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Astronomy Essentials
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Visible planets and night sky guide for May
Marcy Curran
May 3, 2026
Brightest Stars
Arcturus, brightest star of the northern sky
Deborah Byrd
May 3, 2026
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May 1 full moon is a Flower Moon and micromoon
John Jardine Goss
May 1, 2026
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Bluish stars form a C shape against a starry sky.

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown is overhead now

Corona Borealis, aka the Northern Crown, looks like the letter C. A dark sky is best for seeing this faint semicircle of stars. It's between Arcturus and Vega.

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Star chart showing a Teapot-shaped group of stars and a curve of stars below labeled Corona Australis.

Corona Australis is the sparkling Southern Crown

Corona Australis is a dim constellation lying below the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius. Its sparkling, curving shape befits its name.

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Seated man and woman in Grecian garb painted in red, white, and black on pottery.

Alphecca, a jewel in Corona Borealis the Northern Crown

Alphecca. Gemma. Alpha Coronae Borealis or simply Alpha Cor Bor. They're all names for a single star, the brightest star in the Northern Crown.

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Animation: A large reddish star with material streaming to a tiny white one which suddenly explodes hugely.

Blaze Star to go nova soon! Here’s how to see it

A recurring nova - long overdue - in Corona Borealis - nicknamed Blaze Star - should appear bright enough to see with the unaided eye sometime in 2026.

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sun news

Sun activity archive for December 2025

Sun activity archive for December 2025. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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Large orangish full moon with kids on a fence in front.

Our top 10 stargazing tips for beginning astronomers

If you're new to observing the night sky, check out our top 10 stargazing tips for beginners. We'll help you explore and expand your love for astronomy.

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Star chart showing Sagittarius with its teapot shape and Corona Australis below.

Sagittarius the Archer and its famous Teapot

The zodiacal constellation of Sagittarius the Archer contains the center of the Milky Way and a famous asterism known as the Teapot.

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Keystone shape with arms and legs spiraling out from the corners and stars labeled.

Hercules the Strongman and a great globular cluster

Hercules the Strongman is a great constellation to view in summer. With only a pair of binoculars you can see the globular cluster M13 in the Keystone.

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Star chart: Constellation Boötes shaped like long narrow kite with 5 labeled stars.

Boötes the Herdsman and its bright star Arcturus

Boötes the Herdsman is a large constellation that holds one of the brightest stars in the sky, Arcturus. Only 3 other stars in the night sky are brighter.

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Sun activity archive for May 2025

Sun activity archive for May 2025. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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C-shaped constellation and a small red arrow pointing toward one of its stars brightening and dimming.

When will the Blaze Star explode and how can I see it?

We're still waiting for the Blaze Star to go nova! Here's how to find Corona Borealis so you're ready when it does happen. Find star charts and more inside.

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A globe-shaped map with differently colored dots, most dots red and stretching almost from top to bottom.

Meet Quipu, largest known structure in the universe

Quipu is the largest known structure in the universe. Find out more about its size, its influence on our universe and the fate that awaits it.

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An animated red globe

Sun activity archive for October 2023

Sun activity archive for October 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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A red quarter of a circle over a black background.

Sun activity archive for July 2023

Sun activity archive for July 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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May 9, 2023 Sun activity shows sunspot AR3296 spewing out an M5.6 flare.

Sun activity archive for May 2023

Sun activity archive for May 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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Red ball of light on left, green comet with tail extending out on right.

Green comet photos and video: Editors’ picks

Enjoy these photos of Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) as it departs the inner solar system. It was closest to Earth on February 1 and 2, 2023.

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January 27, 2023 Sun activity shows prominences all around.

Sun activity archive for January 2023

Sun activity archive for January 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

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Chart showing Earth and Mars orbit around the sun and marking position of comet over 3 months.

The green comet: Comet 2022 E3 ZTF

Learn about the trajectory of the green comet - Comet 2022 E3 ZTF - by the renowned astronomer Guy Ottewell. The comet will be closest to Earth on February 2.

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Big Dipper (Sky Bear) comes to Earth in November

Every year, the Big Dipper (Great Bear) descends to its lowest point in the sky on November evenings. This makes it difficult, or impossible, to see.

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Green Comet 45P: Photos and video

Green Comet 45P has been in our sky for months and passed closest on February 11, 2017. It's a faint one, but intrepid astronomers have captured some wonderful images!

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