Latest articles by Jamie Carter
March could be the best month for the northern lights for nearly a decade
March 2026 could be the best month for the northern lights until the mid-2030s, as celestial mechanics and solar activity combine for potentially potent results.
NASA telescope spots first alien 'astrosphere' around a sun-like star: Space photo of the week
The first bubble of hot gas seen around another star has been spotted around the "Moth," just 117 light-years away.
'Blood moon' total lunar eclipse: How to see the March 3 celestial spectacle from anywhere on Earth
The final "blood moon" total lunar eclipse until 2029 is coming to North America this Tuesday (March 3). Here's how to watch it online.
Rare 'planetary parade' will return to the evening sky this week
Six planets will shine together in the evening sky on Feb. 28. Here's how to get the best view before they disappear.
Closest baby nebula to Earth 'hatches' in strange new Hubble image – Space photo of the week
A stunning new Hubble image reveals the most detailed look yet at the Egg Nebula, the youngest and closest pre-planetary nebula to Earth.
Lucky few to see 'ring of fire' solar eclipse over Antarctica on Feb. 17
This month's new moon brings an annular (or "ring of fire") solar eclipse, but it will only be visible from parts of Antarctica.
Dramatic death of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) caught on camera — Space photo of the week
The Gemini North telescope snapped a spectacular view of Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaking apart as it emerged from the other side of the sun in October.
The US will see a rare 'blood moon' eclipse before sunrise this March: Where and when to look
A rare total lunar eclipse will be visible from most of the United States on March 3. Here's where and when to look.
Stellar nursery bursts with newborn stars in hauntingly beautiful Hubble telescope image — Space photo of the week
A new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows the Lupus 3 cloud in Scorpius bursting with young stars that are forming within collapsing clouds of gas and dust.
The Snow Moon will 'swallow' one of the brightest stars in the sky this weekend: Where and when to look
On the night of Feb. 2, skywatchers in eastern North America can see the moon occult Regulus — a rare event visible to the naked eye.
See February's full Snow Moon rise this weekend next to a glittering star cluster
February's full "Snow Moon" will be at its fullest on Sunday, Feb. 1, and will be best seen at moonrise. It will appear just beneath the Beehive Cluster, one of the closest star clusters to the solar system.
How to see 2 total solar eclipses in the next 2 years — including the 'eclipse of the century'
After a two-year gap, there will be two total solar eclipses within 12 months of each other, on Aug. 12, 2026, and Aug. 2, 2027.
James Webb telescope peers into 'Eye of God' and finds clues to life's origins — Space photo of the week
A spectacular new image from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals intricate structures inside the Helix Nebula, where a dying sunlike star is enriching the galaxy with the elements needed for life.
Full moons of 2026: When to see all 13 moons rise next year
When does the next full moon rise? Find out exactly when to see the full moons of 2026, including the full "Snow Moon" in February.
Giant cosmic 'sandwich' is the largest planet-forming disk ever seen — Space photo of the week
A strange, sandwich-shaped object is giving astronomers a rare view of the chaotic birthplaces of planets.
Jupiter will outshine every star in the sky this weekend — how to see the 'king of planets' at opposition
Jupiter reaches opposition on Jan. 10, when it will shine all night at its brightest as Earth moves between the giant planet and the sun.
January 'Wolf Supermoon': How to see the full moon rise with Jupiter this weekend
The first full moon of 2026 and of winter in the Northern Hemisphere will shine brightly this week, just as Earth makes its annual closest approach to the sun.
Quadrantid meteor shower peaks this week: How to see the first 'shooting' stars of the year
The Quadrantids will be harder to see than usual due to the bright full moon. Here's how to get the best views.
Stunning array of 400 rings in a 'reflection' nebula solves a 30-year-old star-formation mystery — Space photo of the week
The discovery is the first direct observational confirmation of a theory for how young stars feed on, and then explosively expel, surrounding material.
The easiest constellations for beginners to spot in winter (and what you need to see them)
From Orion and Taurus to Auriga and Perseus, here are 10 easy sets of stars to find in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky.
The 9 best things to see in the night sky with binoculars from November 2025 to January to 2026
Discover the highlights of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky with our guide to the top celestial sights to enjoy through binoculars between November 2025 and January 2026.
Glittering new James Webb telescope image shows an 'intricate web of chaos' — Space photo of the week
This mash-up of data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals two galaxies mid-collision, with their spiral arms overlapping and bending toward their neighbors' cores.
Comet 3I/ATLAS reaches its closest point to Earth tonight: How to see it
Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected, reached its closest point to Earth overnight from Thursday to Friday (Dec. 18 to 19), and it remains in a good viewing position tonight. Here's how to see it.
