Joe Rao
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, the Farmers' Almanac 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
Halloween night sky 2024: See Venus, Saturn and maybe some eerie fireballs tonight!
By Joe Rao last updated
Reference Don't miss these celestial treats this Halloween!
A star exploded almost 1000 years ago and left us with the gorgeous Crab Nebula. Here's how to see it
By Joe Rao published
To see the Crab Nebula for yourself, you'll have to wait until around midnight local daylight time, after it has sufficiently risen high enough above the east-northeast horizon.
Headless 'Halloween comet' could already be doomed
By Joe Rao published
While some are hoping for a bright "Halloween comet," astronomers say the speeding cosmic snowball has likely already broken apart.
Orionid meteor shower peaks this weekend: How to see bits of Halley's comet burn up in the night sky
By Joe Rao published
The Orionid meteor shower 2024 reaches its peak in the pre-dawn hours on Monday, Oct. 21, but this year a bright moon could make it difficult to see these shooting stars.
Hunter's Supermoon rises this week, the biggest full moon of 2024. Here's how to see it
By Joe Rao published
The largest full moon of 2024 rises this week when the Hunter's Supermoon takes to the sky on Wednesday (Oct. 16), becoming officially full the next morning.
Hopes dim for another bright October comet after Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
By Joe Rao published
There's been talk of another spectacular comet putting on a show in our sky after Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like the newcomer will deliver.
The dazzling Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is emerging in the night sky: How to see it
By Joe Rao published
Scientists are excited to begin capturing Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as the object is expected to soon be very bright in the night sky.
What is a solar eclipse?
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference A solar eclipse occurs when the moon positions itself between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over Earth. We explore the type of solar eclipses here.
See Venus rendezvous with the crescent moon in the night sky tonight (Oct. 5)
By Joe Rao published
These Venus-moon conjunctions occur on roughly a monthly schedule.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS may dazzle this weekend. But is the best yet to come?
By Joe Rao published
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will have a close encounter with the sun today (Sept. 27) here's how to make the most of comet viewing opportunities this weekend and beyond.
All solar eclipses will be 'rings of fire' in the distant future. Here's why
By Joe Rao last updated
There will come a time 1.21 billion years from now when the phenomenon of a total eclipse of the sun will become an impossibility.
Autumnal equinox 2024 brings fall to the Northern Hemisphere today
By Joe Rao published
The autumnal equinox brings fall to the Northern Hemisphere today as the sun passes directly over the equator at noon. But are day and night actually equal length today?
See the moon meet up with the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades this weekend
By Joe Rao published
During the morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 22, skywatchers will be able to watch a waning gibbous moon cross in front of probably the most popular of all the star clusters in the sky: the Pleiades.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS nears the sun this month. Will it be visible to the naked eye?
By Joe Rao published
The final hurdle for Tsuchinshan-ATLAS to surmount will come on the afternoon of Sept. 27, when it arrives at perihelion — the closest point in its orbit to the sun.
Partial lunar eclipse of the Harvest Moon: Everything you need to know
By Joe Rao published
The upcoming Full Harvest Moon on Sept. 17 will feature a partial lunar eclipse. Here's what to expect and how to see it.
An annular solar eclipse will put a 'ring of fire' above one of the most isolated spots on Earth: Easter Island
By Joe Rao published
Thousands of skywatchers will gather for a view of the ringed sun from perhaps one of the most isolated and remote spots on the face of the Earth: the legendary and mystical Easter Island.
Is the Sagittarius constellation a teapot or an archer?
By Joe Rao published
Although officially known as the celestial archer, the zodiacal constellation of Sagittarius is far better recognized as a teapot. Here's how to see it this season.
'Doomed' comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS survives brush with sun — may be visible to naked eye this fall
By Joe Rao published
We provide the latest details on this comet, which might (or might not!) blossom into a bright naked-eye object in our October evening skies.
The Cassiopeia constellation is surrounded by celestial treasures. Here's how to see them
By Joe Rao published
Riding high in the northeast sky as darkness descends is a striking zigzag row of five stars marking the Queen of Ethiopia, Cassiopeia.
Don't miss the 'unconventional' Supermoon Blue Moon tonight
By Joe Rao last updated
This months' full moon falls on Aug. 19 and it will be the only full moon of August 2024. So how can we call it a "Blue Moon?"
See Mars and Jupiter form 'double planet' early Aug. 14
By Joe Rao published
On Aug. 14, Mars and Jupiter will appear to be the closest they've been in over two years.
Perseid meteor shower 2024 peaks this weekend. Here's how to see summer's best 'shooting stars'
By Joe Rao last updated
The 2024 Perseid meteor shower should reach its peak during the overnight hours of Aug. 11 into early Aug. 12, when there is almost no moon.
Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend — but 2028's show might be one for the ages
By Joe Rao last updated
The annual Perseid meteor shower should put on a nice show this weekend — but a spectacular Perseid display appears to be in the cards four years from now.
See the moon and Venus join close together tonight
By Joe Rao last updated
Of all of the monthly meetings between the moon and Venus this year, this one is by far the closest.
Venus returns to the night sky as an 'Evening Star,' and its going to be brilliant
By Joe Rao published
As we make the transition from July into August, Venus has finally begun climbing up out of the sunset glow in earnest and is now about to reclaim its role as the brilliant Evening Star.
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