Saturn and several of its moons, including Titan, Dione, Tethys, Rhea, and Iapetus, are currently visible through telescopes in the early-morning sky. According to Astronomy magazine, Saturn reaches an altitude of more than 20° above the horizon between 3 A.M. local daylight time and sunrise, offering prime viewing conditions for amateur astronomers. How to observe … Read more
Mercury reaches a stationary point in the evening sky this week, marking the transition from eastward prograde motion to westward retrograde motion. According to Astronomy magazine, this optical illusion occurs as Earth overtakes the inner planet in its orbit, causing Mercury to appear to move backward against the backdrop of distant stars. Observers can identify … Read more
Mars currently resides in the constellation Taurus, positioned less than 5° from the Pleiades star cluster in the predawn sky. According to Astronomy magazine, the Red Planet glows at magnitude 1.3, making it visible to the naked eye for observers looking east approximately 90 minutes before sunrise. While Mars and the Pleiades are currently prominent … Read more
Saturn’s moon Iapetus is currently positioned 1.9 arcminutes north of the planet, providing amateur astronomers with an optimal window for observation as it continues its transition between eastern and western elongations. According to Astronomy magazine, the moon is currently shining at 11th magnitude, marking a significant brightening as it moves toward its next western elongation. … Read more
Observing NGC 5897: A Guide to the Ghost Globular The globular cluster NGC 5897 is a mid-8th-magnitude deep-sky object located in the constellation Libra, positioned approximately 24,000 light-years from Earth. According to Astronomy magazine, the cluster is often referred to as the “Ghost Globular” due to its diffuse appearance and structural similarity to the more … Read more
Observing Saturn’s Moons: Tracking Dione’s Transit Amateur astronomers can observe the moon Dione crossing north of Saturn on the morning of June 19, 2026, using a telescope under dark sky conditions. According to Astronomy magazine senior editor Alison Klesman, the 10th-magnitude moon will reach its closest point to the planet’s north pole shortly before 4:30 … Read more
Comet 220P/McNaught reached its perihelion, or closest point to the Sun, on June 14, 2026, following a rare and massive brightness outburst that increased its magnitude by nearly 10 points. According to Astronomy magazine, the comet jumped from 18th magnitude to nearly magnitude 8 in a single day, marking one of the most significant brightening … Read more
Chasing Asteroids: How Modern Amateur Astronomy is Evolving For centuries, tracking minor planets like 3 Juno was the exclusive domain of professional observatories with massive glass and complex logistics. Today, the landscape of amateur astronomy has shifted dramatically. With the rise of high-precision digital tools and accessible planetarium software, backyard observers are now capable of … Read more
The New Golden Age of Stargazing: How Technology is Changing Our View of the Cosmos For centuries, the beauty of the night sky was a privilege reserved for those with the patience to endure the cold and the luck to find a patch of darkness. We looked up at Jupiter’s belts or Saturn’s rings through … Read more
The Thrill of the Hunt: Why Amateur Astronomy is Booming Tonight, amateur astronomers across the globe are turning their lenses toward the constellation Virgo to track 13 Egeria, a main-belt asteroid. While space agencies like NASA and JAXA launch multi-billion dollar missions to study these rocky bodies, the most rewarding discovery often happens in your … Read more