Out near the orbit of Jupiter, a faint speck of light is moving through the black of space.  At first glance it doesn't look like much, no brighter than a thousand distant stars speckling the velvet sky behind it; indeed, it takes a big telescope make out that it is a comet.

But what a comet it could turn out to be….

Later this year, “Comet ISON” could blossom into a striking naked eye object visible even in broad daylight.  Comet ISON 2013...

Comet ISON isn’t the only comet that will be gracing our sky this year. In March, a good seven months before ISON starts its slow waltz across the night sky, the comet PANSTARRS will be a bright naked eye object in the evening sky.

International astronomers said Monday they have created the largest map of dark matter ever observed in the universe, using data from potent telescopes that scanned 10 million galaxies.

The mysterious substance is believed to make up about a quarter of the universe, but its nature is a puzzle because it can be detected only indirectly through the gravitational pull it exerts on visible matter.

To make the new map, astronomers studied how light emitted from galaxies is distorted as it passes by big clumps of dark matter in its travel toward Earth.

The Delta Aquarids can produce about 20 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower usually peaks on July 28 & 29, but some meteors can also be seen from July 18 - August 18. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. This year the thin, crescent moon will be hanging around for the show, but it shouldn’t cause too many problems. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight from a dark location. more...

The Perseid meteor shower takes place in mid August. While the Perseids usually peak somewhere between August 17-24 every year, shooting stars can often be seen a week or two before and after the peak date. The peak activity will be on August 13 2011. Known as the most brilliant of annual meteor showers, the Perseids, at its peak, can emit anywhere from 50 to 150 shooting stars an hour. More...