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Sky & Telescope
@skyandtelescope.bsky.social
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The Essential Guide to Astronomy | We provide the world's leading compendium of information about the science and hobby of astronomy.
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Sky & Telescope @skyandtelescope.bsky.social · 5d
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February Podcast: Winter’s Milky Way
In this month’s episode, go on a guided tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during February. First we’ll keep tabs on the Moon; say good-bye to Saturn; trace out the Winter Milky Wa...
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The biggest well-known asterism in the sky is the Winter Hexagon. It fills the heavens toward the east and south these dark evenings.
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This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 6 – 15
The Winter Hexagon holds the brightest winter stars. Near Orion, the Big Dog prances and the Hare crouches. Jupiter rides high.
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February 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
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A distant Kreutz comet heading our way may grow a glorious tail in April.
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New Kreutz Comet C/2026 A1 May Dazzle
A distant Kreutz comet heading our way may grow a glorious tail in April.
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February 6, 2026 at 4:10 PM
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The proposed installation — less than 10 miles from Paranal Observatory — sparked international concern. Now it’s canceled.
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Chilean Observatories Saved from Industrial Megaproject
The proposed installation — less than 10 miles from Paranal Observatory — sparked international concern. Now it’s canceled.
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February 6, 2026 at 4:08 PM
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An AI search through decades-old spacecraft images reveals that Mercury may still be alive and kicking, geologically speaking.
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Hundreds of Bright Streaks Suggest Mercury’s Still Active
An AI search through decades-old spacecraft images reveals that Mercury may still be alive and kicking, geologically speaking.
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February 6, 2026 at 4:03 PM
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skyandtelescope.org/observing/as...
February Podcast: Winter’s Milky Way
In this month’s episode, go on a guided tour of the stars and planets that you’ll see overhead during February. First we’ll keep tabs on the Moon; say good-bye to Saturn; trace out the Winter Milky Wa...
skyandtelescope.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:49 PM
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The gibbous Moon shines amidst Jupiter, Pollux, and Castor tonight. That's their order of brightness, fr0m brightest to faintest. Can you get a photo that shows all of them well, despite their vast brightness differences?
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This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 30 – February 8
The dazzling Moon occults Regulus Monday night while Regulus is announcing February. Betelgeuse turns the Winter Hexagon into the Heavenly G.
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January 30, 2026 at 4:24 PM
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New observations reveal a strange structure in the iconic nebula that has evaded astronomers for centuries.
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The Ring Nebula Has an “Iron Bar”
New observations reveal a strange structure in the iconic nebula that has evaded astronomers for centuries.
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January 30, 2026 at 4:23 PM
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The final release of data from the Dark Energy Survey widens tensions in our understanding of the cosmic evolution.
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January 30, 2026 at 4:19 PM
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Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula, revealed in a new Webb Telescope image, look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here’s why.
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January 30, 2026 at 4:15 PM
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Jupiter this week is passing closely by Delta Geminorum, magnitude 3.5. It's just a bit too faint to be plotted here where three lines of the Pollux stick figure meet.
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#astronomy #stargazing #jupiter
This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 16 – 25
This winter, the biggest planet is the brightest. The brightest star pins the Winter Triangle. Capella and Rigel always march in step.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:11 PM
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Schmidt Sciences has unveiled details on four ambitious observatories to monitor the dynamic cosmos, with data from all four expected by 2029.
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#astronomy #spaceexploration #spaceobservatory #spacetelescope
Four Privately Funded Observatories in the Next Three Years
Schmidt Sciences has unveiled details on four ambitious observatories to monitor the dynamic cosmos, with data from all four expected by 2029
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January 16, 2026 at 4:10 PM
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This year offers an interesting mix of celestial coverups: a total solar eclipse viewable from Spain and two deep lunar eclipses (one total, one not quite) visible across North America.
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#astronomy #stargazing #solareclipse #lunareclipse #eclipse
Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2026
This year offers an interesting mix of celestial coverups: a total solar eclipse viewable from Spain and two deep lunar eclipses (one total, one not quite) visible across North America. The fourth, an...
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January 16, 2026 at 4:09 PM
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Two new smallsat missions, named SPARCS and BlackCAT, promise to examine stellar flares and explosions in the early universe.
