Come to know the Summer Triangle

Coming to know the Summer Triangle, then seeing it again and again on summer nights, is a deep pleasure that adds to the enjoyment of this season.

Leo loses his tail. We gain a constellation

The constellation Leo once had a tail, a clump of faint stars. Now these same stars are known as Coma Berenices, the hair of a queen.

Big Dipper stars point to North Star

The 2 outermost stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper always point to the North Star, aka Polaris. That's why astronomers call these stars The Pointers.

Achernar marks the end of the River

The bright, southerly star Achernar marks the end of the River in the constellation Eridanus. Many at northerly latitudes make a game of trying to catch a glimpse of it.

How to find Delta Aquariid radiant point

How to spot the radiant point for the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, going on now. Plus ... why meteors in annual showers have radiant points.

Moon in Taurus on January 22, 23 and 24

The bright waxing gibbous moon shines in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull on January 22, 23 and 24, 2021. Here's how to look for the famous Pleiades star cluster and Taurus' brightest star, Aldebaran. The moon will pass between them on these nights.

Geminid meteors best on December 13-14

The shower is best around 2 a.m., but watch from late evening until dawn. The best morning is likely December 14, 2020.

Find the Geminids’ radiant point

Why is the Geminid meteor shower best around 2 a.m.? It's because that's when the shower's radiant point - near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini - is highest in the sky.

See a celestial Chariot in December

The constellation Auriga the Charioteer also has several easy-to-find and very famous star clusters that you can spot with binoculars.

Cassiopeia, Queen of the north

Cassiopeia - sometimes called The Lady of the Chair - is famous for having the shape of a telltale W or M.

EarthSky Newsletter

Nearly half a million daily subscribers love our newsletter. What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

Join now to receive free daily science news delivered straight to your email.