Venus-Mars-Moon Triplet TONIGHT, Curtains Close Soon for Comet Lovejoy, and more...News from SkyandTelescope.com

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Latest News Cepheids Map the Milky Way — And Beyond Cepheid variable stars are helping astronomers see what our galaxy looks like from within. Tempest in the Teacup Galaxy New observations of the Teacup Galaxy show that even black holes with wimpy radio jets can quench a galaxy's star formation. Deep Fried Comet Ice Scientists studying ice in the lab say comets' soft cores and hard exteriors have much in common with a particular dessert. Observing Highlights Venus and Mars Pair Tightly at Dusk Look west TONIGHT for a strikingly close pairing of Venus, Mars, and the crescent Moon. This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 20 - 28 While you're out observing the tight conjunction, you might want to take a stop by Jupiter to observe some mutual events among its moons. The Pleiades and Hyades clusters also star on these wintry evenings. The Pleasures of Keeping an Astro Journal Keeping a record of what you see in the telescope is not only fun but helps grow your observing skills. Learn how to start a journal and see how other amateurs keep theirs. Comet Lovejoy Shines On Moonless evening skies last only until around February 23rd, so follow Comet Lovejoy high overhead while you still can. The comet has been fading more slowly than expected. Use our February finder chart. Astronomy Podcast: Tour February's Sky Orion is riding high in the south as darkness settles in. See what other February stargazing sights await. Community Introducing Sky & Telescope's Earth Globe Satellite imagery, oceanography, and other datasets come together to show our home planet from mountaintop to ocean bottom. This Week at ShopAtSky:  Save 15% on globes, maps, books, sky atlases and more! SkyandTelescope.com