Do the Sun and Moon Really Rise in the East?
"As sure as the Sun rises in the east . . ." Except it doesn't! Find out how Earth's tilt changes the location of sunrise (and sunset) throughout the year.
How We Create the "Skygazer's Almanac"
Sky & Telescope's year-at-a-glance guide to celestial happenings is a symphony of detailed calculations and clear, elegant design.
What is the Winter Solstice?
The moment the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky marks the December solstice, the official beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere (where it is called the winter solstice) and a time of great celebration in many northern cultures.
Imaging Foundations with Richard Wright
Seeing vs. Transparency: What's the Difference?
Good weather for imaging is about more than just the clouds! Even if it's cloud-free, you'll need to understand if the seeing and transparency are good.
Astronomy Books: Wrapping Up 2017
Read our reviews of books covering everything from stars and galaxies to the Moon and planets, perfect for amateur astronomers and space fans.
Orbital Path Podcasts with Michelle Thaller
Orbital Path Podcast: The 11 Dimensions of Brian Greene
In this episode of Orbital Path, we hear from Brian Greene on the coming paradigm shift in physics as current theories fail to adequately explain quantum entanglement.
The Kavli Foundation Q&A: A New Map of Dark Matter?
The prevailing view of the universe has just passed a rigorous new test, but the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy remain frustratingly unsolved.
Orbital Path Podcasts with Michelle Thaller
Orbital Path Podcast: Journey to the Sun
Nicki Viall, a heliophysicist at Goddard Space Flight Center, shares her excitement over the Parker Solar Probe — the spacecraft that will allow scientists to "touch" the Sun.
The Kavli Foundation Q&A: What's Life Like at the Remotest Telescopes?
From oxygen-thin mountaintops to barren deserts to the South Pole, many of the world’s most powerful telescopes are in distant, inhospitable environments. Three researchers share their adventures pursuing science at the farthest corners of the world.
Orbital Path Podcasts with Michelle Thaller
Orbital Path Podcast: First Light
John Mather has seen many first lights, not the least being the first light of the universe — and soon he will see the first light of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Solar Eclipse Activities for Kids and Families
Enrich the eclipse experience — especially the long, partial phases — with solar eclipse activities for the young and young at heart.
Orbital Path Podcasts with Michelle Thaller
Orbital Path Podcast: Holy Sheet!
Join host Michelle Thaller as she learns about the IceBridge mission and the scientific discoveries it is making in the latest installment of Orbital Path Podcast
Sky & Telescope Answers Your Eclipse Questions: Part II
A few weeks ago we took to Twitter and Facebook to find out what questions you wanted answered about the August 21st Total Solar Eclipse. Now we're back with Part II of the answers!
10 Things You Might Forget You Need on Eclipse Day
So you think you’re prepared for your eclipse viewing experience. But may I submit, dear reader, that you might have forgotten to pack a few things...
Sky & Telescope Answers Your Eclipse Questions
A few weeks ago we took to Twitter and Facebook to find out what questions you wanted answered about the August 21st Total Solar Eclipse. Now we're back with the answers!
Stargazing Simplified: What to See in the Night Sky
Learn some of the classic stargazing sights that can be best viewed through a smaller telescope.
The Kavli Foundation Q&A: Do Globular Clusters Generate Black Holes?
Much to their surprise, scientists are finding dozens of black holes deep within densely packed collections of stars called globular clusters. Astrophysicists are using a record-breaking computer simulation to learn their secrets, including whether the clusters gave rise to recently observed ripples in space-time.
2017 Eclipse Resources
With all the interest in August’s sky spectacular, it’s no surprise that you can find lots of great information about solar eclipses. Here are some favorite resources chosen by the editors of Sky & Telescope magazine: Books About Eclipses In the Shadow of the Moon: The Science, Magic, and Mystery…
Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky
Daylight Polar Alignment Made Easy
Try this easy technique to roughly polar-align your telescope mount during the day using your smartphone and a planetarium app.
"Lights All Askew:" How a Solar Eclipse Made Einstein Famous
Why are some scientists world-famous but not others? Narrative, even one as simple as "starlight bends," turns out to be a powerful tool for making sense of science. In 1905 Albert Einstein published four papers that transformed our understanding of light, atoms, space, time, and energy. The world took no…