Joe Rao is Space.com's skywatching columnist, as well as a veteran meteorologist and eclipse chaser who also serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky & Telescope and other publications. Joe is an 8-time Emmy-nominated meteorologist who served the Putnam Valley region of New York for over 21 years. You can find him on Twitter and YouTube tracking lunar and solar eclipses, meteor showers and more. To find out Joe's latest project, visit him on Twitter.
Latest articles by Joe Rao

By Joe Rao Published
The sun will reach its most northern point on June 20, marking the start of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

By Joe Rao Published
During the latter part of June, Mars will put on a couple of eye-catching shows, teaming up first with a bright star and then, late this month, with the moon.

By Joe Rao Published
Mizar, a star in the Big Dipper's handle, has a tiny companion. This star, Alcor, was known to the ancients. The pair was popularly known as the "Horse and Rider."

By Joe Rao Published
Astronomy has lost one of its most assiduous calculators of eclipses with the passing of astronomer Fred Espenak, known widely as "Mr. Eclipse."

By Joe Rao Published
Jupiter teams up with an exceedingly narrow crescent moon for the last time this year in the evening sky on May 27.

By Joe Rao Published
A slender crescent moon, will form a spectacular pair with the brilliant planet Venus during the dawn morning hours of May 23.

By Joe Rao Published
The bright constellations of winter have departed in the west, while the stars of spring are climbing the eastern and southern skies.

By Joe Rao Published
The Red Planet will buzz the Beehive during May 4-5, with the moon joining the party on May 3.

By Joe Rao Published
The annual Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is due to peak on the morning of May 6. thanks to debris left by the famous Halley's Comet.

By Joe Rao Published
Some people probably believe that the twinkling effect is produced by the stars themselves, but that is not the case at all.

By Joe Rao Published
Easter falls on the Sunday that follows the first full moon occurring on or after the day of the spring equinox. So it seems like Easter should be this weekend. Here's why it isn't.

By Joe Rao Published
Here's an observers' guide to the newly discovered Comet 2025 F2 (SWAN), which is visible in northern skies right now.

By Joe Rao Published
The Lyrid meteor shower, one of the oldest known of the annual showers, peaks this year with only some small interference from a waning crescent moon.

By Joe Rao Published
After putting on a great show in our evening sky since the fall of 2024, dazzling Venus puts on a spectacular showing for early morning risers for the balance of 2025.

By Joe Rao Published
A partial solar eclipse is coming this weekend, but weather could be an issue for many hoping to get a glimpse of the moon "taking a bite" out of the sun.

By Joe Rao last updated
Observers across eastern North America and much of Europe will have front-row seats to the striking partial solar eclipse on March 29. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao Published
Just how rare are planetary alignments?

By Joe Rao Published
Here are the weather conditions that can be expected during the the total "Blood Moon" lunar eclipse thought the United States on March 13, 2025.

By Joe Rao Published
Observers across most of the United States will have front-row seats to the spectacular total lunar eclipse overnight on March 13-14. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao last updated
The pair will be closest to each other at around 8 p.m. ET.

By Joe Rao Published
From fiery 'blood moons' to ancient legends, discover the surprising science and history behind lunar eclipses.

By Joe Rao Published
In March 2025 we have a fine opportunity to view the planet that many astronomy guide books refer to as the most difficult of the naked-eye planets to see: Mercury.

By Joe Rao Published
For the next few weeks, the planet Mars will form an isosceles triangle with the two bright stars marking the heads of the Gemini Twins, Pollux and Castor.
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