Astronomy

August 1, 2025

August 2025: What's in the sky this month?

August brings Saturn and Neptune together, offers two shadow transits of Titan, and sees a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: 10 More Cool Things About the Moon

Because 20 facts about our natural satellite weren’t enough, here are 10 more.

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

July 31, 1964: Ranger 7 returns the first close pictures of the Moon

Today in the history of astronomy, the U.S. scores a win in the Space Race.

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Observe these great star clusters from the New General Catalogue

There's so much more to see than the famous Messier Catalog. Here's a list of gorgeous NGC star clusters to observe on the next clear night.

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Observing Basics

Having trouble finding your way around the sky? Curious what that celestial object is? Here's what you need to know to get outside and start...

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Astrophotography

Photographing the night sky can be an intimidating task. But by following a few simple tips, you can start capturing your own stunning astro...

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Telescopes and Equipment

Whether you're looking for a new telescope, eyepiece, binoculars, or anything else you need to up your observing game, we've got you covered...

Astronomy

July 31, 2025

Deep-Sky Objects

Deep-sky objects are celestial objects that exist outside our solar system. Three major types of deep-sky objects are nebulae, star clusters...

Astronomy

July 30, 2025

Dwingeloo 1 is a barred spiral galaxy in Cassiopeia

Dwingeloo 1, a barred spiral galaxy about 10 million light-years away, is so obscured, it wasn't discovered until 1994.

Astronomy

July 30, 2025

Explore the wonders of the constellation Andromeda

There's so much more to Andromeda than its eponymous galaxy. Here's a list of other targets to observe in the Princess.

Astronomy

July 30, 2025

July 30, 1610: Galileo sees Saturn’s rings

Today in the history of astronomy, Galileo is confused by his observations of Saturn.

Astronomy

July 29, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Image contrast

All observers want to maximize this attribute with all of their observations.

Astronomy

July 29, 2025

July's best new astronomy products

Astronomy magazine's July new products recs: Vixen's Mobile Porta Mount, the Seestar S30, and Keith Cooper's book on exoplanets in the media...

Astronomy

July 29, 2025

July 29, 1958: NASA is founded

Today in the history of astronomy, President Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act.

Astronomy

July 28, 2025

Observe the sky's colorful stars

Stars are more colorful than you think! Patience will reveal them; head outside tonight to see summer’s multi-hued stars.

Astronomy

July 28, 2025

Today in the History of Astronomy

Today in the History of Astronomy

Astronomy

July 28, 2025

July 28, 1851: The first photo of a total eclipse

Today in the history of astronomy, a Prussian photographer captures totality.

Astronomy

July 27, 2025

July 27, 2005: NASA grounds the space shuttles

Today in the history of astronomy, foam falling from Discovery raises alarms.

Astronomy

July 26, 2025

July 26, 2000: Comet LINEAR disintegrates

Today in the history of astronomy, a weird and wonderful comet breaks up.

Astronomy

July 25, 2025

Pazmino’s Cluster: Exploring Stock 23 in Camelopardalis

Pazmino’s Cluster, or Stock 23, is a small open cluster in Camelopardalis that shines as a hidden gem for binoculars and telescopes.

Astronomy

July 25, 2025

July 25, 1920: The birth of Chushiro Hayashi

Today in the history of astronomy, a future physics prizewinner is born.

Astronomy

July 24, 2025

The basics of astroimaging filters

This beginner's guide to filters will help you choose the correct tool to take your astrophotos to the next level.

Astronomy

July 24, 2025

July 24, 1969: Apollo 11 returns home

Today in the history of astronomy, the first people to walk on the Moon splashdown back on Earth.

Astronomy

July 23, 2025

Maffei 1 and 2: Faint galaxies first discovered in 1967

Maffei 1 and 2 are faint, dust-obscured galaxies near the Milky Way—discovered in 1967 and challenging targets for deep-sky observers.

Astronomy

July 23, 2025

The quest for the ultimate catalog of dark nebulae

One amateur astronomer is on a quest to identify every object in the catalog of Lynds’ dark nebulae. Tag along for the journey!

Astronomy

July 23, 2025

July 23, 1999: Chandra X-Ray Observatory launches

Today in the history of astronomy, NASA’s flagship for X-ray astronomy heads for space.

