Sky & Telescope Magazine

Very low in the west in bright twilight, have you picked up Venus yet? Binoculars help. Much tougher will be Mercury and Regulus. Their arrangement changes all week.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 26 – August 3 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

New analysis has revealed 21 Sun-like stars in mutual orbit around dark objects of neutron star–like masses — rare systems that have escaped destruction by supernova.

The post Astronomers Find 21 “Dark” Neutron Stars Orbiting Sun-like Stars appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

New James Webb Space Telescope observations of LHS 1140b hint at a temperate water world with a nitrogen-rich atmosphere.

The post A Closer Look at a Potential "Eyeball Planet" appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The James Webb Space Telescope has for the first time detected the difference between the morning and evening of a tidally locked gas giant planet.

The post Webb Telescope Sees Morning and Evening on a Hot Saturn appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Having survived two recent threats — high-velocity space dust and enhanced solar activity — Gaia is now returning better data than ever.

The post Star-Mapping Mission Gaia Impacted by Micrometeoroid, Solar Storm appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Scorpius poses at center stage in the south. The Sagittarius Teapot follows behind it. And Rasalhague, the head star of Ophiuchus. turns the Summer Triangle into a big, upright diamond.

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

A new look at data from NASA's Cassini mission confirms methane cycles on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, just as water cycles on Earth.

The post New Exploration of Titan's Seas appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The development of the VIPER lunar rover has been discontinued.

The post NASA Cancels VIPER Lunar Rover Mission appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The latest smartscope astrophotography craze opens the door to some incredible opportunities for both beginners and seasoned observers.

The post Visual Observing vs. Smart Telescopes — Finding Harmony appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Little-known Norma, a small constellation in the southern sky, contains several stellar and deep-sky delights.

The post Explore Norma: The right (angle) constellation for July appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Small galaxies in the early universe might have had centers dominated by dark matter, according to new research.

The post Dark Matter–Dominated Galaxies in the Early Universe appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The parent company of Orion and Meade telescope manufacturers has shut its California offices. Stay tuned for updates.

The post Meade and Orion Cease Operations — Maybe appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Some galaxies hailing from the infant universe may already hold vast populations of old stars.

The post Trio of Early Galaxies Test Our Ideas of Cosmic Evolution appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Mercury lurks in the sunset. The July Moon rides low across the sky this week as it waxes from first quarter to full. It occults springlike Spica, then passes summery Antares to hang with the Teapot.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 12 – 21 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

New supercomputer simulations reveal the journey gas takes to enter a galaxy and surround and enter its black hole. That journey holds a few surprises for astronomers.

The post New Simulation Sheds Light on Black Hole Growth appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The motions of individual stars in the core of Omega Centauri, a massive globular cluster, confirm the existence of a black hole at its core.

The post A Black Hole for Omega Centauri appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Dutch astrocartographer Wil Tirion will be remembered as the creator of the most beautiful star maps and atlases of our time.

The post Wil Tirion, 1943–2024 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

A long-ago incident forged a connection with Antares, the topaz-colored star at the heart of the Scorpion.

The post The Fiery Heart of Antares appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

The waxing Moon passes Regulus on its way to occulting Spica July 13th. The Kite of Boötes tilts toward the Dipper. And the largest asteroid is at opposition.

The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, July 4 – 14 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Don't miss Spica's dramatic disappearance at the Moon's dark limb. We also check in on the status of current bright comets.

The post Catch an Exciting Spica Occultation on July 13th appeared first on Sky & Telescope.