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Skywatching

Learn about skywatching, astronomy, star gazing, and comets in the night sky at space.com. View astrophotography and images of celestial bodies.

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An artist's depiction of an asteroid passing Earth.

NASA upgrades its asteroid hazard software to use sunlight

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) just upgraded the software it uses to assess potentially hazardous asteroids

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites for the U.S. Space Force, on Jan. 21, 2022.

Space Force satellite launch could create a luminous cloud in tonight's evening sky

By Joe Rao published

Skywatchers in the Western Hemisphere may see a fuel dump from a satellite that launched earlier today on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

An artist's depiction of zodiacal light at the surface of the planet Kepler-1229 b.

Ghostly glow in alien skies: 'Zodiacal light' possibly spotted on 3 exoplanets

By Meghan Bartels published

Watch the sun set from a particularly dark patch of Earth and you may spot a triangle of what scientists call zodiacal light extending from where our star passed below the horizon.

Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured this telescope view of the potentially hazardous asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1 on Jan. 17, 2022.

Massive asteroid safely zooms by Earth, a million miles away

By Elizabeth Howell published

At least one livestream captured 1994 PC1 during its closest approach of the next 200 years.

An artist's concept of an asteroid approaching Earth, but don't worry: 7482 (1994 PC1) will only get as close as five lunar distances away.

A huge asteroid will fly safely by Earth today. Here's how to watch it live.

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch a nearly mile-wide asteroid make its closest Earth approach for the next 200 years today. Here's how.

The first full moon of 2022, the full Wolf Moon, will rise over Earth on Jan. 17, 2022. This view shows a full moon as only astronauts on the International Space Station can see.

Full Wolf Moon, the first full moon of 2022, rises tonight

By Samantha Mathewson published

The full Wolf Moon rises tonight (Jan. 17) at 6:48 p.m. EST (1148 GMT), marking the first full moon of the New Year.

Nikon Z 70-200 f/2.8 lens against a graded background

Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S-Line lens review

By Andy Hartup published

Review A serious 70-200mm for anyone who demands the best image quality and is willing to pay. It’s worth every cent.

Review
The full moon of January, known as the Full Wolf Moon, arrives Monday, Jan. 17, at 6:48 p.m. EST (1148 GMT).

January full moon 2022: The 'Wolf Moon' rises with winter constellations

By Jesse Emspak published

The full moon of January, known as the Full Wolf Moon, arrives Monday, Jan. 17, at 6:48 p.m. EST (1148 GMT).

A plane flies in front of the full moon on July 31, 2015.

Full moon names for 2022

By Joe Rao published

REFERENCE Here is a list of common full moon names, dates and times in 2022.

REFERENCE
You can track the International Space Station from Earth. You just need to know where and when to look.

How to see and track the International Space Station (ISS)

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Find out how track the International Space Station from Earth and see where it is right now.

Reference
Best space and astronomy books - Milky Way (Taken in Patagonia, Argentina)

Best space and astronomy books

By Jeff Spry published

A stellar collection of the best space and astronomy books for 2022.

Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of The Virtual Telescope Project in Italy captured this view of the James Webb Space Telescope soaring through space on Jan. 6, 2022.

Watch the James Webb Space Telescope soar through space in this livestream Saturday

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

The Virtual Telescope Project's webcast begins at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT).

This sky map shows the view from New York City just after sunset on Jan. 7, 2022.

Look up to spot the tricky planet Mercury at its 'greatest elongation' from the sun tonight

By Elizabeth Howell published

The planet Mercury, typically hard to spot for skywatchers, will be at its greatest distance from the sun in our sky Friday (Jan. 7).

The northern lights shimmered in the night sky over Tromsø, Norway, on Jan. 9, 2014, after a coronal mass ejection arrived in near-Earth space, following a two-day journey from the sun.

Northern lights (aurora borealis): What they are & how to see them

By Stefanie Waldek published

REFERENCE Learn all about the northern lights, including the science behind their colors, the display's ancient history and how to see the phenomenon.

REFERENCE

Astronaut snaps spectacular shot of crescent moon glowing over stunning sunset

By Harry Baker published

NASA's Earth Observatory has released a photo of a crescent moon above an orbital sunset taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.

The Perseid meteor shower is often considered one of the best meteor showers of the year. This image of the Perseid meteor shower was captured at Lake Duolun, Inner Mongolia, China.

Perseid meteor shower 2022: When, where & how to see it

By Sarah Lewin, Chelsea Gohd, Daisy Dobrijevic published

The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year between July and August as Earth passes through the long trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This year's peak will be Aug. 11 to 12.

A view of Comet Leonard as seen over Australia.

Comet Leonard puts on a final, spectacular display with ion tail in solar wind

By Meghan Bartels published

Comet Leonard is slipping out of view, but not without putting on one last show.

Observations from GOES-16 shows a flash that was later determined came from an exploding meteor on Jan. 1, 2022.

Exploding meteor 'booms' over Pennsylvania on New Year's Day

By Chelsea Gohd published

A meteor hurtling through Earth's atmosphere exploded over Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on New Year's Day (Jan. 1).

There's a lot going in space this year. Check out our up-to-date space launch schedule and calendar here!

Space calendar 2022: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more!

By Hanneke Weitering published

Here's a guide to all the rocket launches and astronomical events in 2021, as well as milestones for space missions, anniversaries and conferences.

The newfound comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) will reach perihelion, its closest point to the sun, on Jan. 3, 2022.

Comet Leonard makes its closest approach to the sun today, one year after its discovery

By Elizabeth Howell published

Comet Leonard shines brightly in images captured by a small Chinese satellite on the backdrop of aurora and passing meteors.