Watch for Venus before dawn

While watching Jupiter and the moon around April 9-11, don't forget Venus! It passed between us and the sun on March 25 and now blazes in the east before dawn.

Jupiter and its moons

The 4 largest moons of Jupiter - called the Galilean satellites - are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Recent photos here.

Overtaking the king of planets

This is what the opposition of Jupiter means.

No kidding! April Fools’ Comet

Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacombini-Kresák will be closer to Earth on April 1 than it's been since its discovery. You need a telescope to see it, but there's an online viewing Friday night.

Colors of scintillating Venus

Venus reaches inferior conjunction today, officially leaving the evening sky. It has been low in the sky, where Earth's atmosphere has caused Venus to scintillate, or twinkle, in many colors.

Venus after sunset and before sunrise!

The planet Venus is now appearing in the west after sunset and in the east before sunrise. Don't believe it? Astronomer Bruce McClure reports on his observation.

March 4 moon hides Aldebaran

The occultation by the moon of Aldebaran - brightest star in Taurus the Bull - was visible from North America. Great set of photos here from the EarthSky community!

Catch Comet Encke this evening!

The comet's orbital period is short - only 3.3 years - and the orbit is relatively close to Earth. Encke's Comet is now on its 63rd known visit to our part of space.

Star brightness versus star luminosity

Some extremely large and hot stars blaze away with the luminosity of a million suns! But other stars look bright only because they're near Earth.

Valentine’s Day

Astronomer Guy Ottewell reflects on the planet of love.

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