This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 29 – April 7
What? You say you're bored? The evening sky is moonless, the two Dog Stars align vertically, the Big Dipper dumps into the Little Dipper, and the Springs of the Gazelle cross the zenith.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
An Early End for the Chandra X-Ray Observatory?
NASA budget constraints could wind down operations of the iconic Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Apps to Help You See the Solar Eclipse
For the April 8th eclipse, mobile apps offer everything from weather forecasts to local circumstances. Here's a review of eclipse apps that you might find useful on the big day.
Explore the Night with Bob King
What Will We See in the Sky During Totality?
Most of our time will be focused on Sun during the minutes of totality on April 8th, but consider tearing yourself away for a few seconds to put it all in context.
The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle
Strong Magnetic Fields Swirl Near Milky Way’s Black Hole
Astronomers have detected twisted, orderly magnetic fields near the event horizon of Sagittarius A*.
Partial: The Solar Eclipse for the Rest of Us
Whether the Sun will become a dented ball or an eerie crescent of fire, a celestial shadow show awaits you anywhere in North and Central America.
Rethinking the Milky Way’s “Galactic Fountain”
The Milky Way recycles gas from dying stars to make new ones — but new observations show pristine gas also comes in from outside our galaxy.
Chasing the Eclipse from the Air
A solar-imaging instrument will fly on a high-altitude aircraft to explore infrared emission from the Sun’s corona.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 22 – 31
The full Moon will go through a penumbral eclipse. Comet Pons-Brooks nears its best showing in early evening. And as Mercury fades in the sunset, Jupiter becomes the only easy planet in the entire sky.
Could We See a Solar Eruption on Eclipse Day?
Ejections of solar material are increasingly commonplace as the Sun’s activity ramps up. Here’s what to expect if an eruption occurs on eclipse day.
Webb Telescope Measures Universe’s Expansion
Astronomers have used the Webb telescope to observe Cepheid variable stars, ruling out one source of the prevailing "Hubble tension.”
Giant Ancient Volcano Discovered on Mars
Scientists have identified a colossal volcano on Mars using satellite imagery. It was undetected for decades due to extensive erosion.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 15 – 24
Mercury emerges in the sunset, far lower right of brighter Jupiter. And don't just arc to Arcturus and speed to Spica — continue the curve to Corvus, cruise to Capella, and more.
Activities for Kids Before and During the Solar Eclipse
The solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, is the perfect opportunity to get people of all ages interested in the wonder of eclipses through art and science. Here are some activities that anyone with even a passing interest can get involved in
Webb Telescope Reveals Worlds in the Farthest Reaches of the Solar System
James Webb Space Telescope data on distant worlds confirm some solar system formation hypotheses and confuse others.
What Will the Weather Be on the Day of the Total Solar Eclipse?
Eclipse weather expert Jay Anderson shares the long-range outlook for eclipse day as well as instructions on how to look at weather forecasts closer to April 8th.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Is Betelgeuse Fading Again?
Betelgeuse has dipped nearly half a magnitude since late January. Could it be headed for another Great Dimming Event? We also take a look at this spring's "other" eclipse.
Icy Impactor Might Explain the Formation of Mars’s Moons
In a new study, scientists suggest an impact with a giant icy object could explain the formation of Mars's moons, Phobos and Deimos.
How to See the Diamond Ring Effect During a Total Solar Eclipse
Here's how to safely see the "diamond ring," the dazzling burst of sunlight seen just before and after totality.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 8 – 17
The Moon sidles up to bold Jupiter, then the delicate Pleiades, then the Castor and Pollux twins. Arcturus, ascending in the east, is probably the third-brightest star you've ever seen and that's including the Sun.