How to Watch the Peak of the Spectacular Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower
The shower will peak during pre-dawn hours in early May, as fast-moving meteors trail across Earth’s atmosphere, thanks to debris left behind by Halley’s Comet
How to Watch the Lyrid Meteor Shower at Its Dazzling Peak
The annual spectacle, which is happening now, will last until around April 25—but the best viewing will fall between the 21 and 22
A Newly Discovered and Brilliantly Green Comet Is Dazzling Astronomers. Here’s What to Know About the Glowing Celestial Visitor
Initial observations suggest the comet, called C/2025 F2 (SWAN), will continue getting brighter as it approaches the sun. Northern Hemisphere viewers with binoculars can currently spot it in early morning skies
How to Watch the Geminid Meteor Shower This Weekend
The peak of this popular annual meteor shower risks being washed out by an almost full moon this year—but stargazers can still spot shooting stars if they follow the right tips
How to See the Stunning Leonid Meteor Shower This Weekend
Though the nearly full moon will likely outshine some of these speedy meteors, you may still be able to catch a glimpse of bright fireballs and low Earth-grazers
How to Watch the Bright and Speedy Orionid Meteor Shower
While the Orionids, peaking early Sunday and Monday, might be hard to see because of the waning gibbous moon, these zippy meteors can produce long “trains” that last up to several minutes
See the Super Hunter’s Moon Tonight, the Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of the Year
This week’s supermoon is closer to Earth than any other in 2024
How to See the Bright Comet Flaring Up in the Night Sky This Week
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS should be visible to the naked eye as it passes Earth on its way out of our solar system
How to Catch a Glimpse of the Draconid Meteor Shower
While the annual shower usually makes for a sleepy showing, it has been known to produce fantastic outbursts in the past
Two Comets Could Be Visible to the Naked Eye This Fall. Here’s How to Get the Best View
While expectations are high for some special sightings, experts warn that comets are notoriously fickle and unpredictable
Could These Carvings in Turkey Be the World’s Oldest Lunisolar Calendar?
One researcher thinks the V-shaped markings engraved into a pillar thousands of years ago may represent the days of the year
NASA Retires Orbiting Telescope That Charted Asteroids for Over a Decade
NEOWISE, which looked for potentially hazardous objects in the solar system, received its last command on Thursday and will burn up when it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere
How to Watch the Perseids, the ‘Best Meteor Shower of the Year’
The annual celestial event is one of the year’s most anticipated, and it will peak from August 11 to 12
How to Watch the Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower
Though not as prolific as the Perseids, this annual spectacle is ‘scientifically interesting’ because its comet of origin remains a mystery
Watch a Blue-Green Comet Illuminate Skies Over Spain and Portugal
The colorful fireball mesmerized onlookers—and its unexpected appearance surprised astronomers who are hoping to better predict when space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere
How to Watch the Dazzling Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower, Bringing an Unusual ‘Outburst’ to Skies This Weekend
This year’s spectacle will be more impressive than usual, as the Earth passes through a concentrated clump of 3,000-year-old comet debris
How to Watch the Brilliant Lyrid Meteor Shower This Month
Fiery streaks will illuminate the night sky from April 15-29, with the spectacle’s peak occurring from April 21-22
You Can See a Rare, Bright Comet This Month. Will It Be Visible During the Solar Eclipse?
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is a frigid, volcanic ice ball that won’t pass near Earth again until 2095
What It Takes to Complete the Ultimate Skywatching Endurance Challenge
The “Messier marathon” prompts space hobbyists to spot 110 celestial objects in one night, and the best time to try it is in March
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
These 15 Photos Capture the Beauty of the Night Sky
Stars shine in these heavenly images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
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