Latest News on Astronomy and Sky Watching — Stargazing Calendar

3 weeks to go: comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is heading for an extreme solar pass that may make it one of the year’s brightest comets. Here’s what to expect and when to look.

Meet the Messier Marathon – a fun stargazing challenge! Discover how to find dazzling galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae in a single night. Are you ready to try?

Learn what retrograde means, see which planets are retrograde right now, and get an easy way to observe retrograde loops.

Get to know equinoxes! Find out when the next equinox will be in 2026, why day and night are nearly equal at an equinox, and how it marks the change of seasons.

When does autumn start in 2026? In the Southern Hemisphere, it begins on March 20 at 14:46 GMT/UTC. See exact times for Australia, New Zealand, South America, and more.

When does spring begin in 2026? Why aren’t day and night truly equal on the vernal equinox? And why doesn’t it always fall on the same date? Find out here!

What is elongation, and what does it have to do with the planets’ visibility in the sky? Get familiar with the concept of elongation and learn how to choose the perfect time to observe the planets!

Learn how to see Starlink satellites in the sky from your location and get info on the upcoming Starlink launches.

The April 2026 Full Moon (Pink Moon) peaks on Apr 2 at 02:11 UTC (GMT). See local times, why it’s called the Pink Moon (not because it’s really pink), and how the Paschal Full Moon sets the 2026 Easter date.

See two planets side by side! Discover rare planetary events in 2026. Get dates, times, and viewing tips now!

Don’t miss a chance to see the mysterious zodiacal light stretching from the horizon after dusk or before dawn. Explore it now with our article!

A newly discovered object – probably a city-sized comet – could become a major sky event in 2028. Here’s what astronomers know so far.

Planetary alignment (aka a “planet parade” or “planet line-up”) is when several planets appear in the same part of the sky along the ecliptic. Learn what it really means and see upcoming alignment dates for 2026.

See a dawn “planet parade” on April 18, 2026: Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune appear close together before sunrise. Learn the best time and get spotting tips.

How many rings does Saturn have? Where is Saturn tonight in the sky? Find answers to these and other common questions about the ringed planet in our article.

Discover Antares, the red supergiant star in Scorpius. Learn how to find it in the sky and when the star will meet the Moon and planets in 2026.

Meet Venus, the Earth’s “evil sister!” Get to know the planet and learn about upcoming Venus events in this article.

The best time to view most planets is at the astronomical opposition. Find out what it means and when to see the upcoming oppositions.

What is that bright dot shining near the Moon tonight? Find out about stars and planets that can be seen next to our natural satellite this month!

Discover the brilliance of Spica, the sparkling gem in the constellation Virgo! Learn how to find the star, when to observe it, and what is special about it.