Astronomy

July 22, 2025

The Soul Nebula, in Cassiopeia, is a great astroimaging target

Explore the Soul Nebula (IC 1848), a star-forming region in Cassiopeia. Learn its clusters and why it's a favorite for astrophotographers.

Astronomy

July 22, 2025

July 22, 1826: Fr. Giuseppe Piazzi dies

Today in the history of astronomy, the man who discovered Ceres passes away.

Astronomy

July 21, 2025

The Heart Nebula: A large stellar nursery in the Milky Way

The Heart Nebula, cataloged as IC 1805 and also sometimes called the Running Dog Nebula, is a large star-forming region in our galaxy.

Astronomy

July 21, 2025

July 21, 1998: Alan Shepard dies

Today in the history of astronomy, America’s first man in space passes away.

Astronomy

July 20, 2025

July 20, 1976: Viking 1 lands on Mars

Today in the history of astronomy, a spacecraft makes the first successful Mars landing.

Astronomy

July 19, 2025

July 19, 418: A solar eclipse/comet combo

Today in the history of astronomy, an eclipse isn’t the only stunning thing in the sky.

Astronomy

July 18, 2025

Axiom Mission 4 returns to Earth after historic ISS stay

Axiom Mission 4 returns to Earth after 18 days aboard the ISS, marking historic firsts for India, Poland, and Hungary in human spaceflight.

Astronomy

July 18, 2025

Purgathofer-Weinberger 1: The second-largest planetary nebula

Purgathofer-Weinberger 1, a faint planetary nebula about 1,300 light-years away, is the second-largest planetary nebula in our sky.

Astronomy

July 18, 2025

July 18, 1915: The birth of John Glenn

Today in the history of astronomy, the first American in orbit is born.

Astronomy

July 18, 2025

The Sky This Week from July 18 to 25: Have you seen our interstellar visitor?

As the Moon reaches New, advanced observers can try photographing 3I/ATLAS while everyone can enjoy nebulae and more in the sky this week.

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

Jones-Emberson 1: A Planetary Nebula in Lynx discovered in 1939

Jones-Emberson 1, sometimes called the Headphone Nebula due to its distinct shape, is a great challenge target for backyard photographers.

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

Jones-Emberson 1: A Planetary Nebula in Lynx discovered in 1939

Jones-Emberson 1, sometimes called the Headphone Nebula due to its distinct shape, is a great challenge target for backyard photographers.

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

Celebrate International Moon Day with Starmus

Celebrate International Moon Day with Starmus by sharing your best Moon images. Submit via Instagram DM for a chance to be featured!

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

What we know so far about 3I/ATLAS, the interstellar visitor

New findings about interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveal its surprising size, possible thick disk origin, and what makes it unlike any other IS...

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

50 years since the 'Handshake in Space': The legacy of Apollo-Soyuz

The Apollo-Soyuz mission occurred 50 years ago this week, as Americans and Soviets came together for the first time in space.

Astronomy

July 17, 2025

July 17, 1975: The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

Today in the history of astronomy, an astronaut and a cosmonaut shake hands in space.

Astronomy

July 16, 2025

Astronomers detect the most massive black hole merger ever

Astronomers have detected the most massive black hole merger ever observed, challenging stellar evolution and black hole formation theories.

Astronomy

July 16, 2025

Astronomers see a new solar system forming for the first time

Planets are being created in the disk of material surrounding a baby star in Orion.

Astronomy

July 16, 2025

The Broken Engagement Ring asterism

Spot the Broken Engagement Ring asterism near Merak in Ursa Major, easily viewed with binoculars or a low-power telescope.

Astronomy

July 16, 2025

July 16, 1850: Bond and Whipple photograph Vega

Today in the history of astronomy, a star is captured in an astrophotography first.

Astronomy

July 15, 2025

The biggest piece of Mars on Earth is up for auction tomorrow

NWA 16788 is the largest martian meteorite ever found, weighing in at 54 pounds. Soon, it’ll be up for auction.

Astronomy

July 15, 2025

July 15, 1943: Birth of Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Today in the history of astronomy, the astrophysicist who would discover pulsars is born.

Astronomy

July 14, 2025

Astronomers discover a perfectly spherical supernova remnant

This ghostly, near-perfect bubble in space is defying scientists’ expectations about how massive stars die.

Astronomy

July 14, 2025

This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: Globular cluster M4

There’s a wonderful sphere of stars visible at this time of year.