Practical guides for tracking satellites, understanding orbital data, finding local passes and following important Earth-orbit and deep-space missions.
Learn how live satellite positions are calculated, what latitude, longitude, altitude and speed mean, and how to use observer-based pass predictions.
Choose a topic or find a specific mission and observing guide.
Use astronomy calculators for telescopes, imaging, distances and orbital examples. Check units, assumptions and precision before interpreting a result.
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Use an astronomy calendar to plan Moon, planet, meteor and eclipse observations. Check local visibility, time zones, equipment and realistic viewing conditions.
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Learn how to use Live Sky AR with camera, location and orientation permissions. Check sky direction, calibration, daytime labels and observing limits.
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Plan a local night sky session using planets, Moon conditions, twilight, meteor showers and satellite passes. Learn what each forecast can and cannot tell you.
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Read rocket launch schedules, local times, launch windows and countdowns. Learn how to confirm status, handle delays and follow spacecraft after launch.
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Explore a live solar system map with clear distance references, time controls and scale limits. Connect planet positions with your local observing opportunities.
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Understand space weather observations, forecasts, Kp and aurora planning. Read product times and combine solar information with darkness and local conditions.
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Use sunrise, sunset, twilight and Sun direction to plan photographs and sky sessions. Understand golden hour, day length, horizon effects and local time.
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Plan your next full Moon observation using the exact phase time, local moonrise, altitude, direction and practical viewing tips.
Read article → Understand why the Moon waxes and wanes, how illumination changes, and how moonrise times connect with the lunar phase cycle.
Read article → Learn how to read Moon altitude, azimuth, distance, moonrise and moonset so you know exactly where and when to look.
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Compare ISS, Hubble and Starlink visibility and learn how to check which satellites may be visible from your location tonight.
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Time, new orbital records, object identity and map display choices can all move a tracker marker.
Read article → A tracker is a time-dependent orbital calculation, not a direct camera feed or guaranteed optical sighting.
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A Trojan tour, a metal-rich world and a planetary-defence test show how varied asteroid exploration has become.
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NASA and ESA are approaching Jupiter’s icy moons with complementary targets, instruments and tours.
Read article → Earth satellites and interplanetary missions require different data models, reference frames and expectations.
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Your receiver needs more than strong signals: the directions of visible GPS satellites also affect the quality of a position fix.
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Understand how the current GOES-East weather satellite watches the United States and nearby storm-forming regions from geostationary orbit.
Read article → One class scans changing strips of Earth; the other watches the same hemisphere continuously. Together they strengthen forecasting.
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Gravity assists and repeated close approaches to the Sun explain Parker Solar Probe’s extraordinary speed.
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Huge antennas, precise pointing, weak signals and long light times keep the Voyager conversation alive.
Read article → The twin Voyager probes launched weeks apart, followed different planetary routes and now travel through interstellar space.
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A live Hubble position shows the observatory’s orbit—not its current science target or a live camera feed.
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L2 helps the James Webb Space Telescope keep its optics cold and its major heat sources on one side.
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Hubble circles Earth while Webb travels around the Sun near L2, so the two observatories need different tracking methods.
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Saw a bright moving light or a line of lights tonight? Use motion, flashing behavior and pass predictions to tell Starlink from aircraft.
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Learn what a Starlink train looks like, why newly launched satellites spread out, and how to track Starlink passes from your U.S. location.
Read article → Turn tracker angles into simple directions so you know where to face and how high to look for a satellite tonight.
Read article → Learn how to find satellites passing over your location tonight and how to interpret pass time, direction, elevation and visibility.
Read article → Compare the ISS and Tiangong as orbiting laboratories, then learn why their ground tracks and viewing opportunities differ.
Read article → Understand why the best ISS viewing opportunities cluster near twilight and how to choose a visible pass from your location.
Read article → Use your location to check upcoming ISS passes, then learn exactly when and where to look in the U.S. night sky.
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