The “comet of the century” was stuck at 16th magnitude when it hid out for the summer. Still, good prospects remain for December.

Mercury descends to pass Venus in twilight. And the waxing Moon passes Spica, Saturn, and Antares.

Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury crowd together low in the west right after sunset, while Saturn is sandwiched high in the south between the constellations Libra and Virgo.

This week's visit by asteroid 1998 QE₂ is just a courtesy call, as it passes by on May 31st at 15 times the Moon's distance. A NASA radar team has already discovered that this big space rock has a sizable companion.

We're coming into the peak week for the trio conjunction of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury low in twilight. On the opposite side of the sky, Corvus eyes two prizes, not just one.

A remarkable series of events takes place low in the west-northwest shortly after sunset from late May to late June. It features the tightest three-planet grouping visible without binoculars until 2026 and an excellent apparition of Mercury.

From the city lights nestled between Alpine peaks to a single image that captures stars, an aurora, and a meteor, The World At Night's 2013 astrophoto contest is full of startling vistas.

With Saturn putting on a fine show this month, you'll want to explore the ringed planet at every opportunity. Here's what to look for.

For the second time in six months, the Sun has graced Down Under with an eclipse. Only a lucky few caught this annular eclipse, which traversed sparsely populated northern Australia.

Saturn rises in early evening and is visible throughout May. And a remarkable gathering of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury sparkles low in the west toward month's end.

With its rings tipped nicely into wide view, right now the ringed planet is its closest to Earth — making it a visual treat in telescopes of any size.

This year features two "central" eclipses of the Sun: an annular in May (visible from Australia and the South Pacific) and a "hybrid" (annular/total) in November that you'll have to travel to Africa to see.

Sky & Telescope predicts that 2013's best meteor shower should be the Perseids in mid-August, but this will also be a good year for the lesser-known Eta Aquarids in early May.

May 2013 features an annular solar eclipse that's visible from extraordinarily little land area and a penumbral lunar eclipse that isn't visible at all.

"Globe at Night" is a fun, easy, and worthwhile activity for you and your family. Please join this worldwide campaign to measure the darkness of night skies everywhere from April 29th to May 8th.

Truly dedicated eclipse-watchers — who live in the Eastern Hemisphere — have a chance to watch the Moon barely graze Earth's umbra during the first eclipse of 2013.

Even though moonlight will interfere with this year's Lyrid meteor shower, skywatchers should be alert for a possible outburst on the night of April 21–22.

Anytime is a good time for a star party, but April offers some of the best opportunities to get out under the night's beauty. Take your pick: there's Globe at Night, International Dark-Sky Week, Astronomy Day, and Global Astronomy Month.

If you're thinking about joining Sky & Telescope and Spears Travel to see November 3rd's total eclipse of the Sun, here are three important numbers to consider: 29, 12, and 1.002.

The Moon, Jupiter, Aldebaran, and two naked-eye star clusters adorn the western twilight this weekend, April 12–14. Spread the word, and grab your camera.

This much-anticipated incoming comet may — or may not — put on a grand show in early December 2013.

On the evening of Sunday, March 17th, stargazers all across the Americas will be able to watch the Moon pass spectacularly close to Jupiter, the third brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and Venus.

Spring arrives on March 20th, astronomically speaking, and for a few days beforehand you have a chance to see Comet Pan-STARRS low in the west soon after sunset. Meanwhile, Jupiter is still riding high in the evening, along with Orion, the Hunter, and Sirius, the "Dog Star."

On Thursday, February 28th, late-evening skywatchers in the Americas can see a waning gibbous Moon nestled very close to Virgo's alpha star. Those in Central and South America might even see Spica wink out!