1–20 of 24 results
Bright Geminid meteor over Tucson

Celestial News & Events

The Best Meteor Showers in 2024

The beloved Perseid meteor shower of the August vacation season will evade the moonlight in 2024, at least during the best early morning meteor-watching hours. The Lyrids and Geminids aren't so lucky.

Geminids and aurora

Celestial Objects to Observe

Catch Luyten's Star and the Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Relish the slow, steady pace of nearby Luyten's Star then switch things up with speedy meteors from a well-timed shower.

Geminids 2020

Explore the Night with Bob King

Get Ready to Greet the Geminid Meteor Shower!

The year's most spectacular meteor shower is upon us. Prepare to enjoy the Geminids under a dark, moonless sky, when you might see more than 100 meteors per hour.

Orionid composite 2015-2022

Explore the Night with Bob King

Orionid Meteors Fly; Two Moons Shadow Jupiter

Bundle up and enjoy the Orionid meteor shower under moonless skies this week. Don't miss the warm-up act, either, when two of Jupiter's moons pair up in a captivating double-shadow transit.

2016 Perseids

Meteors

Get Ready for a Great Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseids are here! With no Moon to spoil the show it's time to break out the lawn chairs, sit back, and watch the comet dust fly.

Bright Geminid meteor over Tucson

Celestial Objects to Observe

The Best Meteor Showers in 2023

The two richest, most reliable annual meteor showers, the Perseids and Geminids, are Moon-free in 2023. Others showers await you too.

Geminid over Tucson

Variable Stars

Catch the Geminid Meteor Shower; Plus, Watch RW Cephei Fade

The luminous Geminid meteor shower returns. We also meet a binocular-bright star that may be experiencing Betelgeuse-like convulsions.

Orionid composite

Explore the Night with Bob King

All About the Dust — Orionids and Zodiacal Light

It doesn't take much to create a spectacle when it comes to astronomical observation. Just a pinch or two of dust.

Perseid 2021

Meteors

Perseids Are Coming, Full Moon or Not

Don't use a full Moon pass to skip this year's Perseid meteor shower. Right here, right now, we're going to help you make the most of it.

Tau Herculid fireball

Explore the Night with Bob King

Tau Herculid Meteors Surprise and Delight

We touch on the highlights of the memorable Tau Herculid meteor shower and also report on the recent outburst of the recurrent nova U Scorpii.

Geminid meteor shower

Meteors

Update on a Possible Outburst of Meteors

Will there be a new meteor shower on the night of May 30–31? There's only one way to find out.

Bright Lyrid

Explore the Night with Bob King

Celebrate Spring with the Lyrids

People have been watching the annual Lyrid meteor shower for more than 2,700 years. Come join the crowd!

Geminid fireball over Tucson

Observing

The Best Meteor Showers of 2022

Sky & Telescope predicts that the year’s best meteor shower will be the Quadrantids, which peak in the very first days of 2022. But the normally weak Tau Herculids (late May) and Leonids (November) might deliver dramatic outbursts.

Leonid fireball crossing Orion

Meteors

The Best Meteor Showers in 2021

Sky & Telescope predicts that the year's best meteor shower will be the strong, fireball-rich Perseids in mid-August.

Geminids Dec 13_2018 Bob King 480x274

Celestial News & Events

The Best Meteor Showers in 2020

Sky & Telescope predicts that the three best meteor showers — the Quadrantids (peaking on January 4th!), Perseids and Geminids — will all have strong showings this year.

Perseid meteor

Astrophotography with Jerry Lodriguss

How to Photograph a Meteor Shower: Capturing the Perseids

Learn how to photograph a meteor shower with these step-by-step instructions, as well as advice for the advanced imager.

Leonid fireball

Meteors

The Basics of Meteor Observing

Here are a few hints to enhance your meteor-watching experience.

Geminid meteor

Celestial Objects to Observe

Advanced Meteor Observing

Meteor studies have relied heavily on amateur observers for more than a century. They still do. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to plan a meteor watch.

A bright Perseid meteor

Meteors

About Meteors

Meteors, meteoroids, meteorites, and fireballs — keep all these look-alike terms straight.

Perseid Meteor

Celestial Objects to Observe

Observing the Perseids - A Perennial Guide

The Perseids meteor shower is one of the year's top astronomical highlights. Learn how best to see the meteors.