Rio Rancho Astronomical Society, Inc.

05/18/2026

On the evenings of May 18–20, don’t miss a beautiful celestial meetup 🌙✨⁠
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A thin crescent Moon will pass by the two brightest planets — Venus and Jupiter — low above the western horizon shortly after sunset. All three will be easy to spot, even from the city. And as a bonus, Castor and Pollux will shine nearby, making the view even prettier ⭐️⁠
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Just keep in mind: the Moon just passed its new phase, so it won’t stay visible for long after sunset. To find the best viewing time for your location, use the Star Walk 2 app 📲⁠
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05/17/2026

NGC 4038/NGC 4039, the Antennae Galaxies. 93-minute exposure taken at our White Ridge Dark Site, May 16, 2026

05/11/2026

Hehe… the more you know… we have heard all the Apollo stuff forever!!

05/04/2026

Happy Star Wars Day!!

04/15/2026

04/12/2026

On this day in 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched for the first time on STS-1. On board were astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen.

04/10/2026

Something to do tomorrow!! Steve Zellars and Laurie Wells have photos in this exhibition!!

04/02/2026

Menu looks really different!!

Brisket and cobbler and quiche, oh my!

Curious what astronauts eat on a 10-day trip around the Moon? Read about how we design and prepare meal plans for Artemis II: https://go.nasa.gov/4v1Xmwt

04/01/2026

Happy April Fools!! Don’t be sucked in!

Still the best prank our summer students have ever pulled. 😅 This photo is not edited - the students physically placed an "L" and "G" on the NRAO building!

02/28/2026

This will be easily seen anywhere with a clear, flat horizon in the west, and the six planets (minus Mars) will be visible just after sunset.

Tonight, six planets line up in the sky at once. You have about 30 minutes after sunset to see it. The next time won't be until 2034.

NASA calls it a "planetary parade." It's not a perfect straight line, but from Earth they look strung across the sky in one sweeping curve.

Venus and Jupiter are bright enough to spot with the naked eye, even in cities. Saturn shows a golden hue if you know where to look. Mercury sits close to the horizon and sets fast. For Uranus and Neptune, you'll need binoculars or a small telescope. The window is short — about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset, facing west.

The next time six or more planets will be visible together at night won't be until 2034. A total lunar eclipse follows on March 3.