The Sun

The Sun seems unchanging, but solar flares, prominences, and sunspots often pop up and disappear. Safely observing the Sun can be both fun and rewarding.

A spectacle of sparkling stars and shining planets dance in hues of yellow, orange, and blue, as if creating a painting made by nature during the transition from civil twilight to nautical twilight.

Discover the three kinds of twilight

The author’s photo-illustration attempts to capture the unusual appearance of totality, as seen during the April 20, 2023, hybrid solar eclipse near Com, East Timor.

The Moon, The Sun

Secret Sky: A topsy-turvy eclipse

‘Ring of fire’ annular eclipse wows Sun-gazers across the Americas

NASA's image of a "ring of fire" eclipse.

The Moon, The Sun, Upcoming Events

How to see the 2023 annular eclipse: The ‘Ring of Fire’ is here

A ring of sunlight remains visible at the midpoint of an annular solar eclipse.

How to see today’s eclipse — and what you shouldn’t do

Catch this weekend’s annular eclipse: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

Eclipse chasing in East Timor

Cowboy Nicolas Silva enjoys his view of the total solar eclipse on July 2, 2019, from atop a mountain ridge near Cabalgatas Altos de Cochiguaz, a ranch in Chile’s Elqui Valley. This is the kind of photo you can get when you prepare for the total solar eclipse. Credit: Rick Armstrong

Observing, The Sun

25 tips to help you prepare for the 2024 total solar eclipse

Solar System, The Sun

The Sun’s death could mean new life in the outer solar system

Robotic Spaceflight, The Sun

India’s leap into solar science: The Aditya-L1 mission

The Sun in Hydrogen-alpha

Astrophotography, The Sun

Ask Astro: Why aren’t solar eclipse photos taken using a Hydrogen-alpha filter?

Observing, The Sun, Upcoming Events

Where are the best places to see the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses?

Popular Observing Topics

Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

The Sun

Safely observing the Sun can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Credit: Ted Hauter.

The Moon

Our nearest celestial neighbor provides many great sights.

Planets

Targeting our solar system’s other worlds is well worth the effort.

Credit: Tony Hallas.

Deep-Sky Objects

Nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies are the night sky’s hidden gems.

Credit: Celestron.

Telescopes & Equipment

Explore the tools that can help you unlock the night sky.

Credit: Peter Michaud, Gemini Observatory.

Astrophotography

Capturing great celestial sights is both an art and a skill.

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