Explore the Night with Bob King
What Will We See in the Sky During Totality?
Most of our time will be focused on Sun during the minutes of totality on April 8th, but consider tearing yourself away for a few seconds to put it all in context.
Partial: The Solar Eclipse for the Rest of Us
Whether the Sun will become a dented ball or an eerie crescent of fire, a celestial shadow show awaits you practically everywhere in North and Central America.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Is Betelgeuse Fading Again?
Betelgeuse has dipped nearly half a magnitude since late January. Could it be headed for another Great Dimming Event? We also take a look at this spring's "other" eclipse.
How to See the Diamond Ring Effect During a Total Solar Eclipse
Here's how to safely see the "diamond ring," the dazzling burst of sunlight seen just before and after totality.
Como Fotografiar el Eclipse Con un Smartphone
Antes de intentar fotografiar el eclipse con su smartphone, lea el consejo de estos expertos.
Qué Buscar y Cuándo Durante un Eclipse Solar Total
Los fenómenos astronómicos y terrestres que no se debe perder durante el eclipse solar total del 8 de abril de 2024.
Meet Wezen, a Yellow Tail for a Big Dog
Wezen, a yellow supergiant more than 1,600 light-years from Earth, is also the tail of the Canis Major constellation.
How Dark Does It Get During a Total Solar Eclipse?
Totality may not be quite as dark as nighttime, but the difference between 99% obscuration and 100% is still night and day.
DIY Project: Make an Eclipse Sundial
Try this solar-eclipse experiment as you're watching the Moon cover up the Sun.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Fuzzy Glows: See Zodiacal Light, Gegenschein, Airglow, and Aurorae
Find time this season to set aside your telescope and seek the night sky's ghostly glows.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Winter's Finest Triple Stars
Double stars are wonderful, but triples are terrific! Here are 16 trios to enjoy the next clear night.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Best Comets to Look for in 2024
If you like chasing comets, here's a guide to the year's best and brightest.
Asteroid 2024 BX1: From a Light in the Sky to Rocks on the Ground
The asteroid 2024 BX1 went from a moving dot of light to rocks on the ground in mere hours — and amateur astronomers were critical to both discovery and recovery.
Meet Bellatrix, the Amazon Star
It's fitting that Bellatrix, the star at Orion's other shoulder, takes the name of "woman warrior," but it wasn't always that way.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2024
Although no total lunar eclipses occur this year, skywatchers can look forward to two “central” solar eclipses — including a much-awaited total eclipse that spans the U.S. from Texas to New England.
The Night I Met the Crab Pulsar
An account of my journey to the heart of one of most violent cosmic explosions witnessed on Earth. Plus, there's a bright supernova now visible in a Virgo Cluster galaxy.
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.
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.
Getting Started with Your New Telescope
How to start successfully with a new telescope — a guide to what you need to know, how to set it up, and things you can start finding with it in tonight's sky.
Watch Jupiter's Moons in Unusual Lineups
You'll have five opportunities in the coming months to see Jupiter's moons in interesting alignments.