A Beautiful Lunar Eclipse
Clear skies throughout much of the Americas and parts of Europe and Africa allowed millions of people to enjoy a beautiful lunar eclipse during the evening of Nov. 8–9, 2003.
Orionids in a (Reasonably) Dark Sky
This is a fairly good year for observing the annual Orionid meteor shower, whose maximum generally lasts from around October 20th to 26th.
An 11th-Magnitude Supernova
An unusually bright supernova has gone off in NGC 2403, an 8.5-magnitude galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis, the Giraffe.
The Transit of Venus: Where to See It
For the first time since 1882, Venus will glide across the face of the Sun. Here's where you'll be able to watch this rare event on June 8, 2004.
A Disturbance In Jupiter's Clouds
A new, 40°-long, diffuse blue feature is currently visible at the interface between Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt and the Equatorial Zone.
The 2003 Leonids: Back to Normal?
Interactions between Earth and a pair of debris trails left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle may make for some interesting, albeit brief, Leonid meteor activity this year.
Saturn Hides Another Star
On Tuesday November 25th, Saturn and its ring system glide in front of an 8.3-magnitude star in Gemini, the second time Saturn has occulted a star in 10 days.
Dust Storm on Mars
A large regional dust storm has enveloped several thousand square kilometers of the red planet and shows no signs of abating.
A Naked-Eye Spot Returns
The immense sunspot group that on November 4th ejected the largest solar flare ever recorded has rotated around the Sun and is back for a second pass across the Earth-facing side of the solar disk.
More Solar Blasts
Two large sunspot groups, currently disappearing around the western limb of the Sun, spawned another round of powerful flares. The result could be one more fine display of the aurora.
Another Martian Dust Storm
Less than one month after a localized dust storm appeared on the Martian surface, another dust cloud has spring up.
The Orionids: Steady but Unspectacular
With a fat crescent Moon high in the sky during the predawn hours of the 21st, this is a so-so year for observing the annual Orionid meteor shower.
The Dark of an Eclipsed Moon
Most observers who witnessed the lunar eclipse of May 15th described totality as being darker than usual.
Comet Juels-Holvorcem Visible at Dawn
The comet has brightened considerably since its discovery in late 2002 and is now an easy binocular object in the constellation Andromeda.
Comet NEAT Outward Bound
Comet NEAT put on a fine show as it rounded the Sun. Now Southern Hemisphere observers wait for it to reappear in the west after sunset.
Comet Kudo-Fujikawa Near the Sun
The comet passes through perihelion on January 29th. Although it will be impossible to observe, there's another way to follow its progress.
Saturn Transits the Crab
During the night of January 4–5, North American observers are well positioned to watch Saturn transit the face of M1, the Crab Nebula. But will the glare from the planet obscure the nebula?
Giant Sunspot Group Still Visible
A large sunspot complex will remain visible for several more days before disappearing around the Sun's limb.
Asteroid Flyby Seen Worldwide
Last weekend's close encounter between Earth and asteroid 2002 NY40 was seen by amateur astronomers worldwide.
New Technology Dominates Planetarium Conference
More than 400 attendees have gathered at Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas for the 16th International Planetarium Society meeting.