Earth's Moon: Formation, Composition and Orbit

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Latest about Moon Phases

A hand holding a night vision monocular in front of optical gear.

Are night vision monoculars good for skywatching?

By Matt Morris published

Night vision monoculars are hi-tech pieces of kit, but can they help us see celestial objects in areas with light pollution?

Skywatching Kit
an illustration of starry night sky

New moon December 2024: A young moon passes Venus

By Jesse Emspak published

Stargazing
Monocular on a wooden bench

Using a monocular for stargazing: Is it worth it?

By Matt Morris published

Are monoculars suitable for astronomy? The simple answer is yes, but with a few limitations that you should be aware of before investing.

Skywatching Kit
a bright full moon can be seen behind bright christmas lights

December full moon 2024: The Cold Moon eclipses Mars

By Jesse Emspak last updated

The Full Cold Moon of December 2024 rises on Dec. 15. Three days later, the moon will occult Mars.

Stargazing
A small grey moon passes in front of the earth, over the pacific ocean.

October's new moon will bring us a spectacular 'ring of fire' eclipse

By Jesse Emspak published

October's new moon will occur today (Oct. 2) and create a dazzling annular solar eclipse.

Stargazing
A swath of dark starry sky is bisected from the lower left by a thin green line. In the center, on the line, a small bright circle is labeled Sun. Above, a dark circle is labeled Moon. Blue lines connect stars to form a pair of constellations, which are all labeled.

New moon of August 2024: Venus in conjunction

By Jesse Emspak published

The day after the new moon , the moon will be in conjunction with Venus, passing just under the planet low on the horizon in the night sky.

Stargazing
A horizontal green line bisects through the middle. At its center, a bright yellow circled labeled Sun. Blue lines that for a long downward slanted C connect stars to show a constellation.

New moon of July 2024: Dark skies tonight as Earth is farthest from the sun today

By Jesse Emspak published

The new moon of July 2024 occurs today as Earth reaches its farthest point from the sun, known as aphelion.

Stargazing
The moon known as 'Strawberry Moon' rises over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion in Athens, Greece on June 21, 2024

Sweet Strawberry Moon, first full moon of summer, thrills stargazers around the world (photos)

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik published

June's Strawberry Full Moon of 2024 delighted skywatcher from across the globe, and was captured in some amazing photos.

Stargazing
June 2024 night sky

New moon of June 2024 tonight lets Saturn, Mars and Jupiter shine

By Jesse Emspak published

The dark skies of the new moon of June 2024 will allow some of the naked eye planets to stand out late in the night after midnight.

Stargazing
a transparent ram is angled head-down on the right, with the transparent limbs of an unidentifiable beast splashing out of a layer of transparent water on the left half. Stars within the transparencies are connected with blue lines to indicate constellation shapes. A bright yelllow/white star in the center is neighbored to the immediate upper right by the black circle of a new moon, and bisected diagonally from the upper left.

New moon of May 2024 tonight welcomes the stars of summer

By Jesse Emspak published

The new moon of May 2024 will see the bright constellations of summer begin to rise just as those of winter sink below the horizon.

The moon
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