Penumbral lunar eclipse to pass quietly March 24-25, 2024

The 1st of this year's 4 eclipses will flit by like a ghost in the night between March 24 and 25. It's a penumbral lunar eclipse, visible in North America. Charts and more from Guy Ottewell here.

Penumbral lunar eclipse March 24-25, 2024

A penumbral lunar eclipse happens overnight on March 24-25, 2024, bringing a subtle shading to the moon. See where it's visible and more, here.

Dark matter, a mysterious substance … What is it?

What is dark matter? It doesn't emit light. It hasn't been directly observed. Yet it appears to exist and to exert a major influence on galaxies.

On the equinox, are day and night equal?

Day and night are mostly equal on the equinox. There's a bit more daylight because the sun is a disk, not a point, and Earth’s atmosphere refracts sunlight.

Binoculars for stargazing: Our top 6 tips here

Want to know how to use binoculars for stargazing? Follow our top 6 tips to get the most out of viewing the night sky with a little optical aid.

The April 8 eclipse is part of Saros 139. What does that mean?

Enjoy the April 8 eclipse as you witness the 30th of 71 member eclipses in the illustrious procession known as Saros 139. Learn more here.

How far is Betelgeuse, the famous red supergiant star?

Betelgeuse is bright and it's exciting because one day it will explode - but how far away is it, really? Astronomers aren't sure.

1st of 5 new supermoons in a row starting today

We will have 5 new supermoons in a row, starting on January 11, 2024. The April 8, 2924, new supermoon will result in the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse!

The meridian: When does the sun cross it?

In the jargon of astronomers, the sun is said to make an upper meridian transit when it reaches its highest point for the day at solar noon (midday).

What is a penumbral eclipse of the moon?

There are 3 kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial and penumbral. A penumbral eclipse is very subtle. You can notice a shading on the moon's face.