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Spica, the bright beacon of Virgo, is 2 stars
Spica is a scorching-hot pair of stars, whirling very closely around one another. One of them may go supernova someday. It's the brightest star in Virgo.
May 19, 2024
Meet Regulus, Leo the Lion’s Heart
The bright star Regulus in Leo the Lion is prominent in the evening sky in May. It looks like a single point of light, but is really 4 stars.
May 15, 2024
Mimosa, 2nd-brightest star in Crux, the Southern Cross
To see Mimosa, you need to be in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is a prominent star, or at the latitude of New Orleans, Hawaii, Cairo or New Delhi.
May 12, 2024
Tonight’s young moon emerges into the evening sky
The young moon will compete in brightness with several bright stars on the evening of May 9, 2024. Which will shine most brightly?
May 9, 2024
Polaris is the present-day North Star
Many people think Polaris is the brightest star, but it's only 48th in brightness. Still, Polaris is famous because the entire northern sky wheels around it.
May 9, 2024
Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern sky
Arcturus is the brightest star north of the celestial equator. Near the handle of the Big Dipper, it's easy to find in spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
May 9, 2024
Cor Caroli, named for the heart of a king
Cor Caroli is a binary star and the brightest star in the northern constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Its name means Heart of Charles.
April 24, 2024
Beta Centauri is one of the Southern Pointer Stars
Beta Centauri isn’t as famous as Alpha Centauri, but together, these brilliant Southern Hemisphere stars have inspired legends and guided mariners.
April 4, 2024
Betelgeuse is dimming again. When will it explode?
Will Betelgeuse have another period of noticeable dimming in 2024? Betelgeuse will explode as a supernova someday. When it does, it'll be visible in daylight.
March 17, 2024
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 4, 2024