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#astronomy #spaceexploration #stellarscience #stellarflares #stars #cosmology
Two New CubeSats to Monitor Nearby Stars and Distant Black Holes
Two new smallsat missions, named SPARCS and BlackCAT, promise to examine stellar flares and explosions in the early universe.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
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In new observations, astronomers detect a moving wake of gas in the outer layers of the red supergiant Betelgeuse, offering fresh evidence for a long-suspected secondary star.
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#astronomy #betelgeuse #binarystar
Betelgeuse’s Elusive Companion Might Be Making Waves
Astronomers have detected a moving wake of gas in the outer layers of Betelgeuse, offering fresh evidence for a long-suspected companion star.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
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The young, nearby star may be experiencing an episode of repeated, violent collisions within its forming planetary system.
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#astronomy #planetformation #cosmology #explanets
Did Asteroids Collide Near Fomalhaut – Again?
The young, nearby star Fomalhaut may be experiencing an episode of repeated, violent collisions within its forming planetary system.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:05 PM
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NASA’s new, small observatory — launched successfully on January 11th — has a big mission: to characterize exoplanet atmospheres.
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#astronomy #spaceexploration #NASA #exoplanets
Pandora Mission Launches to Explore Atmospheres on Alien Worlds
NASA's new, small observatory — launched successfully on January 11th — has a big mission: to characterize exoplanet atmospheres.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
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Jupiter is at opposition tonight, opposite the Sun as seen from Earth; exactly so 3 a.m. EST Saturday morning the 10th (8h UT Jan 10th). Jupiter rises at sunset and blazes in Gemini near Pollux and Castor all night.
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This Week's Sky at a Glance, January 9 – 18
Jupiter is at opposition. Evenings are moonless, and the winter Milky Way arches high over your world. Betelgeuse stands over Sirius.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:48 PM
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Astronomers discovered a cloud of hydrogen gas that’s devoid of stars. Held together by an invisible halo of dark matter, the starless cloud may elucidate its nature.
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Starless Gas Cloud Might Harbor Dark Matter
Astronomers discovered a cloud of hydrogen gas that’s devoid of stars. Held together by an invisible halo of dark matter, the starless cloud may elucidate its nature.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:47 PM
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Observers across America may witness a special transit and shadow event of Jupiter’s moon on opposition day.
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An extremely rare Callisto event on January 10th
Observers across America may witness a special transit and shadow event of Jupiter’s moon on opposition day.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:47 PM
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Jupiter’s having a special moment! Don’t miss the giant planet at its best when it reaches opposition this week.
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Big and Bright, Jupiter Beckons in January
Jupiter's having a special moment! Don't miss the giant planet at its best when it reaches opposition this week.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:45 PM
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Astronomers have measured the mass of a free-floating planet for the first time. Comparable to Saturn, it’s surprisingly massive for such rogue worlds.
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Rogue Saturn Discovered Floating Through the Milky Way
Astronomers have measured the mass of a free-floating planet for the first time. Comparable to Saturn, it’s surprisingly massive for such worlds.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:34 PM
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Many less massive galaxies appear to lack something astronomers thought was ubiquitous: a central, supermassive black hole.
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Not Every Galaxy Has a Central Black Hole
Many less massive galaxies appear to lack something astronomers thought was ubiquitous: a central, supermassive black hole.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:32 PM
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The Quadrantids and Eta Aquariids will have Moon trouble in 2026, but the beloved Perseids and Geminids should be glorious.
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The Best Meteor Showers in 2026
The Quadrantid and Eta Aquariid meteor showers will have Moon trouble in 2026, but the beloved Perseids and Geminids should be glorious.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:16 PM
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In this month’s episode, start with one of the year’s best meteor showers, then spend some time with Jupiter, and check out a mythical queen and hunter who have ego problems. So bundle up, grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
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January Podcast: Jupiter and Orion
In this month’s episode, start with one of the year’s best meteor showers, then spend some time with Jupiter, and check out a mythical queen and hunter who have ego problems. So bundle up, grab your c...
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January 9, 2026 at 9:15 PM
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Astronomers have discovered a bridge of gas and dust between two protostars, the signature of a close encounter 15,000 years ago.
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Passing Baby Stars Lock Arms in Rare Astronomical Find
Astronomers have discovered a bridge of gas and dust between two protostars, the signature of a close encounter 15,000 years ago.
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January 9, 2026 at 9:14 PM