Articles written by Kelly Whitt

An annular and partial solar eclipse occurs on May 20 and the moon visits each of the evening planets in turn.

Apr 26, 2012 - Kelly Whitt

View the planets on April evenings along with a meteor shower, and celebrate Astronomy Day!

Mar 28, 2012 - Kelly Whitt

A planetary parade includes the closest meeting of Venus and Jupiter this year.

Feb 27, 2012 - Kelly Whitt

The planets shine brightly on winter evenings, with dim Uranus making a special appearance beside Venus.

Jan 30, 2012 - Kelly Whitt

The new year brings bright planets after sunset, a chance at spotting elusive Neptune, and a meteor shower.

Dec 26, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

A lunar eclipse darknes the night, two meteors showers brighten it again, and the solstice brings winter to the Northern Hemisphere.

Nov 16, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

A partial solar eclipse, a couple meteor showers, and bright planets highlight the month of November.

Oct 30, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Meteor showers, a comet, and Jupiter at opposition are the highlights for October.

Sep 28, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

This month hosts the Harvest Moon and September equinox, and two comets pose a challenge for binocular and telescope users.

Aug 29, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Find Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter without any optical aid, and use binoculars or a telescope to pick up Neptune and the asteroid Vesta this month.

Jul 25, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Saturn and Mercury are the evening planets to watch and the best meteor shower of summer occurs.

Jun 23, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

June's observing guide finds Saturn dominating the evening, a full moon interfering with a meteor shower, and two eclipses.

May 26, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter hover close together in the morning sky, plus a meteor shower and Astronomy Day highlight the month of May.

Apr 18, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Saturn reaches opposition and makes for a great telescopic target all month, while the Lyrid meteor showers peak on Good Friday.

Mar 25, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

This list of impressive and easy-to-find astronomical objects are perfect for helping the new telescope owner get the most out of his or her purchase.

Mar 3, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Astronomers use pulsating stars to determine how far away other galaxies are to the Milky Way.

Mar 3, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

More than just planets have satellites. Smaller solar system bodies have moons orbiting them, including a number of members of the Asteroid Belt.

Feb 24, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Mercury's best appearance of the year, the closest full moon of the year, and the spring equinox are highlights of March.

Feb 21, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

The STEREO spacecraft has made 360 degree images of the sun for the first time in history, allowing improved space weather forecasts.

Feb 7, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

The Hubble Space Telescope has a new record breaker for the farthest galaxy ever seen, at 13.2 billion light-years away.

Jan 31, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

The constellation of the Hunting Dogs is home to four spiral galaxies with Messier designations, all within reach of moderately sized telescopes.

Jan 29, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

From spent rocket boosters to defunct satellites, more worthless machinery is accumulating above our heads all the time. But how to get rid of it?

Jan 24, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Jupiter and Saturn are the dominant evening planets, while the moon passes close to the Pleiades star cluster.

Jan 24, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Get a list of stellar pairs to view with the unaided eye, through binoculars, or through a telescope.

Jan 7, 2011 - Kelly Whitt

Know where and when to look to spot Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the coming year.

Dec 30, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Stargazing highlights for the beginning of the new year include Jupiter and Uranus, a meteor shower, and a partial solar eclipse.

Dec 20, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

All of North America has the opportunity to witness the Earth's shadow passing over the moon on the winter solstice.

Dec 18, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

A super-Earth around a distant star has had its envelope of gases analyzed with intriguing results.

Dec 1, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

A discovery involving massive amounts of red dwarfs in elliptical galaxies has expanded the cosmos as we know it.

Dec 1, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Get some great ideas on what to talk to kids about at the dinner table, at family gatherings, scouts, and more!

Nov 30, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

A total lunar eclipse, meteor showers, and Jupiter are the highlights of this month's stargazing.

Nov 22, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Scientists have detected a planet that originated in a galaxy outside the Milky Way.

Nov 18, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Researchers experiment to discover what molecules may be created in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon.

Nov 5, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Scientists have predicted that the normal quiet shower of interplanetary debris could rise to more than 750 shooting stars an hour.

Oct 28, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

With a dirty snowball set to pass only 0.12 AU from Earth in October, professional telescopes are turning toward the visitor to get some amazing pictures.

Oct 12, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Journey outward from Earth to find how far away celestial objects are in our solar system and in deep space.

Sep 29, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

A comet gains naked-eye visibility, planets illuminate the evening, and the Hunter's Moon shines bright.

Sep 15, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Recently discovered 2010 RX30 and 2010 RF12 will travel inside the moon's orbit on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

Sep 7, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

The "dirty snowball" will be nearing naked-eye visibility in October and November in the northeastern sky.

Sep 7, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

This Jon Heder movie became a nearly instant cult classic, and the movie's many lines have become embedded in everyday conversation.

Aug 31, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

For the first time, astronomers have discovered a planetary system that has evidence for seven planets.

Aug 25, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

The planets clustered in the west succumb to twilight as Jupiter begins its reign of the night. September also brings the equinox and the Harvest Moon.

Aug 17, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Solar eclipses don't last long, from only seconds up to seven and a half minutes, and each moment is filled with a unique viewing opportunity.

Aug 9, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

For the first time, scientists have found an elusive and uniquely shaped carbon molecule in space.

Jul 26, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

The new record-holder for most massive and brightest star known is named R136a1, and it is surrounded by other huge stars in the Tarantula Nebula.

Jul 21, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

August is hot for starwatchers, with the long-awaited meeting between Venus, Saturn, and Mars, and one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids.

Jul 19, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

The constellations of summer contain many prime observing targets for the unaided eye or through a telescope or binoculars.

Jul 8, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Millions of people will be under darkening skies on July 3 and July 4 in the United States, waiting to see the fireworks. Here's what to look for first.

Jun 28, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

For locations surrounding the Pacific Ocean, including western North America and Australia, a partial lunar eclipse is visible on Saturday.

Jun 24, 2010 - Kelly Whitt

Every night after sunset the planets shift their patterns slightly as Venus, Mars, and Saturn move ever closer together.

Jun 18, 2010 - Kelly Whitt