I witnessed and recorded an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) on April 21, 2026. In its independent 2022 study NASA defines UAPs as "observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena." While it may be known to someone, the apparition is unknown to me. Absent an established reporting system, I volunteer this example merely as a scientific data point in the spirit of their "effort to better understand the nature and orig

While stars and stripes will be prominent during America's 250th Anniversary celebration, one star in the night sky has special significance. Shining brightly at 250 light years away, Spica is America's Semiquincentennial Star . Light that left Spica in 1776--traveling at 186,000 miles per second --is just now reaching our eyes. For a visceral Semiquincentennial experience in 2026, find Spica, then contemplate your and America's place in the firmament. To find Spica, follo

People ask, "What kind of a telescope should I get?" I don't have my fingers on the pulse of new telescope design and technology, so I defer to others with more experience. Lately they have steered me to smart telescopes, which connects directly to a cell phone app for digital imaging instead of visual observing through an eyepiece. Less expensive smart scopes reviewed by Space.com might be my recommendation for newcomers to telescopes in a light polluted world. Unsurpri

The variable star Mira is brightening after months of being out of sight in the constellation Cetus the Sea Monster. Mira, root word for miracle, is different in that it is a prominent star in Cetus but is sometimes not visible. Observers can record its rising brightness and compare it to nearby comparison stars, then submit their results to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). An infographic from the Astronomical League gives guidance on how to fi

Astronomy is in the business of making predictions. Not the predictions of astrology and horoscopes, but the insights of science. In a simple form, we watch the sun rise and set, so we anticipate it following that tradition on ensuing days. Yet some cultures conceived that around the winter solstice the sun might not come back with its life-sustaining presence. All it takes is one non-occurrence for a scientific theory to be thrown into the tumult of uncertainty. As we l

If you're new to observing variable stars, which are stars that changes brightness over time, the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) has a useful on-ramp. Citizen Sky supports collaboration with professional astronomers by helping you to find variable stars, measure their brightness, and submit your observations. Start your pursuit of variable stars with the AAVSO's 10-Star Training Tutorial Available under the Online Resources in multiple languages,

Finding Corona Borealis- -site of an upcoming nova --in late autumn gets more challenging, for the constellation is low in the evening twilight, dimming as it sets in the thick air mass near the horizon. You may not have the guide stars Arcturus and Izar to find Gemma, (a.k.a. Alphecca), the gem star of the Northern Crown. The Big Dipper comes to the rescue. Nights in October open with the Big Dipper appearing upright, resting near the horizon to keep its contents from spil