Sky & Telescope Magazine

Jupiter's having a special moment! Don't miss the giant planet at its best when it reaches opposition this week.

The post Big and Bright, Jupiter Beckons in January appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Astronomers have measured the mass of a free-floating planet for the first time. Comparable to Saturn, it’s surprisingly massive for such rogue worlds.

The post Rogue Saturn Discovered Floating Through the Milky Way appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

For 2026, I want to be more myself — less stress and rumination, more centeredness and joy — and that’s going to necessitate a lot more time beneath the stars.

The post A New Year of Star-Camping appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Many less massive galaxies appear to lack something astronomers thought was ubiquitous: a central, supermassive black hole.

The post Not Every Galaxy Has a Central Black Hole appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The bright Moon shines over Jupiter, Pollux and Castor on Friday evening the 2nd, then
groups right up among them on Saturday the 3rd.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 2 – 11 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The Quadrantids and Eta Aquariids will have Moon trouble in 2026, but the beloved Perseids and Geminids should be glorious.

The post The Best Meteor Showers in 2026 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Native American tribes each had their own full Moon names — we introduce the most commonly used ones and the traditions behind them.

The post Native American Full Moon Names for 2026 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

In this month’s episode, start with one of the year’s best meteor showers, then spend some time with Jupiter, and check out a mythical queen and hunter who have ego problems. So bundle up, grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.

The post January Podcast: Jupiter and Orion appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Tour 15 of the sky's brightest stars all in one night on this New Year's Eve! This interactive Worldwide Telescope video will show you the way.

The post Tour 15 of the Brightest Stars on New Year's Eve (VIDEO) appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Astronomers have discovered a bridge of gas and dust between two protostars, the signature of a close encounter 15,000 years ago.

The post Passing Baby Stars Lock Arms in Rare Astronomical Find appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The highlights of spaceflight in 2025 have included missions to explore the Moon, Mars, and the Sun — and more is coming in the New Year.

The post Spaceflight for Astronomy — A Look Back and Ahead appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Jupiter nears opposition. The waxing Moon pairs with Saturn, then guides the way to the fine telescopic double star Gamma Arietis. Later it passes the Pleiades.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 26 – January 4 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

How to start sky exploring with that new telescope. How to set it up right, other key things to know -- and great cosmic immensities to start finding tonight.

The post How To Start with Your New Telescope appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Astronomers are trying to determine if they've witnessed a complex stellar explosion or a relatively ordinary supernova.

The post Did Astronomers See a Star Explode Twice? appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Waves of recent star formation have made Orion winter's most scintillating constellation. You can see how it all came to be.

The post Explore Orion's Massive New Stars with Binoculars appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

We greet the winter solstice. Jupiter nears opposition. Will the two Dog Stars balance for you? And meet the House in the Hyades.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 19 – 28 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Discovered by amateur astronomers, a mysterious arc of gas might be the ghostly remains of a star shedding its outer layers. However, astronomers haven’t reached a consensus yet.

The post Glowing Arc by Andromeda Might Be Remnants of a Dying Star appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

There could be liquid water trapped under the southern polar cap of Mars. But new observations suggest otherwise.

The post New Radar Data Chills Prospects of a Subglacial Lake on Mars appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Where does the Sun end and the solar wind begin? Scientists have mapped the dynamic magnetic edge that bounds our star.

The post Scientists Map the Sun’s Magnetic “Surface” appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

NASA is working to restore communications with its MAVEN Mars Orbiter mission.

The post Mars MAVEN Mission May Be Lost in Space appeared first on Sky & Telescope.