Geoff Gaherty

See what's up in the night sky for September 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

The full moon this Saturday (Aug. 29) will look especially big in the sky, because the moon will be exceptionally close to Earth.

On Thursday morning (Aug. 20), skygazers will get a special treat, when the planet Mars appears in the midst of hundreds of stars: the open star cluster known as the Beehive, Praesepe, or Messier 44.

See what's up in the night sky for August 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

On Friday, much of the world will have the opportunity to observe a Blue Moon: A somewhat rare occurrence that doesn't have anything to do with the moon's color.

With all the news about Pluto this month, most skywatchers may not be aware that Ceres, the brightest and nearest of the dwarf planets, reached its opposition to the sun on Saturday (July 25).

Venus and the moon are currently shining as crescents in the night sky, and you can see the view with binoculars, if you have good weather and the right gear. Here's how.

Venus is putting on a show for skywatchers throughout July. Tonight (July 10), Earth's "sister planet" will be at its most luminous, blazing brightly in the western sky.

In anticipation of the New Horizons flyby of Pluto on July 14, this sky chart can help you find Pluto in the night sky (with the assistance of a high power telescope).

In anticipation of the New Horizons flyby of Pluto on July 14, this sky chart can help you find Pluto in the night sky (with the assistance of a high-power telescope).

See what's up in the night sky for July 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

Mercury is a difficult object to spot, because it's always clinging closely to the sun’s apron strings. So you might be excused for missing its brief appearance this week in the dawn skies.

Have you ever seen a real asteroid in the sky? This week is an excellent opportunity to see one of the largest asteroids, Pallas, as it reaches opposition to the sun.

If you've been watching the sky in the early evening lately, you can't have missed seeing the planet Venus in the west and now this planet is putting on brilliant show in the night sky.

See what's up in the night sky for June 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.

Jupiter's rapidly moving moons constantly surprise us with their dance around the giant planet. There will be two spectacular shadow plays this week.

Now is a great time to see Saturn, perhaps the most gorgeous planet in the night sky. The ringed planet is visible pretty much all night long.

See what's up in the night sky for May 2015, including stargazing events and the moon's phases, in this Space.com gallery courtesy of Starry Night Software.