Tips & Guides

  1. Meteors are seen as streaks of light coming from a central point in the sky. Trees are in the foreground of the image.
    The Perseids Meteor Shower.
    01

    How to Photograph a Meteor Shower

    Taking photographs of a meteor shower can be an exercise in patience as meteors streak across the sky quickly and unannounced, but with these tips – and some good fortune – you might be rewarded with a great photo.

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  2. Child looking through tripod-mounted binoculars.
    Observing the Moon with binoculars in Texas, USA.
    02

    Binoculars: A Great First Telescope

    A first telescope should be easy to use and provide good quality views while being affordable. As it turns out, those requirements make the first telescope of choice for many stargazers something unexpected: a good pair of binoculars!

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  3. The bright stars in the constellation Orion appear above a rocky mesa at night. The bright star Sirius is seen to the left of the mesa.
    The constellation Orion.
    03

    How to Find Good Places to Stargaze

    If you're hoping to do some skywatching, but you're not quite sure how to find a great spot, we have you covered. Here are some key things to know about how to find the best places for stargazing.

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Latest Content

Stay up-to-date with the latest skywatching tips and facts from NASA.

NASA HEAT Student Activity Featured in TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2024

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On April 8, 2024, tens of millions experienced a solar eclipse from Mexico through the United States and into Canada. Astronomers, educators, and organizations had been preparing the public for this grand celestial event. Learning from engagement experiences in 2017,…

Article1 week ago
A full moon sets over tall grasses in a twilight blue sky illuminated by pink cloud bands.

The Next Full Moon is the Wolf Moon

27 min read

The next full Moon is the Wolf Moon; the Ice or Old Moon; the Moon after Yule; the start of Prayag Kumbh Mela; Shakambhari Purnima; Paush Purnima; the Thiruvathira, Thiruvathirai, or Arudhra Darisanam festival Moon; and Duruthu Poya. The next…

Article2 weeks ago
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover took this selfie, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23. A rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls,” which has features that may bear on the question of whether the Red Planet was long ago home to microscopic life, is to the left of the rover near the center of the image.

January’s Night Sky Notes: The Red Planet

3 min read

Have you looked up at the night sky this season and noticed a bright object sporting a reddish hue to the left of Orion? This is none other than the planet Mars! January will be an excellent opportunity to spot…

Article3 weeks ago

Astronomy Activation Ambassadors: A New Era

3 min read

The NASA Science Activation Program’s Astronomy Activation Ambassadors (AAA) project aims to measurably enhance student Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) engagement via middle school, high school, and community college science teacher professional development. In 2024, AAA transitioned its focus…

Article3 weeks ago
Two bright planets appear close to each other in the night sky as they hover above a hill.

What’s Up: January 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA

5 min read

Four Planets in One View! Each evening this month, enjoy a sweeping view of four bright planets at once. Also look for a close approach of Venus and Saturn, Mars occulted by the Moon, and meteors! Skywatching Highlights January 3…

Article3 weeks ago
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