Did a Comet Explode Over South America 12,000 Years Ago?
Huge chunks and twisted slabs of dark glass are strewn across a patch of the Chilean Atacama Desert. Do they have a cosmic origin?
Under One Sky: Let's Address Light Pollution Together
Concerned about light pollution? Join a virtual conference this weekend that looks at ongoing global efforts to mitigate it.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Astronomers Announce Priorities for Next Decade
The National Academy of Science detailed the direction for astronomy and astrophysics today for the coming decade.
The True Nature of the Candidate ET Signal From Proxima Centauri
Human-made interference, not extraterrestrial technology, is responsible for the first candidate "signal of interest" detected by the project Breakthrough Listen.
Streetlights to Satellites: Taking Light Pollution to the United Nations
The United Nations' Office of Outer Space Affairs is considering issues of light pollution spanning from streetlights to satellites.
Pittsburgh Goes Dark: Could This New Dark-Sky Ordinance Begin a Trend?
The city's parks, facilities, and streetlights will all get dark-sky-friendly lighting, but is it too early for amateur astronomers to get excited?
Did Astronomers See a Distant, Dying Star? Or an Earth-bound Satellite?
What seemed a lucky break — the discovery of a gamma-ray burst in the most distant known galaxy — might instead be the flash of passing space debris. As satellites fill low-Earth orbit, such events might become common.
Discover the Night: International Dark Sky Week is Here!
Light pollution is insidious in today’s world. This International Dark Sky Week, become inspired to see what you can do to raise awareness.
Join Us in Planning for the Next "Great American Eclipse"
Are you a solar eclipse enthusiast with an organizational bent? An upcoming virtual workshop geared toward planning for the 2023 and 2024 events could be just the thing for you.
Beyond Starlink: The Satellite Saga Continues
SpaceX has placed more than 1,000 Starlinks in orbit, and other companies are following suit. Here's the latest on what's being done to protect astronomy.
Starlink Satellites Are Fainter Now — But Still Visible
Measurements of Starlink's "VisorSat" show SpaceX has succeeded in making a less reflective satellite. But it's still visible from dark-sky areas.
The 400-Year Rhythm of Great Conjunctions
A new visualization reveals the centuries-long pattern of "Great Conjunctions" between Jupiter and Saturn over the centuries.
Ancient Babylonians Witnessed Unique Planetary Gathering
Jupiter and Saturn's "Great Conjunction" is a noteworthy event, but on the morning of March 25, 185 BC, an even grander planetary gathering greeted Babylonian sky watchers
Astronomers Dim Street Lights to Home in on Light Pollution
Street lights contribute to light pollution, but they are far from the only culprits — and fixing street lights is far from the only solution.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
Black Hole Scientists Win 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics
This year’s award goes to three researchers who played key roles in developing the theoretical and observational evidence for black holes.
Mount Wilson Escapes Wildfire; Amateur Observatory Destroyed
Firefighting crews held the line as wildfire threatened Mount Wilson; an amateur observatory built by the Tri-Valley Stargazers was not so lucky.
A Message from Sky & Telescope
The staff of Sky & Telescope outline an action plan for making the night sky open to all. Feedback from the community is welcome!
Venus Passes in Front of the Solar Corona (VIDEO)
Two astronomers captured the silhouette of Venus as it passed in front of the solar corona.
Photographers “Capture the Dark” with Stunning Images of the Night
Stunning images of the night remind us why we need to protect dark skies. See the photos that won the International Dark-sky Association's contest.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Renames WFIRST: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
NASA is renaming its next flagship space observatory to honor pioneering NASA astronomer and "Mother of Hubble," Nancy Grace Roman.