The star WR 124 lights up a brilliant, tangerine-colored nebula in this Hubble image. Photo credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Happy Halloween

Oct. 31, 2024

The star WR 124 lights up a brilliant, tangerine-colored nebula in this Hubble image. Photo credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA Happy Halloween! Believe it or not, today is an astronomical holiday鈥攁 cross-quarter day to be exact (like Groundhog Day in February). Halloween falls between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice and...

Graphic from Stellarium showing the southeastern horizon and the Moon and Saturn in the sky

Moon and Saturn

Oct. 14, 2024

The Moon and Saturn form a pretty pair tonight. You鈥檒l spot them to the east-southeast in the constellation of Aquarius. The Moon鈥檚 brightness will make it difficult to see many of the stars, but the ringed giant鈥檚 brilliance will shine through. Graphic credit: Stellarium

Graphic of a star filled sky with evergreen and aspen trees in the foreground

Fall Equinox

Sept. 22, 2024

Happy Autumnal Equinox! Join us today, 9/22 at 2:30pm for 欧美口爆视频 Skies: The Fall Equinox. We'll find out why we have nearly an equal amount of daylight and nighttime hours right now, plus the best constellations to see this season.

Graphic from Sky and Telescope showing a series of 5 full moons and portions of the lunar eclipse

Full Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse

Sept. 17, 2024

Don鈥檛 miss the Full Moon tonight! Eagle-eyed observers may also notice a partial lunar eclipse with a slight dimming of the Moon shortly before 8pm MDT as a portion of the Moon crosses into the Earth鈥檚 shadow. Read more at Sky & Telescope .

Graphic from Stellarium showing a field with the first quarter moon next to Antares in Scorpius

Red Supergiant Antares

Sept. 10, 2024

The first quarter Moon is next to a very orange star tonight - Antares. Also, known as the heart of the Scorpion. And, known as the 鈥淩ival of Mars鈥 because of its reddish/orange color and similar appearance to Mars. This red supergiant star is the 16th brightest star in our...

Graphic from Sky Safari showing the entire night sky in a circle with south to the bottom Saturn is rising in the east and the Sun is setting in the west

Saturn at opposition

Sept. 7, 2024

The giant ringed-planet, Saturn is at opposition tonight 鈥 meaning it rises (in the east) opposite of the Sun at sunset and sets (in the west) opposite of the Sun at sunrise. Get out your binoculars or telescope and observe this magnificent planet all night long. Despite being over 800...

Graphic from Sky Safari showing the western sky at sunset with the crescent Moon and Venus in view

Sunset

Sept. 5, 2024

Sunset is a magical time of day. Look to the west this evening to see our celestial companion, the Moon. Once you spot the waxing crescent Moon, look to its right about 6-7 degrees (less than the width of your fist at arm鈥檚 length) to find the brilliant planet, Venus...

Photo from Nasa's cassini mission of Saturn's rings

Saturn and the Moon

Aug. 20, 2024

Look to the east tonight to watch a pretty pair rise together 鈥擲aturn and the Moon. Saturn鈥檚 rings are not only beautiful, but they鈥檙e huge and stretch 175,000 miles across. If we could pluck Saturn out of the sky and put it between us and the Moon it would fit,...

Graphic from the International Meteor organization showing the inner solar system and cometary debris that causes the meteor shower

Perseids Meteor shower

Aug. 11, 2024

There's fire in the sky folks! Make a plan to get out of the city to see the Perseids Meteor shower. This must see event peaks between August 11-13 with 50-75 meteors per hour visible from rural locations (without light pollution). Always one of the most popular meteor showers in...

Graphic from Sky Safari showing the Moon occulting brilliant light blue spica

Spica and the Moon

July 13, 2024

Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, is playing hide-and-seek with the first quarter Moon tonight. Find out how to view this cool occultation with binoculars or a telescope using your favorite planetarium software or app or by visiting Sky & Telescope鈥檚 Observing column. Graphic credit: SkySafari app

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