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This week's night sky is all about contrast — fleeting meteors, distant galaxies and delicate lunar light.
The highlight is the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which brings fast-moving shooting stars to the predawn sky. While moonlight may hide some of the fainter streaks, it's still worth setting an early alarm and we've got a full guide on where and when to look to catch the best of the show.
Elsewhere in this issue, we're showcasing a stunning astrophoto of the Pleiades glowing through a ghostly blue veil and incredible pulsating northern lights captured in extraordinary detail by an aurora expert.
Here's what to watch for in the nights ahead.
Daisy Dobrijevic
Skywatching Editor, Space.com
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| (Starry Night) |
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Sweep the sky with binoculars to find the sprawling Coma Star Cluster — a loose scattering of stars best seen under dark, moonless skies.
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The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks before dawn. Moonlight may reduce visibility, but brighter meteors can still put on a show.
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Look for the Black Eye Galaxy in Coma Berenices, a striking galaxy with a dark dust lane visible through telescopes.
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The Leo Triplet is a must-see deep-sky target, where three galaxies are visible together in a single telescope field of view.
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Catch the soft glow of earthshine lighting up the dark skies of a thin crescent moon before sunrise.
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The moon reaches its last quarter phase this week, rising around midnight and shining into the morning sky.
This phase brings darker evenings, perfect for spotting faint galaxies. Early risers can enjoy detailed views of the lunar surface, with shadows highlighting craters and mountain ranges along the terminator. Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase.
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The Eta Aquarid meteor shower from late April to mid-May offers a long stretch of spectacular "shooting stars" that even a casual observer can spot in the night sky.
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An unusually powerful pulsating aurora display lit up skies over Arctic Norway for nearly three hours during a colossal geomagnetic storm.
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From chasing the Milky Way to using your eyes as nature intended, here are some often-overlooked truths that make all the difference under the night sky.
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Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline May's skywatching, with stunning moon pairings and a three-planet display.
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The latest aurora forecast for tonight helps you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights.
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Wispy nebula clouds can be seen reflecting the blue-white light of the Pleiades in the stunning amateur photo.
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| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
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Find out what deep-space objects are, what optics you’ll need to see them and how to plan your observing.
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Ready to start your astronomy journey?
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