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Observing Highlights


Looking low in the west in bright twilight
The Amazing August Planet Show — August 13, 2008
All five of the classical planets are visible shortly after sunset in mid-August. But observers at mid-northern latitudes will need very clear skies, an unobstructed western horizon, and binoculars to see some of them.

Venus Returns — August 11, 2008
Earth's sister planet has emerged from behind the Sun for a low evening apparition. See how early you can spot it in the twilight.

Jupiter's moons, Aug. 4-5, 2008
All Hail, King Jupiter! — July 16, 2008
The King of Planets has made a dramatic entrance into the early evening sky. Don't miss your chance to see it while it's big and bright!

Jupiter June 30, 2008
Little Red Spot Gone? — July 7, 2008
It's still not clear what will become of Jupiter's Little Red Spot after the recent collision with its two larger siblings.

Comet Boattini, now faintly visible to the unaided eye from sites without light pollution, is climbing rapidly higher in the Northern Hemisphere's dawn sky.

Comet C/2007 W1 (Boattini) has reached 5th magnitude as of early June. It's now visible only from the Southern Hemisphere. When it reappears for northerners in July, will it be naked-eye?

2008 Pluto chart
Pluto in 2008 — April 28, 2008
Download your free PDF chart to locate the ex-planet Pluto in 2008.

Uranus and Neptune in 2008 — June 1, 2008
Uranus and Neptune are easy to find with the aid of the charts in this article.

This pearly glow is surprisingly easy to see — if you know what to look for.

The start of totality
Your images from Wednesday night's total eclipse of the Moon are pouring in.

Sky Highlights of 2008 — December 21, 2007
Eclipses, occultations, conjunctions, and meteor showers — there's no shortage of celestial action in 2008.

Eclipses in 2008 — December 28, 2007
Don't miss February's total lunar eclipse (the last one anywhere until late 2010) — and look ahead to a total solar eclipse in exotic settings in August.

Meteor Showers in 2008 — February 28, 2008
With minimal moonlight to interfere, the best meteor showers of 2008 should be the Quadrantids, the Aquarids, and the Perseids.

The Four-Planet Dance of 2008 — June 16, 2008
Every evening in August and September 2008, just after sunset, four planets and two first-magnitude stars combine to form fascinating and ever-changing patterns.

Comet Holmes
Your Comet Holmes Photos — October 29, 2007
When Comet Holmes suddenly brightened by nearly a million times, it became a snap to spot with just your eyes. It is also a snap to shoot with a camera. Check out amateur images of the comet — and submit your own!

The world's largest orbiting satellite is a snap to spot if you know where and when to look for it.



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