Features

Galileo Arrives at Jupiter

Its six-year journey finally over, the Galileo spacecraft prepares to revolutionize our knowledge of the giant planet and its family of satellites.

Cosmic Billiards

It used to be a normal binary system, but SS Lacertae appears to have lost one of its members when another star collided with it.

Second Chance Planets

No one ever expected to find planets in the hostile environs of a pulsar. Now astronomers are trying to figure out how they got there.

Sky Almanac

The bright planets stay close to the Sun this month, providing several pretty twilight views as the crescent Moon passes nearby.

A Trip Through the Wasteland

A small scope can show you surprisingly pretty star clusters and galaxies in the unassuming constellations of Camelopardalis and Lynx.

Touring Winter’s Best Double Stars

This season’s finest doubles offer a wide range of striking colors for viewers with modest telescopes.

Catch a Comet on Film

With the bright comet Hale-Bopp set to make an impressive appearance, now’s the time to hone your technique for capturing this cosmic interloper.

Power to Go

If you need electricity to run your telescope out under a dark sky, this quick weekend project is for you.

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