Venus passes by the Pleiades. Three planets remain close in the morning sky. Jupiter passes by Wasat. And learn the difference between a constellation and an asterism.

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week. The moon occults the Pleiades and Regulus. Southern solstice happens on Mars. Three planets appear very close in the morning. A fourth is nearby for observers with telescopes and binoculars. Nearly seven centuries ago, French physicians thought such planetary close calls might make people sick.

Venus climbs the evening sky. Jupiter approaches Wasat. Mercury follows Mars in the morning. The Lyrid meteors are coming. And learn about International Dark Sky Week. Preserving nighttime darkness isn't just about protecting the night sky.

Jupiter's at quadrature. The moon hides Antares. The moon's at apogee. Saturn pokes into southern hemisphere skies.

A smudge of light that looks like a beehive in a telescope is high in the sky at dusk.

And there's a constellation named for an air pump. Yes, really.

Mars appears to wobble if we watch long enough. Its south pole is tipping toward Earth this week.

Jupiter is almost at quadrature. Maybe you can see it just before the sun goes down.

Mercury reaches greatest elongation.

Saturn passes by the sun. Venus goes by the Pisces linkage. Mercury's up in the morning. Mars is at perihelion and also hard to find.

You can see the night's brightest star in the daytime--just before the sun sets--if you know where to look. You can figure that out this week and be ready for the view next week.

Saturn and Venus appear close. Jupiter is stationary. The moon's at apogee. Southern sky watchers can spot Mercury and Mars.

And just what is meant by "defect of illumination"?

We get a total lunar eclipse this week. Jupiter is about to turn around in Gemini. Mercury passes by the sun. Mira is about as bright as it gets. And remember T. Corona Borealis? Why hasn't it brightened up yet?

There's another so-called planetary alignment this week. The moon has its northernmost occultation of the Pleiades. Mars is out of sight while most of the planets are not.

And find out about next week's total lunar eclipse.