terminator — the boundary between lunar day and night. That's where low-angle sunlight throws mountains and crater rims into sharp relief. As the moon waxes this week, the terminator will move steadily across its surface, revealing a different landscape each afternoon.

That's another reason not to wait for the full moon. The full moon gets most of the attention, but the week beforehand is arguably a much better time to get to know our nearest celestial neighbor — and you don't even have to wait until dark.

Stargazer's corner: October 23-29, 2026

This is a bright-moon week. Full moon arrives early on Monday, Oct. 26, so moonlight will wash out faint stars and make galaxies and nebulas much harder to see. So go for Saturn instead. It reached opposition earlier this month and remains very well placed in the evening sky. Better still, the nearly full moon passes near Saturn around Oct. 23-24, giving beginners a convenient landmark for locating the planet. The moon's glare will hide faint nearby stars, but Saturn itself is easily bright enough to cope. A good example will be Oct. 27, when the Pleiades is passed closely by a bright moon. The Seven Sisters therefore won't be at their best, so you'll need to use binoculars — if you do, you'll see them easily enough.

Constellation of the week: Auriga

Auriga, "the Charioteer," is climbing in the northeastern and eastern sky during late October evenings. It's easiest to find if you start at Capella, one of the brightest stars in the entire night sky. It's just 43 light-years from the sun. From there, I look for the other stars that form Auriga's rough pentagon, including Menkalinan, Mahasim and Almaaz. The fifth corner is Elnath, although it officially belongs to neighboring Taurus.

Auriga gets even better with binoculars. The Milky Way runs straight through it, bringing with it three bright open star clusters — M36, M37 and M38. All three show up in binoculars under a reasonably dark sky, while a small telescope starts to resolve them into individual stars. There's always another layer to find in the night sky.

My latest stargazing obsession

There's something special about stargazing during the blue hour — that brief transition when daylight drains from the sky and night's window begins to open. It's particularly beautiful a few days before full moon, when the near-full orb is already rising in the east as the sun sets in the west. Look below it, and you may also see the Belt of Venus, a pinkish band above the eastern horizon caused by reddened sunlight shining through Earth's atmosphere, with our planet's dark blue-gray shadow beneath. As the sky fades through ever-deeper shades of blue, the moon brightens, and the first stars emerge around it.

I've spent years chasing the northern lights across the Arctic, from the mountains of Swedish Lapland to the dramatic Norwegian fjords.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that choosing where to see the northern lights is about much more than simply heading as far north as possible. Whether you're on the hunt for somewhere that offers the best chance of clear skies, the most dramatic scenery or a plethora of winter activities to keep you warm, choosing the right destination can make a big difference, especially as auroras are never guaranteed.

My biggest piece of advice? Choose somewhere you've always wanted to visit regardless of whether the northern lights might appear. That way, the auroras become the icing on the cake rather than the sole measure of a successful trip.

From my personal favorites in Scandinavia to some of North America's most established aurora hotspots, here are seven of the best places to see the northern lights this 2026/27 season.

Best places to see the northern lights at a glance

Abisko and Kiruna, Sweden: Best for a short northern lights trip

Best time to visit: September to early April

Swedish Lapland holds a particularly special place in my heart. It's where I saw the northern lights for the very first time, during a trip to Kiruna in February 2023.

I'd only booked two nights in Kiruna, one of which included a northern lights tour with Anders from Outdoor North 67º. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket! But the gamble paid off, and I was treated to a spellbinding display of auroras dancing across the Arctic sky. I've been hooked ever since.

Kiruna offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants and activities, making it a convenient base for exploring the region. From here, you can join guided aurora tours, visit the famous Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi or head into the wilderness for dog sledding and snowmobiling adventures.

One of the region's biggest draws is Abisko National Park, around 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Kiruna. Abisko is famous for its so-called "Blue Hole", a local weather phenomenon in which the skies above the national park can be clear, even if the surrounding region (and weather forecast) is cloudy. This is partly thanks to the surrounding mountains, which create a rain shadow effect, reducing the precipitation in the area.

And if you're visiting Abisko, I'd highly recommend taking the chairlift up Mount Nuolja to the Aurora Sky Station. The views across Abisko National Park and the surrounding mountains are spectacular. Just be sure to check the chairlift's operating dates and times before visiting, as it doesn't run throughout the entire season.

My tip: Although my two-night gamble paid off, I wouldn't recommend relying on such a short window if seeing the northern lights is your main goal. If possible, give yourself at least three or four nights to improve your chances of clear skies and aurora activity.

Tromsø, Norway: Best for a city break

Best time to visit: September to early April

If you want to experience the northern lights without giving up the comforts of city life, Tromsø is hard to beat.

Located high above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, Tromsø sits beneath the auroral oval, the region surrounding Earth's magnetic poles where auroras occur most frequently.

What I particularly like about Tromsø is that it offers the best of both worlds. You have a lively city with excellent restaurants, cafes, shops, museums and accommodation, while spectacular mountains and wilderness are only a short journey away.

There's also a huge range of northern lights tours available, from small-group photography excursions to longer aurora-chasing adventures.

My tip: Tromsø is ideal if you want to combine northern lights hunting with a city break holiday. I'd recommend booking at least one guided aurora tour, particularly if the local weather forecast looks challenging.

The Norwegian coast: Best for a scenic Arctic voyage

Best time to visit: September to March

If there's one northern lights experience I'd encourage people to consider, it's sailing along the Norwegian coast.

I've been fortunate enough to travel along this extraordinary coastline on several occasions, and there's something very special about watching the northern lights from the deck of a ship, surrounded by good company, mountains, fjords and the dark Arctic sea.

