Features

To Kill a Galaxy

The Milky Way is ripping apart a small companion galaxy.

The Lone Astronomer: Gerard de Vaucouleurs

Meet a man who helped shape our ideas about the size and age of the universe, and the Milky Way Galaxy’s place in it.

Wish Upon a Star

The Space Station could play a big role in astronomy research.

WIYN Is a Winner

Its 3.5-meter mirror may not be the biggest in the world, but this new telescope really delivers.

Sky Almanac

Geminid meteors peak under a dark sky, highlighting a month that sees Comet Hale-Bopp grace the evening sky.

Star Maps Are a Gazer’s Best Friend

Find your way around the sky like an old pro with the right atlas.

Observing Hickson Galaxy Groups

Hunt down these compact groups with a modest-sized scope.

Piece-by-Piece Astrophotography

CCD cameras capture only tiny pieces of the sky, but mosaicking lets you easily create beautiful wide-field images.

Exploring Sinus Medii

A small region offers big rewards for lunar observers.

The Galaxy from Within

A stunning fish-eye photo captures the Milky Way’s glory.

Catch a Fleeting Asteroid

Toutatis brightens to magnitude 10.5 as it speeds past Earth.

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