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Night Sky Photos

The night sky is filled spectacular cosmic treasures, from the moon and other planets to distant stars and galaxies. See amazing pictures of the night sky as seen by veteran observers and amateur astronomers here. 

Related Topics: Space History Photos

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The Vespera smart telescope from the French startup Vaonis.

Vespera, a smart telescope to make astrophotography easier, nabs CES 2021 Innovation Award

By Hanneke Weitering

Vaonis, a French startup that raised eyebrows in 2018 with its sci-fi robot-looking Stellina smart telescope, has revealed its latest newbie-friendly astrophotography invention.

In 2020, scientists announced the potential discovery of phosphine in in the clouds of Venus, sparking speculation on its implications for life.

The 10 biggest space discoveries and stories of 2020

By Doris Elin Urrutia

This year saw a new age of sample-retrieval missions, protests against a telescope, an incredible visit from a dazzling comet and the ''great conjunction'' of Saturn and Jupiter.

On Nov. 18, 2020, a bright green meteor streaked across the night sky near CSIRO’s research vessel Investigator, which is currently stationed in the Tasman Sea, off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Fireballs, spaceships and … iguanas? 7 strange things that fell from the sky in 2020

By Nicoletta Lanese

Here's a list of 7 intriguing objects — and a few reptiles — that made headlines for falling from the sky.

A telescopic view of the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn, on Dec. 21, 2020, as seen from Burnsville, North Carolina.

Rare 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn wows skywatchers around the world

By Doris Elin Urrutia

Saturn and Jupiter shared a rare "great conjunction" on Dec. 21 that thrilled skywatchers around the world.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

How to photograph the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Chelsea Gohd

NASA has shared some helpful tips for how to photograph the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, 2020.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

Don't miss the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight!

By Doris Elin Urrutia

This year, the planets will appear closer to each other than they have in centuries.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter as seen on Dec. 13, 2020, a week before their closest approach, when the two planets may appear as a single point of light.

Watch the winter solstice 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn with these webcasts

By Samantha Mathewson

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky today (Dec. 21) in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction," and you can watch it online with a host of webcasts.

A Google Doodle celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice of Dec. 21, 2020.

Celebrate the winter solstice 'great conjunction' with this charming Google doodle

By Meghan Bartels

Google treated internet searchers around the world to a pair of animated doodles celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice on Dec. 21.

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart, in an event known as a "great conjunction." The planets will be visible to the naked eye when looking toward the southwest about an hour after sunset.

'Great Conjunction' 2020: NASA tips to see Jupiter and Saturn shine as a 'Christmas Star'

By Samantha Mathewson

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky on Dec. 21 in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction" marking the planets' closest encounter in nearly 400 years.

A Geminid fireball blazes through the sky above a campfire at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland during the Geminid meteor shower. Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes snapped this photo on Dec. 14, 2018, at 2:30 a.m. local time.

The Geminid meteor shower of 2020 peaks tonight! Here's how to watch it live online

By Tariq Malik

The Geminid meteor shower of 2020 peaks overnight tonight on Dec. 13 and 14 and you can watch it live online. Here's how.

Flatland BMX legend Terry Adams performs under the light of the Harvest Moon in Arkansas' Ozark Mountains on Oct. 1, 2020.

Watch BMX bike legend Terry Adams dance with the Harvest Moon (video)

By Mike Wall

Terry Adams, one of the best BMX trick riders in the world, danced on two wheels in the orange light of a rising Harvest Moon Thursday night (Oct. 1), as a new video shows.

Star trails in the Dark Sky Reserve, over Valentia Island, County Kerry, Ireland.

16 amazing dark sky preserves around the world that protect the night sky

By Elizabeth Howell

A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above a group of campers at the Negev Desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, on Aug. 11, 2020.

Perseid meteor shower 2020 brings celestial fireworks to the night sky (photos)

By Hanneke Weitering

The Perseid meteor shower, one of the most famous annual "shooting star" displays, reached its peak activity this week, putting on a spectacular show for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.

After dusk during July, comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) will be visible low in the northwestern sky as it travels northwest in the sky below the constellation of Ursa Major. Mobile apps can help you find it. This chart shows the comet's path through the sky until mid-August, at 11 p.m. local time. Each night the comet will diminish in brightness — so look for it as soon as possible.

How to spot the bright Comet NEOWISE using mobile apps

By Chris Vaughan

Skywatchers the world over are buzzing about Comet NEOWISE, the first easily-visible comet to appear in years. Your favorite mobile astronomy app can tell you when, where and how to look for it.

Comet NEOWISE is seen by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which captured the comet's twin tail on July 5, 2020. The lower, broader tail is the comet’s dust tail, while the thinner, upper tail is the comet’s ion tail.

Replay: See Comet NEOWISE online tonight in a Slooh webcast

By Tariq Malik

You can see Comet NEOWISE online tonight (July 18) in a lvie webcast from Slooh.

Astrophotographer Bill Dunford, a NASA social media specialist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, captured this view of Comet NEOWISE when it was visible in the predawn sky in early July 2020.

How to photograph Comet NEOWISE: NASA tips for stargazers

By Chelsea Gohd

Are you excited to spot Comet NEOWISE as it pops into view in the night sky? Do you want to try your hand at photographing the cosmic snowball?

How to see Comet NEOWISE in the evening sky now. It won't be back for 6,800 years.

By Tariq Malik

Comet NEOWISE is now visible in the evening sky for stargazers. It won't be back for 6,800 years.

This image of comet NEOWISE was captured by NASA’s Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, on June 24, 2020, as the comet approached the sun.

Comet NEOWISE spotted by more NASA spacecraft (video, photos)

By Mike Wall

NASA's Parker Solar Probe isn't the only spacecraft doing some comet watching these days.

This shot shows Iceland's famous geyser, the Great Geysir, preparing to blow, with the aurora behind it.

'Geyser' aurora and 'cosmic bat' nebula shortlisted for astronomy photo prize

By Mindy Weisberger

An astrophotography competition run by London's Royal Observatory Greenwich, announces a shortlist of exceptional images for its 2020 contest.

'Clyde's Spot,' a new storm on Jupiter, is visible in this image in the center as a white maelstrom, just below and to right of the Great Red Spot. Citizen scientist Kevin Gill created this image using data gathered by the JunoCam instrument aboard NASA’s Juno Jupiter orbiter on June 2, 2020.

'Clyde's Spot,' a new storm on Jupiter, discovered by amateur astronomer (photos)

By Mike Wall

NASA's Jupiter-orbiting Juno probe has captured gorgeous imagery of a storm that recently cropped up on the giant planet.