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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The moon passes in front of the sun in the only total solar eclipse of 2021 in this still from a video captured by Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood of the JM Pasachoff Antarctic Expedition from their observing point in Union Glacier, Antarctica on Dec. 4, 2021.

Saturday eclipse talk kicks off Astronomical League of the Philippines' new webinar series

By Mike Wall published

Astronomer Jay Pasachoff will talk about his December 2021 eclipse-chasing expedition to Antarctica tomorrow (April 23) at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).

Bushnell fusion x rangefinder binoculars

The best rangefinder binoculars in 2022

By Russ Swan published

The best rangefinder binoculars can be hard to choose from with such a crowded and competitive market, but we've done the hard work for you.

Observing through beginner telescope

Best telescopes for beginners: Top budget-friendly picks for viewing the planets, galaxies and more

By Gemma Lavender published

Buying Guide Here are the best telescopes for beginners, all the top models and brands suited to those without much experience.

Buying Guide
A Blue Moon is a rare occurrence that depends on the timings of full moons during the year.

Blue Moon: What is it and when does it occur?

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference A Blue Moon is a rare occurrence that depends on the timings of full moons during the year. The moon is not blue during a Blue Moon.

Reference
Conjunctions are happily, common in the night sky. Here is a past one: Jupiter (left) and Saturn (right) are seen after sunset above Jordan Lake during the "great conjunction" on Dec. 21, 2020, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

See 4 planets line up with the moon in the predawn sky

By Elizabeth Howell published

The quarter-phase moon points to a stunning set of planets low in the sky: Saturn, Mars, Venus and Jupiter.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a moderate-sized solar flare erupting on April 20, 2022.

The sun burps out a flare in a stellar new photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The sun is a beehive of flaring activity in a stunning new photo from a NASA spacecraft.

A group of stars is called a globular cluster. This globular cluster NGC 6380 is located approximately 35,000 light-years from Earth.

Stars: Facts about stellar formation, history and classification

By Charles Q. Choi, Ailsa Harvey published

Reference Learn how stars form, how stars and constellations are named, what happens when stars like our sun evolve, and ultimately, die.

Reference
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 binoculars main image

Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 binoculars review

By Robin Scagell published

These binoculars give you an amazing stargazing experience, with a good combination of magnification, aperture and portability.

Climber Alex Honnold helped lead a first ascent of a tepui in Guyana, a project chronicled in the new documentary "Explorer: The Last Tepui."

The night sky from a cliff face: Q&A with legendary climber Alex Honnold

By Mike Wall published

Space.com caught up with climber Alex Honnold recently to discuss his latest documentary project, "Explorer: The Last Tepui," and his relationship with exploration and the night sky.

A screenshot from a video showing the Mars moon Phobos crossing the face of the sun. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover captured the video on April 2, 2022, with its Mastcam-Z camera. You can also spot a group of sunspots on the left.

Wow! Perseverance rover captures gorgeous video of solar eclipse on Mars

By Elizabeth Howell published

The tiny Mars moon Phobos looms large on the sun's face in dramatic eclipse footage captured by NASA's Perseverance rover.

The 2021 Lyrids above the Yosemite National Park in the U.S.

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week after 'shooting star' drought

By Joe Rao published

Skywatchers will finally be able to enjoy the thrill of observing "shooting stars" again this week as the April Lyrids shower arrives after a three-month-long meteor drought.

A cluster of sunspots on the sun April 20, 2022, imaged after the sun hurled a strong X-class flare towards Earth.

Another solar temper tantrum sends a strong X-class flare toward Earth

By Elizabeth Howell published

There were reports of a shortwave radio blackout over Australia, the Western Pacific and eastern Asia.

The Andromeda constellation with all Bayer-designated stars marked and the IAU figure drawn in.

The Andromeda constellation: Facts, myth and location

By Tereza Pultarova published

Reference The Andromeda constellation, named by ancient Greeks after the mythological princess Andromeda, contains the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest full-fledged galaxy to our own Milky Way.

Reference
Auroras dazzle above a cabin in Trapper Creek, Alaska on April 11, 2022.

Haunting northern lights glow in green in images taken from Alaska (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Strong solar activity generated green glowing auroras over Alaska, as one photographer witnessed April 11 from Trapper Creek.

The full moon of April illuminates the night in Idlib, Syria on April 16, 2022. This year, the pink moon was seen during the month of Ramadan.

Amazing photos of Full Pink Moon of April 2022 (gallery)

By Tariq Malik published

See amazing photos of the Full Pink Moon of April 2022 over Easter, Passover and Ramadan on April 16.

The planet Mercury will be visible in the evening sky about 40 minutes after sunset in the late April 2022 night sky.

Elusive planet Mercury will shine after sunset in the April 2022 evening sky

By Joe Rao published

Mercury will join the evening sky of April after sunset starting on April 16. Here's how to see it.

A full moon is visible over Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Santa Clarita, California in 2021.

See the full Pink Moon rise for Easter, Passover and Ramadan

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Full Pink Moon of 2022 will rise tonight amid Easter, Passover and Ramadan.

Alexander Krivenyshev, president of WorldTimeZone.com, captured this shot of a planet parade over Manhattan's Upper West Side on the morning of April 15, 2022.

4 planets align over Manhattan in dazzling Good Friday parade (photo)

By Mike Wall published

Amateur astronomer Alexander Krivenyshev snapped a gorgeous shot this morning (April 15) of Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn shining over Manhattan's Upper West Side.

An aurora could happen as far south as New York City.

Solar storm could supercharge northern lights as far south as New York

By Elizabeth Howell published

After a dead sunspot hurled a ball of plasma toward Earth earlier this week, medium-sized auroras may stretch even farther south than usual.

A supermoon rises behind the U.S. Capitol, Monday, March 9, 2020, in Washington., D.C.

Full Pink Moon 2022: April's full moon joins a line of planets

By Jesse Emspak published

The full moon of April, called the Pink Moon, occurs Monday, April 26 at 11:32 p.m. EDT (0332 GMT on Tuesday, April 27). It will also be a "supermoon."