Night Sky - Stargazing and Night Sky Watching

A Lunar Corona Above Grand Place in Belgium (Photo)

February 11, 2018 | Article

This cityscape shows a colorful lunar corona on the left side of the Town Hall building in Brussels. A lunar corona is formed when bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds that drift in front of the lunar disk.
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Asteroid Skimming Past Earth May Loom Larger Than Exploding Russian Meteor

February 09, 2018 | Article

An asteroid that will fly safely past Earth today (Feb. 9) may be larger than the Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over Russia five years ago. The newly found interloper, called 2018 CB, is estimated to be from 50 to 130 feet (15 to 40 meters) wide.
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Mobile Astronomy: Watch the 'Demon Star' Change in Brightness in a Single Night

February 08, 2018 | Article

In this edition of Mobile Astronomy, we'll look at an eclipsing binary star that changes in brightness enough for everyday skywatchers to detect it easily.
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Crescent Meets Ring: Catch the Saturn-Moon Pairing Sunday

February 08, 2018 | Article

If you're up before sunrise this weekend, look for Saturn in the southeast sky, hovering just below the crescent moon. Viewed through a moderate-size telescope, the ringed planet is a stunning celestial sight.
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Sirius, the Dog Star, Sits Glitteringly in the Night Sky This Week

February 08, 2018 | Article

Step outside this week at around 9 p.m. local time and look about one-third of the way up from the southern horizon, and your eyes will be met by a dazzling celestial solitaire: Sirius, the Dog Star.
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So Long, Starman! Skywatchers Spot Falcon Heavy Leaving Earth's Orbit

February 07, 2018 | Article

Six hours after SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy yesterday (Feb. 6), unsuspecting skywatchers in the western U.S. caught a glimpse of the rocket's second stage firing up one last time as it blasted out of Earth's orbit and off into the solar system.
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