Astronomy Articles

See the Almanac's Meteor Showers Guide for 2013 for the dates of all the principal meteor showers during the year—plus viewing tips.

Comets are quite the celestial spectacle.  Would you believe that they are simply pieces of dusty ice?

Here are highlights of the January 2014 Moon! The Almanac's monthly Moon guide keeps you informed about full Moon names, Moon phase dates, and Best Days by the Moon.

Thousands of years ago, people spent hours gazing at the night sky. They found that by connecting the stars as if they were dots, patterns emerged that resembled animals, people and things.

Have you ever noticed that on an overcast day the sun will often break through the clouds close to midday? Sometimes it may not actually break through, but it tries hard and the atmosphere brightens.

Named after the Roman god of war, the planet Mars was probably associated with the deity Mars because of its reddish tinge. Red was the color of anger, fire, war, and blood.

Sister planet. Nearest neighbor. Goddess of love. How appealing the planet Venus sounds! 

Spring begins with the vernal equinox at 7:02 A.M. (EDT) on March 20, 2013 in the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s more about the start of spring, signs of spring, and stunning spring photos!