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Mars emerges from the moon's dark limb in this photo taken at the end of the occultation on Feb. 18, 2020. Astrophotographer Victor Rogus captured this view from Sedona, Arizona.

Watch Mars 'sneak' behind the crescent moon in these amazing views (video)

By Hanneke Weitering

The Red Planet briefly disappeared behind the moon for skywatchers in North America on Tuesday (Feb. 18), providing a rare celestial treat for early risers and astrophotographers.

An undated photograph of Elizabeth Williams.

Meet the unknown female mathematician whose calculations helped discover Pluto

By Meghan Bartels

Pluto's discovery wouldn't have been possible, astronomers have realized, without the calculations of a mathematician whom history has forgotten.

The waning crescent moon and the planet Mars will put on a show Feb. 18, appearing quite close to each other in the southeastern sky. The moon will pass in front of Mars, blocking the planet from view, but for the eastern half of the U.S. this will occur during daylight and will not be visible without a telescope. For much of the western half of North America, the occultation of Mars by the moon should be visible to the naked eye.

The moon will 'eclipse' Mars before dawn Tuesday! Here's how to see it.

By Joe Rao

As the waning crescent moon rises in the small hours of the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 18, skywatchers will be preparing for an unusual event.

A lonely stargazer looks up at the constellation of Orion, the hunter — and its dimming star Betelgeuse — in this photo captured from Portugal's Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve.

Orion and its dimming star Betelgeuse shine over a stargazer in this sentimental night-sky photo

By Miguel Claro

A night-sky photo features a lonely stargazer admiring the beautiful constellation of Orion, the hunter — and it's strangely dimming star Betelgeuse.

A telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile spotted 19 Starlink satellites soon after they launched in November 2019.

Satellite megaconstellations prompt new warning from astronomy group about impact on science

By Meghan Bartels

The more astronomers consider the advent of satellite megaconstellations, the more anxious they get.

This deep-space image shows the Heart and Soul nebulas shining brightly in reddish hues from energized hydrogen. The photo was captured from the Cumeada Observatory in Portugal's Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve.

Cosmic love: Heart and Soul nebulas will capture your heart on Valentine's Day (photo)

By Miguel Claro

This deep-space image shows the Heart and Soul nebulas shining brightly in reddish hues from energized hydrogen.

Radar images show the binary asteroid 2020 BX12, which scientists discovered this year.

Scientists just watched a newfound asteroid zoom by Earth. Then they saw its moon.

By Meghan Bartels

A night scene captured in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky Alqueva Mértola, shows the silhouette of a skywatcher who is trying to show us where to find Polaris, the North Star.

For stargazers, the Big Dipper is a celestial compass, clock, calendar and ruler. Here’s how to use it.

By Joe Rao

The Dipper is more than just a bright and familiar star pattern. It's a compass, a clock, a calendar and a ruler all rolled into one!

Betelgeuse and its constellation, Orion, as seen in the evening sky in February 2020.

The dimming star Betelgeuse is acting weird. Here's how to spot it in Orion's shoulder.

By Elizabeth Howell

One of the brightest stars you'll see in the sky these days is Betelgeuse, whose red tones provide a fun skywatching target in February.

A night-sky image taken by the Mars InSight lander's Instrument Context Camera on Jan. 28, 2020.

This picture is from Mars. It's probably not what you think.

By Meghan Bartels

It's some next-level skywatching: Scientists are using images captured by NASA's InSight lander to look for meteors on Mars.

Aurora Over Abisko National Park in Sweden

Where to see the northern lights: 2020 aurora borealis guide

By Mike Wall, Elizabeth Howell

Where should you go to get the best look at the dancing, dazzling display known as the aurora borealis?

Full Snow Moon

February full moon 2020: A (sort of) 'super' Snow Moon rises with Mercury

By Jesse Emspak

The full moon of February, called the Snow Moon, occurs Sunday, Feb. 9, at 2:33 a.m. EST (0733 GMT).

The very big, the very small and the very far away: Your curious child can get closer to all of these sights with this kit, a real boredom-breaker from Levenhuk.

Best Telescopes for Kids — 2020 Guide

By Calla Cofield, David Sky Brody

Looking at the night sky can be an inspiring moment for kids, and the right telescope can drive an interest in astronomy for a lifetime.

During the first half of February, Mercury will complete its best evening appearance for mid-northern latitude observers during 2020, climbing higher in the west-southwestern sky every evening.

How to see the 'elusive planet' Mercury in the night sky in February

By Joe Rao

Mercury is often cited as the most difficult of the naked-eye planets to see due its proximity to the sun, but there are times during the year when Mercury can be surprisingly easy to spot.

This graphic shows the close encounter between two pieces of space junk, the dead satellites IRAS and GGSE-4, over Pittsburgh on the evening of Jan. 29, 2020.

2 old satellites will buzz each other over Pittsburgh tonight. Here's how to see the space junk.

By Joe Rao

The potential (but unlikely) collision of two old satellites will be visible in the eastern U.S. today (Jan. 29) at at 6:39 p.m. EST. Here's how to see it.

The crescent moon and Venus once again make for a gorgeous sight at the end of January. On Jan. 28, you'll find the pair hovering about 4 degrees apart in the southwest in the hour or so after sunset.

The 'evening star' Venus swings by the crescent moon today. Here's how to see it.

By Hanneke Weitering

Tonight (Jan. 28), you can catch the crescent moon make a close approach to Venus in the evening sky.

Spot Auriga the charioteer (and goat tender) in the winter sky

By Joe Rao

Auriga is one of those star patterns whose exact origin is a hopeless mix of antique conceptions.

This color photograph of Comet Kohoutek (C/1973 E1) was captured from the Catalina Observatory in Arizona, on Jan. 11, 1974.

How the 'comet of the century' became an astronomical disappointment

By Joe Rao

Christened for months as "The Comet of the Century," Comet Kohoutek never came remotely close to living up to expectations.

See the crescent moon form a triangle with Mars and Antares in the predawn sky on Jan. 20, 2020.

See the moon, Mars and Antares form a triangle in Monday's predawn sky

By Hanneke Weitering

The waning crescent moon will form a triangle with the Red Planet and the bright star Antares in the morning sky on Monday (Jan. 20), and you can catch the trio in the morning sky before dawn.

Skywatcher and photographer David Paleino snapped this view of the total lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011 from Italy using a Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD camera.

Lunar eclipses: What are they & when is the next one?

By Robert Roy Britt

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth's shadow blocks the sun. There are three types; the most dramatic is a total lunar eclipse. Find out when is the next one.