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May 18, 2012
Annular Solar Eclipse, Sunday, May 20, 2012

The Sun and Moon will team up to produce a brilliant ring of fire across the western United States on the afternoon of May 20, known as an annular solar eclipse, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. The eclipse occurs because the Moon will pass directly between Earth and Sun, covering the Sun's disk. The Moon will be near its farthest point from Earth, however, so it won't be quite big enough to cover the entire disk. Instead, a thin ring of sunlight will encircle the Moon.

December 9, 2011
Coming Days Bring Lunar Eclipse, Meteor Shower

Both a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower will light up the skies in the coming days, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

November 15, 2011
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Thursday, November 17

The best viewing for this year's Leonid meteor shower will be several hours before dawn on November 17 and 18, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. However, the rising of the half-full Moon coincides with the shower and will likely wash out all but the brightest meteors.

August 9, 2011
Full Moon Will Wash Out Perseid Meteor Shower This Friday

The Perseid meteor shower is coming up late this week, but this year the full Moon will wash out all but the brightest meteors, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

May 5, 2011
Four Planets Huddle Up Before Dawn Week of May 9

Four of the five planets visible to the unaided eye huddle quite close together in the pre-dawn sky next week, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

December 9, 2010
Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Tuesday, Dec. 14

The Geminid meteor shower will be at its best a few hours before dawn on Dec. 14, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

November 12, 2010
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Wednesday, November 17

This year, the Leonid meteor shower best viewing will be in the two to three hours before dawn on November 17 and 18, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

October 19, 2010
Comet Hartley 2 Visible in Morning Sky This Week

The small comet Hartley 2 makes its closest approach to Earth on Wednesday, and should be visible to the unaided eye under dark skies in the hours before dawn, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. Early risers can take a look at the comet in anticipation of its November 4 encounter with NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft.

July 8, 2010
Mid-July Sees Gathering of Bright Celestial Lights

An array of five of the sky’s leading lights gather together over the western horizon on mid-July nights, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

June 24, 2010
Lunar Eclipse Graces Sky Saturday, June 26, 2010

A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North America early Saturday morning, according to the editors of StarDate magazine.

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