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The subject of astrophotography – taking photographs of the night sky – is such a broad one that it’s hard to know where to begin. We can help. Here, we’ve concentrated our knowledge into a beginner’s guide to astrophotography that will supply you with both basic techniques and creative ways to capture the night sky. … Read more
During Arctic winter, the sun disappears below the horizon for long weeks of “polar night.” But new research shows that tiny crustaceans in the Arctic Ocean somehow maintain their daily rhythms during these extended periods of darkness. Most living creatures use sunlight to time their biological processes and behaviors. This becomes a challenge when there … Read more
Stargazing is one of the best hobbies in the world, but it has its dangers. It can only be done at night, so you’ll often find yourself walking from your car or home to the perfect stargazing spot across dangerous terrain in the pitch black night. We’ve put together a list of the best flashlights … Read more
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star or Sirius A, is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky. The name means “glowing” in Greek — a fitting description, as only a few planets, the full moon and the International Space Station outshine this star. Because Sirius is so bright, it was well-known to the ancients. … Read more
(Image credit: Courtesy of Gregory Leonard/Catalina Sky Survey) Comet C/2021 A1 — a.k.a. Comet Leonard — is on a last dash through our solar system before disappearing a little later in 2022. The comet has been a dazzling sight in binoculars or telescopes, appearing with a twisted tail and if you have a great camera, a green … Read more
In a slow-moving universe, asteroids give us a rare chance to see things moving in real time. We have such a chance coming right up on the evening of Tuesday, January 18th, when 1.1-kilometer asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1 passes 1.23 million miles (1.98 million kilometers) from Earth. This is about five times the distance … Read more
If the weather is clear on the U.S. mid-Atlantic east coast, you might see a rocket launch starting in the evening Thursday (Jan. 6). A Black Brant IX sounding rocket is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia between 10 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5 EST (0300-0700 GMT Friday, Jan. … Read more
Another year of skywatching is upon us, and there’s a lot to look forward to in 2022! Here are some of the more noteworthy sky events that will take place this upcoming year. Space.com’s Night Sky column will provide more extensive coverage of most of these events as they draw closer. Mid-February to mid-March: The … Read more
See what’s up in the night sky for January 2022, including stargazing events and the moon’s phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software. Related: Space calendar 2022: Rocket launches, sky events, missions & more Saturday, Jan. 1 — The inner planets dance (after sunset) (Image credit: Starry Night) To kick off 2022, … Read more
A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects to see — stars, constellations, and bright planets, often the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers. Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful. Binoculars or one of the best telescopes … Read more