What's Up? -- A monthly video that gives tips for where you can find the moon, planets and stars in the night sky. Also includes amateur astronomy news and updates on NASA missions.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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Enjoy the bright beacon of Venus on September mornings, end the month with a Harvest Moon, and seek the elusive zodiacal light under dark skies.
What are some skywatching highlights in August 2023? Saturn reaches opposition this month, meaning it's at its biggest and brightest for the year, and visible all night. The "shooting stars" of the annual Perseid meteors are a must-see, overnight on August 12th. And this month brings two full moons – the second of which is a "Super Blue Moon."
What are some skywatching highlights in July 2023? Mars and Venus start the month close together, but part ways and head lower as July goes on. Mars appears very near Regulus in Leo on the 9th and 10th. Saturn and Jupiter rule the night, along with bright star Fomalhaut. And July is prime time for viewing the Milky Way core from dark sky locations.
What are some skywatching highlights in June 2023? Mars and Venus get closer, the bright stars of Summer, and how an ancient scholar used the June solstice to determine the size of planet Earth.
Planets strike a pose with the Moon, we reach "peak Venus," and what's different about the skies of the Southern Hemisphere.
Mercury reaches its highest in the evening sky for the year for Northern Hemisphere observers.
Venus climbs high while Jupiter dives sunward, and the little planet that shares its namesake with your breakfast cereal.
The brightest planets converge, the constellation Auriga, and two star clusters you might want to get Sirius about.
Some lovely groupings this month include the Moon with Mars, and later with Jupiter, and a close conjunction of Venus and Saturn.
Your evening planet highlights, including the disappearance of Mars, and the constellation Pegasus.
What's Up for November? A lunar eclipse, the moon and planets, and the Leonid meteors.
What are some skywatching highlights in October 2022?
Mars is on the move this month, forming a "red triangle" with bright red stars Aldebaran and Betelgeuse.
The daily parade of four naked-eye planets in the mornings comes to an end this month.
What are some skywatching highlights in July 2022? The naked-eye planets of dawn – Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – dominate the sky, appearing more spread out each morning.
The planets of dusk and dawn, a lunar eclipse, and the Coma star cluster.
Conjunction junction and a hidden surprise in the Big Dipper…
Meet the morning planets, the nearest star cluster, and some do-it-yourself exoplanets.
Jupiter makes its exit, Venus at peak brightness, and the star-forming cloud next door.
The quadrantid meteors peak after midnight on Jan. 3, and catch some close pairings of the Moon with Jupiter, Mars, and Venus.
Sunset planets, a partial lunar eclipse, and the return of the winter stars.
What to look for this month at sunrise and sunset, and two brilliant stars vying for the "pole" position.
Moving fast in the cosmos with planet Mercury, and stars Arcturus and Altair...
August is perhaps the best time this year to enjoy viewing Jupiter and Saturn, as both planets reach opposition this month.
Sunsets in July come with an added bonus: a brilliant gem low in the western sky, calling to us to come and explore its many mysteries.
A partial solar eclipse, the scorpion's sting, and June is for Juno!
The morning sky on April 6th finds Jupiter and Saturn forming a lovely trio with the crescent Moon.
Mars and friends in the evening, and a brilliant pair of planets returns.
This month we follow the Moon to three different points of interest in the winter sky.
A meteor shower, an extraordinary close meetup between Jupiter and Saturn, and the winter solstice.
Seeking out the Pleiades, the Moon with Jupiter and Saturn, and understanding Earthshine.
What are some skywatching highlights in October 2020? Not one, but two, full moons; Mars at opposition; and finding the Andromeda galaxy.
What are some skywatching highlights in September 2020? Spot the Moon together with Mars and Venus, along with the flickering star Fomalhaut, which had itself a planet...until it didn't!
What are some skywatching highlights in August 2020? See the Moon posing with various planets throughout the month, plus catch the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower.
What's Up for July? How about some moons with those giant planets? Mars after midnight. And are the stars of Mars the same as ours?
Seeking skywatching highlights in June 2020? Look for the Summer Triangle, keep tabs on the morning planets and June 20 brings the solstice.
What astronomy highlights can you see in the sky in May 2020? Venus, Sirius and the Milky Way.
What's Up for April? The Seven Sisters meet the evening star, Mars continues its getaway, and unpacking the Moon illusion.
Looking for astronomy highlights for March 2020? This month, early risers enjoy a planetary grouping of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in the early morning sky.
What are the skywatching highlights of February 2020?
Morning meteors, Mars meets its "rival," and the Moon comes around for another visit with Venus.
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