SKYWATCH: WATCH AN ASTEROID GLIDE BY EARTH, EXPLORING EXOPLANETS, AND MORE

LATEST NEWS

Mountain-size Asteroid Glides Past Earth

With a small telescope and our sky charts, you can watch a very sizable near-Earth asteroid race across winter’s constellations on the night of January 26-27.

Do Atmospheres Spin Worlds to Habitability?

The best place to look for nearby Earth-size planets are around the smallest, coolest stars. New research shows that any exoplanets tightly circling their stars might have a better chance of being habitable than previously thought.

The Future of Exoplanet Hunts

As the Kepler mission shifts into its new mode of operations, multiple new searches for exoplanets are in the works.

Hubble’s Long Look at Distant Galaxies

Hubble Space Telescope observations are adding a third dimension to previously 2D images – and enlightening astronomers about the evolution of galaxies in the distant universe.

Long-Lost Beagle 2 Lander Found on Mars

On December 25, 2003, a British-built lander dropped to the Martian surface and disappeared without a trace. Now we know what happened to it.

OBSERVING HIGHLIGHTS

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, January 23 – 31

A waxing crescent Moon, dim Mars, and bright Venus show in the evening skies this weekend. Despite the growing Moon, fading Comet Lovejoy remains a lovely sight. Plus, don’t miss tonight’s rare triple shadow transit on Jupiter.

Where To See Comet Lovejoy Tonight

Comet Lovejoy is about magnitude 4.2, high in the evening sky for your binoculars or low-power, wide-field telescope. Catch these last best nights — the Moon starts to brighten the sky in just a few days!

Catch Comet Finlay’s Sudden Brightening

For the second time in as many months, the periodic comet 15P/Finlay has surged in brightness. Spot it soon — before the Moon interferes — using our exclusive sky charts.

Rare Triple Shadow Transit Not To Miss!