Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky. What is the bright white star in the east right now?

From dazzling Jupiter high in the evening sky to elusive Mercury low at sunset, February 2026 offers one of the year's best planetary lineups.

Six planets—including Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury—will line up in the sky. Here’s the best time to watch and where to find ...

The moon and Venus will shine vividly alongside a bright star in the early morning in a striking celestial rendezvous that should be visible across the U.S. But unless you're willing to wake up before ...

A “planet parade” has been gracing the sky for much of August this year, but after Friday, Aug. 29, it’s set to be diminished. Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will be the easiest to spot, with Mercury ...

Trick-or-treaters heading out to collect candy on Halloween can look up in the evening sky to see the moon make a close encounter with one of the brightest planets in the sky. As the sun sets on ...

Sky This Week is brought to you in part by Celestron. Friday, February 6The bright star Sirius dominates the southern sky ...

Auriga the Charioteer rides high in the sky tonight, reaching an altitude of 70° above the eastern horizon by local midnight. Several bright deep-sky objects call Auriga home, such as open clusters ...

Saturn maintains high visibility in October, located in Aquarius with its rings appearing nearly edge-on (tilting from 1.5° to 0.6°), which enhances observation of its atmospheric details and major ...

A conjunction is an astronomical event in which at least two planets – or, in this case, other celestial bodies – appear to our vantage from Earth to be close together in the sky. The trio of ...