Aquarius is a sprawling constellation that stretches across nearly 40° of the southern sky on autumn evenings…
Astronomy
A Queen Points the Way
I thought I could be an explorer—from my own backyard. But first, I got lost.
Aquila
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Aquila, the Eagle, is a mid-sized constellation that lies right along the summer Milky Way just south of the zenith on September evenings in the...
The Milky Way
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Milky Way over Straker Lake. Photo © Steven Russell Smith. The Milky Way is a very ordinary-sounding name for an extraordinary subject. It describes the...
In Our Skies, September and October 2026
A calendar of astronomical events
An Occul What?
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Moon and Venus, June 17, 2026. Photo © Adrian and Kevin Shank. “Did you hear there will be an occultation?”“An occul what?”“An occultation! The Moon will...
Scutum
Scutum, the Shield, is a small constellation that lies along the summer Milky Way, just south of the Summer Triangle…
Hercules
M13. Photo © Reinhold Wittich/Dreamstime.com. Hercules, the Strongman, is a large constellation that lies straight east of Bootes, the constellation we focused on last month. If you imagine a line...
Light Sailing
Is it possible to sail on light? This question was asked hundreds of years ago and answered relatively recently.
In Our Skies, July and August 2026
A calendar of astronomical events
Bootes
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive M3. Photo © Reinhold Wittich|Dreamstime.com. Bootes lies nearly straight overhead on June evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. This constellation is...
Hello…Can Anybody Hear?
In 1974, a group of scientists used the Arecibo radio telescope to beam a call to outer space—to no one in particular…
In Our Skies, May and June 2026
Night sky highlights for May and June.
Artemis II Mission
Launch into a mini photo tour of the Artemis II mission!
Galaxy Night
I jumped out of bed before I could change my mind, and stumbled sleepily outside to set up my telescope in the corner of the yard.