Sky Digest
Export Sky Digest PDF
Include finder charts for selected objects:
Tonight at a Glance
Bright moon tonight — deep-sky viewing will be limited
Planet Highlights
Comets
For Beginners (naked eye)
Binocular Targets
Small Scopes (3–6 inch)
Big Scopes (8–12 inch)
The Week Ahead
| Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed |
| 🌔 87% | 🌔 94% | 🌕 98% | 🌕 100% | 🌕 99% | 🌖 96% | 🌖 90% |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
NGC 2442: Galaxy in Volans
Distorted galaxy NGC 2442 can be found in the southern constellation of the flying fish, (Piscis) Volans. Located about 50 million light-years away, the galaxy's two spiral arms extending from a pronounced central bar give it a hook-shaped appearance in this deep and colorful image, with foreground stars scattered across the telescopic field of view. The image also reveals the distant galaxy's obscuring dust lanes, young blue star clusters and reddish star forming regions surrounding a core of yellowish light from an older population of stars. But the star forming regions seem more concentrated along the drawn-out (upper right) spiral arm. The distorted structure is likely the result of an ancient close encounter with a smaller galaxy that lies off top left of the frame. This telescopic field of view spans over 200,000 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 2442.
Image credit: Mike Selby — APOD is a service of NASA and Michigan Tech. U.
View on NASA APODSpace News
NASA releases countdown for Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts (including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen) around the Moon, marking humanity's return to lunar exploration after over 50 years.
NASA — 26 Mar 2026
NASA confirms Artemis II launch targeting no earlier than April 1, 2026, with full coverage of prelaunch, launch, and mission events to be streamed online.
NASA — 25 Mar 2026
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope completes construction and final prelaunch testing, with a media briefing scheduled for April 21 to showcase this major new observatory.
NASA — 26 Mar 2026
NASA's IXPE mission captures new X-ray polarimetry observations of supernova RCW 86, providing complementary data to other telescopes for better understanding of the remnant.
NASA — 26 Mar 2026
Test Your Astronomy Knowledge
Take exams on star names, Messier objects, constellations, and solar system facts. Earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates that unlock publishing and community features.
Take an Exam
Sign in to get this digest by email and customize it for your location.