Skywatching Coverage

Venus will shine brightly in weekend sky

This weekend is a great time to go outside and enjoy the views of our nearest planetary neighbor. Venus will be at its highest point in the night sky, giving us dazzling views of our sister planet.

NASA/JPL

Incredibly rare: Northern Lights dazzle in North Carolina overnight

An Asheville photographer captured an incredibly rare event Thursday night: The Northern Lights, typically not visible this far south, dazzling in the starry, purple North Carolina skies.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Look up for a rocket launch from Virginia on Tuesday night

A rocket is scheduled to launch from the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore during a window from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, Jan 24.. The launch could be visible from the Carolinas to New England.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Look for the Moon to point out Jupiter and Saturn Friday night

The Moon has been sliding toward Saturn and Jupiter all week, look for it between these outer planets around 10 p.m. on Friday night

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Webb telescope captures its first direct image of an exoplanet

Astronomers have captured the first direct image of an exoplanet with the James Webb Space Telescope.

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

How to view the last supermoon of the year

Stargazers, take note: The full moon on Thursday night will be slightly larger and more vibrant than usual. It's also the last supermoon of the year, according to NASA.

Christine Chung, New York Times

Perseids vs. the supermoon

Usually among the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids will be competing with the rising full (super) moon. But its still worth taking a look, here are some tips to help see the most meteors.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Watch meteor shower Friday night at Dix Park

Staff and volunteers from Morehead Planetarium & Science Center and Raleigh Astronomy Club will be on-site from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. to help guests view the meteor shower, sometimes mistakenly referred to as shooting stars, through telescopes.

Everything you need to know about July's super moon

The buck moon reaches its peak on July 13 and may appear larger and brighter than other full moons.

International Asteroid Day observed on day meteor two football fields wide streaked across the sky

Observed each year on the anniversary of the Tunguska event where a meteor exploded 5 miles up, leveling a more than 800 sq miles of Siberian forest, Asteroid Day focuses on the latest asteroid science, missions and the latest in planetary defense.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Tips for observing this month's rare planetary alignment

Throughout June, the five "naked-eye" planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, will be visible in the sky.

3 planets align in NC night sky

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn are visible tonight after sunset. Use the moon to locate the line of planets.

Did you know? Not only comets have tails. The Moon, Mercury do too

Comets aren't the only ones with tails streaming behind. Bombarded by the solar wind, Mercury and even our own Moon, form a thin tail of material lifted from their surfaces by the solar wind.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Stargazing events return to The Durham Hotel

Popular stargazing events return to The Durham this week.

Train of satellites visible again Monday night

A series of satellites will be visible in the western sky Monday night just after 9 p.m.

Missed the near-total lunar eclipse? Watch it here

The Full Frost Moon passed through Earth's shadow early Friday morning in a partial, nearly total lunar eclipse.

Tony Rice, NASA Ambassador

Drone or something else? Garner man captures unusual video of zig-zagging light

A Garner man isn't sure what to think of a circular, zigzagging light he keeps seeing in the sky.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL Sr. multiplatform producer

Timing, forecast: How to best see The Great Conjunction tonight

Skies should be clear on Monday night for The Great Conjunction, when Saturn will be right next to Jupiter in the sky and appear like one large star. The best timing will be between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.