Operators such as Hurtigruten and HX offer voyages along the Norwegian coast, combining opportunities to see the northern lights with some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. While Hurtigruten operates coastal voyages calling at towns and communities along the route, HX offers expedition-style experiences with a focus on exploring the natural environment.

Rather than staying in one location, you'll travel through different coastal landscapes, with opportunities to experience Arctic wildlife, local culture and winter excursions along the way.

And then, of course, there's the possibility of the northern lights appearing overhead.

However, there's an important trade-off. Unlike a land-based aurora chase, a ship can't simply drive inland to escape coastal cloud cover. You're largely dependent on the weather along your route, although traveling through different regions over several nights gives you multiple opportunities.

Hurtigruten also offers a Northern Lights Promise on qualifying voyages, providing a complimentary return voyage if the lights aren't officially sighted during your trip. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements and terms before booking.

My tip: Choose a Norwegian coastal voyage because you want to experience the coastline itself. The scenery, communities and Arctic landscapes make it a remarkable journey regardless of auroras.

Finnish Lapland: Best for a winter wonderland getaway

Best time to visit: September to March

If you dream of a northern lights holiday involving snow-covered forests, cozy cabins and perhaps even watching auroras from a glass-roofed igloo, Finnish Lapland could be the perfect choice.

Northern Finland lies beneath the auroral oval, making it a popular destination for aurora chasers. Places such as Inari, Saariselkä and Ivalo offer excellent access to dark skies and Arctic wilderness.

Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus, is another popular option, particularly for families, although it's worth traveling away from the city's lights for the best views.

My tip: For a quieter, more wilderness-focused escape, I'd look at northern Lapland around Inari or Saariselkä. If you're traveling with children or want a more activity-packed holiday, Rovaniemi may be a better fit.

Iceland: Best for volcanoes, glaciers and natural wonders

Iceland is one of the most extraordinary places I've ever visited. What makes it particularly special is the sheer variety of landscapes packed into one country, from towering waterfalls and vast glaciers to active volcanoes, black-sand beaches and steaming geothermal pools. There's an incredible amount to explore between northern lights hunting sessions.

But there's a catch.

Iceland's notoriously changeable weather and frequent cloud cover can make aurora hunting challenging. For that reason, I'd consider Iceland one of the riskier destinations on this list if your main objective is seeing the northern lights.

Iceland's landscapes provide some of the most spectacular backdrops imaginable for aurora photography, and when the skies cooperate, the results can be breathtaking.

The key is flexibility. I'd recommend giving yourself several nights and booking a northern lights tour that can travel in search of clearer skies rather than relying on a single fixed viewing location.

And while I've visited Iceland myself, I haven't been there specifically to chase auroras. What I can say from experience is that the country is absolutely worth visiting regardless of whether the lights appear.

My tip: Visit Iceland because you want to see Iceland, not just the northern lights. Explore its waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic landscapes, and treat any aurora sightings as an extraordinary bonus.

Fairbanks, Alaska: Best for a U.S. aurora getaway

Best time to visit: September to March

For U.S.-based travelers dreaming of seeing the northern lights, Fairbanks is a more convenient travel destination than Scandinavia.

Located in Alaska's interior, Fairbanks sits beneath the auroral oval. Its inland location is a major advantage compared to many coastal Arctic destinations; Fairbanks generally experiences less precipitation and more opportunities for clearer skies.

The official aurora-viewing season runs from Aug. 21 to April 21, providing a long window for planning a trip. However, if you're visiting in late August or early September, be prepared for some late nights. With daylight still lingering well into the evening, the sky may not become dark enough for good aurora viewing until around midnight or later.

The advantage of visiting earlier in the season is that temperatures are generally much milder compared to in the depths of winter. But if you would prefer longer nights and more opportunities to spot auroras, consider a trip between late September and March.

Yellowknife, Canada: Best for a Canadian aurora getaway

Best time to visit: Mid-August to late September and mid-November to early April

For Canadian travelers hoping to see the northern lights, Yellowknife offers an incredible aurora-viewing destination without the need to travel overseas.

Situated beneath the auroral oval, Yellowknife benefits from a relatively dry continental climate, with plenty of opportunities for clear skies compared with some coastal Arctic locations.

However, timing your visit carefully can make a difference. Although auroras are visible throughout the dark months, late October and early November are generally a less favorable period for a dedicated aurora trip. As temperatures drop, heavy cloud systems move through the area, making sightings more challenging. Indeed, some tour operators temporarily reduce their activities during this period. This is when the region receives most of its snowfall, so shifting your aurora viewing plans before or after this period gives you considerably better visibility.

My tip: Consider booking a multi-night package or several guided outings to give yourself more opportunities if the weather doesn't cooperate.

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

The northern lights occur throughout the year, but you need sufficiently dark skies to see them. That's why the main aurora tourism season across much of the Arctic runs from roughly late August or September through March or early April.

March and September are particularly good months for aurora hunting, thanks to a seasonal boost in geomagnetic activity around the spring and autumn equinoxes. This is partly explained by the Russell-McPherron effect, which describes how the changing orientation of Earth's magnetic field relative to the magnetic field carried by the solar wind makes geomagnetic disturbances more likely around the equinoxes. A 75-year study by retired NASA solar physicist David Hathaway shows that March has more geomagnetically active days than any other month of the year (with October a close second), according to Spaceweather.com.

But personally, I prefer hunting for auroras in the depths of winter, particularly December and January, when the long, dark nights give me plenty of opportunities to look for the lights. Yes, it's much colder, but I love the snowy Arctic landscapes, and I'd much rather be standing in a winter wonderland than battling driving rain!

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