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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A child using one of the best telescopes for kids outside while camping

Best telescopes for kids 2023: Top-quality optics suitable for children

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Buying Guide The best telescopes for kids are easy to assemble and operate, making them perfect for budding astronomers.

Buying Guide
Man opening a box that may have one of the 10 best camera gifts for astrophotography in front of cameras

10 best camera gifts for astrophotography and videography 2023

By Naaza Zimba published

Buying Guide New camera gear for the holidays? It'll likely you'll need some accessories to go with it if you're going to shoot astro, here are the 10 best camera gifts we'd recommend.

Buying Guide
A photo of comet C/2022 E3 ZTF taken on Dec. 26, 2022 in Payson, Arizona by Chris Schur.

A comet not seen in 50,000 years is coming. Here's what you need to know

By Joe Rao published

On Feb. 1, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass to within 28 million miles (42 million km) of our planet, its first visit in 50,000 years.

Telescopes at Walmart: Image shows man standing next to telescope looking at moon

Telescopes at Walmart in 2023: Deals on the best models from Celestron and others

By Ruth Gaukrodger last updated

There are several discounts on Celestron telescopes at Walmart, get them before they're gone!

A meteor streaks through the sky above a snow-capped mountain.

Ursid meteor shower 2023: Everything you need to know

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Ursid meteor shower will peak on Dec. 22-23 and is active between Dec. 17-26. Our guide tells you how and where you can spot the Ursid display.

Reference
Telescopes on Amazon: Image shows amateur astronomer pointing telescope at sky

Telescopes on Amazon: The best deals and discounts available online

By Ruth Gaukrodger last updated

Telescopes on Amazon are in abundance, so we've scoped out the best deals that are available.

Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 SynScan GoTo

Sky-Watcher telescope deals available right now

By Gemma Lavender last updated

DEALS We've found the best Sky-Watcher telescope deals for you.

DEALS
Orion StarBlast 6i IntelliScope telescope

Orion telescopes and binocular deals 2023: Save big on Orion optics

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Deals Orion telescope and binoculars deals are always worth scoping out and we've discovered some of the best discounts out there.

Deals
The Full Wolf Moon above Eindhoven, The Netherlands on Jan. 17, 2022.

Howl at January's Wolf Moon as the 1st full moon of 2023 rises tonight

By Robert Lea published

On Friday (Jan. 6), the moon will be fully illuminated for the first time in 2023 during the Full Wolf Moon when it will also be close to its furthest from the Earth, or apogee.

Celestron telescope – Astro Fi 102

Celestron telescope & binocular deals

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Deals We've scoped out all the best Celestron telescope and binoculars deals on the market and put them in this handy guide.

Deals
Close up image of full moon in the Northern Hemisphere as seen from a private observatory in central Europe.

Full moon names for 2023 (and how they came to be)

By Joe Rao last updated

REFERENCE Space.com's guide to the common full moon names, dates and times for 2023.

REFERENCE
An illustration of the night sky on Jan. 22 showing Venus and Saturn in close proximity.

See a 5-planet parade in the night sky this month. Venus and Saturn stand out.

By Robert Lea published

The five planets of the solar system visible with the naked eye can all be seen this January, making the start of 2023 a special time for astronomers.

Celestron 114AZ-SR telescope

Save over $100 on the Celestron 114AZ-SR telescope this new year

By Alexander Cox published

Deals What better way to bring the new year in than saving over $100 on a reliable and affordable reflector telescope.

Deals
A view from the International Space Station shows different colors of airglow.

The sky isn't just blue — airglow makes it green, yellow and red too

By Michael J. I. Brown, Matthew Kenworthy published

Is blue the true color of the sky, or the only color of the sky? It's complicated.

Best camera backpacks: Image shows woman holding camera with large rucksack on back

Best camera backpacks 2023: Protect your camera gear when traveling

By Jacob Little last updated

Some of the best camera backpacks on the market from LowePro, Vanguard, Peak Design and more.

A person stands next to a small yellow tent and holds up a bright light to the sky. Meteors streak across the sky in the background.

Meteor showers 2023: Where, when and how to see them

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Our meteor showers 2023 calendar will tell you everything you need to know about upcoming meteor showers, including where and when to see them.

Reference
Joby gorillapod 5k tripod attached to a horizontal pole with a blue sky behind

Joby GorillaPod 5K Tripod review

By Diana Jarvis published

Review The Joby GorillaPod 5K Tripod is small, compact and versatile travel tripod, but is this pro-grade version worth the price hike from the 3K?

Review
Silhouette of a wolf watching the full moon rise

January full moon 2023: The 'Wolf Moon' joins the Gemini twins

By Jesse Emspak last updated

The full moon of January, called the Wolf Moon, will occur in the U.S. at 6:08 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, Jan. 6.

Meteor streaks across the star-studded sky with mountains below.

Quadrantid meteor shower 2023: When, where & how to see it

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on January 3-4 and is active between Dec. 28 and Jan. 12. Our guide tells you how and where you can see the Quadrantid display.

Reference
An image of the Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by astrophotographer Hisayoshi Sato as seen in a still image from a NASA video.

Possible naked-eye comet will visit Earth for 1st time since Neanderthals in 2023

By Robert Lea published

The comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could be bright enough to be spotted with the naked eye as it passes the sun and Earth at the end of the first month of 2023.