Meteorites
Physicist Jean-Baptiste Biot investigated the L’Aigle events. He found that people in other villages had seen a bright fireball in […]
Equipment Tips
Do I need binoculars or a telescope for stargazing? Beyond your own two eyes, the next best piece of equipment
Pick a Good Viewing Spot
Find a state park or other safe, accessible spot. And try a night without moonlight, so you can see meteors
What to Look For
What you see in the night sky depends on your location, the season, and the time. Planets orbit the Sun,
Become a Stargazer
Stargazing often intimidates beginners because the sky itself is so complex. Consider the following: The night sky is divided into
Why can’t we see stars in the pictures of spacewalking or moonwalking astronauts?
The stars aren’t visible because they are too faint. The astronauts in their white spacesuits appear quite bright, so they
Why can’t we see stars in the pictures of spacewalking or moonwalking astronauts? Read More »
Mercury
Mercury's surface closely resembles the Moon's. It is covered by impact craters, ancient lava flows, and quake fault lines. Mile-high
Why aren’t stars visible in the daytime?
Stars aren’t visible during the sunlit hours of daytime because the light-scattering properties of our atmosphere spread sunlight across the
How do I report seeing unusual objects in the sky?
It depends on what exactly you think you see. If you believe you have discovered a new member of a
How do I report seeing unusual objects in the sky? Read More »
Why does the Moon look bigger at the horizon?
The “Moon illusion,” in which the Moon appears larger than normal when close to the horizon, is not the result