Catch a Shooting Star and Locate Complex Organic Molecules on Mars

Read news from the world of astronomy for the week of May 1, 2026.

Having trouble viewing this email? {Click here to read it on the Web.} Subscribe to Sky & Telescope Magazine to receive full access to the articles below. Visit our FAQ page to learn more. This week in the world of astronomy, find complex organic molecules on Mars and catch a shooting star. Plus, learn how tilted orbits impact supermassive black hole collisions. This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9 Venus hangs in place in the western twilight while Aldebaran and the Pleiades continue their downward slide behind it. And if Venus is the Evening Star, then bright Jupiter, high to its upper left, counts as the False Evening Star. Read More Astro-News Highlights How Tilted Orbits Impact Supermassive Black Hole Collisions What factors impact how long it takes for a supermassive black hole binary to merge? Read More Voyager 1 Shuts Down Another Instrument Engineers have turned off an instrument that measured the density of charged particles in an effort to keep the aging Voyager 1 operational. Read More Curiosity Team Hits Jackpot: A Sample Full of Complex Organic Molecules Scientists have identified at least seven carbon-rich molecules that NASA’s Curiosity rover detected on Mars, and they’re more complex than any found before. Read More Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Cold, Ancient Origins The most recent interstellar visitor was crisscrossing our galaxy for some 10 to 12 billion years before it came near the Sun. Read More Visit Shop @ Sky for Atlases, Globes, and More! Observing Highlights Satellite or Meteor? Dissecting Light Trails in Your Sky Photos Here’s a quick guide to tell meteors from machines in your wide-field images of the night sky. Read More Catch A Shooting Star (with Your Camera) Catching a falling star is easier than you think . . . when you use a camera! Read More May Podcast: The Delightful Dippers This month’s episode showcases the Big and Little Dippers, now placed high in the northern evening sky. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour. Presented by: Celestron. Read More Community Second Saturday Stars John J. McCarthy Observatory in Connecticut holds an open-house star party on the second Saturday of each month Read More 33rd Annual Nebraska Star Party – Nebraska Dark! July 12-17 Astronomy enthusiasts from across the country will gather at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area in the Nebraska Sandhills. Join us for a week of unforgettable stargazing, family fun, engaging programs, and shared discovery. Merritt Reservoir is certified as an International Dark Sky Park From a trusted S&T partner Read More Springtime Galaxies Await! Need a Jacket? Stay dry and warm in the chilly morning air with Sky & Telescope merch this Spring. Our high-quality, branded jackets will keep out the cold and morning dew while gazing up at the scintillating spring stars. Read More   Shop the S&T Swag Store Today! Sky & Telescope | American Astronomical Society | Privacy Policy

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