Stargazing |

Orion constellation showing Betelgeuse, Rigel, the three stars of Orion's Belt, and the Sword.

Orion Through Binoculars: A Guided Tour

Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the winter sky, representing a mighty hunter from Greek mythology with a belt around his waist, a sword hanging at his side, and a shield held …

Great Square of Pegasus showing Alpheratz, Scheat, Markab and Algenib

How to Find the Great Square of Pegasus

James Miller

The Great Square of Pegasus is one of the easiest star patterns, or asterisms, to spot in the autumn night sky — four bright stars forming a huge square that marks the body of the …

Spring Triangle star map showing Arcturus, Spica and Denebola

The Spring Triangle: How to Find It in the Night Sky

James Miller

The Spring Triangle is a large asterism formed by three bright stars: Arcturus in Boötes, Spica in Virgo and Denebola in Leo. It is especially prominent during spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, when its …

Premium stargazing app displaying Orion under the night sky

Best Premium Stargazing Apps

James Miller

There are some excellent free stargazing apps that already offer surprisingly powerful features, and for many people they will be all that’s needed. Premium apps become more interesting when you want to go further — …

Meteors streaking across a dark night sky

Major Annual Meteor Showers: Dates and Viewing Guide

James Miller

Meteor showers are among the most spectacular events in the night sky, with the strongest displays producing dozens of visible meteors per hour under favorable conditions. Some are known for high activity, others for brilliant …

What Are the Northern Lights and Southern Lights?

James Miller

The image above shows a spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis over Finland. Also known as the Northern Lights, auroras typically occur at latitudes of between 10 and 20 degrees from the geomagnetic poles but …

How to Get the Most From Your Telescope

James Miller

The best part of owning a telescope is being able to view in detail some of the most beautiful astronomical objects in the night sky. Without first taking time to learn how to use your …

A double green flash above the setting Sun, photographed from Cerro Paranal, Chile.

What Is The Green Flash Phenomenon?

James Miller

The image above shows a dramatic example of a green flash, as seen from the Canary Islands. This particular atmospheric optical phenomenon was considered a myth for a long time. These days, the cause of …

The pink Belt of Venus above Earth's blue shadow at Paranal Observatory in Chile.

What is The Belt of Venus Atmospheric Phenomenon?

James Miller

The image above shows the Belt of Venus, a rosy-hued band of light between Earth’s shadow and the upper atmosphere that occurs just after sunset, or just before sunrise. However, this atmospheric phenomenon has nothing …

Examining the Phenomenon of Lunar Rainbows

What is a Moonbow or Lunar Rainbow?

James Miller

The image above shows an example of a moonbow that appeared over Maui, Hawaii in February 2016. Although moonbows are also commonly known as lunar rainbows, or white rainbows in many parts of the world, …