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Arcturus, brightest star of the northern sky
Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern half of the sky. It's easy to find in spring in the Northern Hemisphere near the handle of the Big Dipper.
May 3, 2026
Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to our sun
Our closest stellar neighbors are the 3 stars that make up the Alpha Centauri system. They lie just over 4 light-years away from us.
April 17, 2026
Lonely Alphard is the brightest star in Hydra
Alphard is the "heart" and brightest star in the constellation Hydra the Water Snake, and it represents a welcome sign of spring for the Northern Hemisphere.
March 29, 2026
Mizar and Alcor in the bend of the Big Dipper
Mizar and Alcor are a famous pair of stars located at the bend of the handle of the Big Dipper. But what we see as 2 stars are really 6 stars!
March 10, 2026
The Winter Triangle stands out in the night sky
The Winter Triangle is a distinct pattern of stars in the night sky formed by 3 of the brightest stars: Sirius, Betelgeuse and Procyon.
March 4, 2026
Castor – the twin star – is 6 stars in one
The bright blue-white star Castor, in the constellation Gemini, appears to our eyes as a single star. But it’s really a family of 6 stars.
February 26, 2026
Meet Pollux: The brighter twin star of Gemini
Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, blazes in a golden light next to its bluish-white heavenly twin, Castor.
February 26, 2026
Can you see Canopus, the 2nd-brightest star?
Here's how to spot Canopus, the 2nd-brightest star in the sky as seen from Earth, on February evenings. It’s located far south on the sky’s dome.
February 17, 2026
See Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky
Sirius is the brightest star as seen from Earth and is visible from both hemispheres. It lies just 8.6 light-years away, in the constellation Canis Major.
February 10, 2026
Sirius B: Now is the best time to see Sirius’ companion
Now is a great time to see Sirius' dim companion, Sirius B. The 2 are currently at their maximum separation as viewed from Earth.
February 10, 2026
