Gretchen Rundorff

Gretchen Rundorff

Live Science Contributor

Gretchen Rundorff is an astronomy enthusiast who is passionate about science communication and empowering people to learn about the night sky. She has seen multiple meteor showers, has seen a partial solar eclipse in 2016, has photographed the 2024 total solar eclipse, and has used telescopes to view planets and star clusters. Gretchen holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and French from the University of Pittsburgh, and a graduate-level certificate in copyediting from the University of California San Diego.

Articles by: Gretchen Rundorff

A telescope photo of the Red Planet Mars rising near the bottom of Earth's moon

Red 'star' rising with the moon on Sunday is really Mars — and you may be able to see it 'disappear'

By Gretchen Rundorff last updated

Mars will appear to make an ultraclose approach to the moon on Sunday, after Jupiter had a turn earlier this week. Here's how to get the best view of the rare conjunction.

Mars as seen from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter

How to watch the full Wolf Moon 'swallow' Mars in the sky tonight — no telescope required

By Gretchen Rundorff last updated

Tonight (Jan. 13), bright Mars will disappear behind the full Wolf Moon for several hours before reappearing on the other side. It's the only lunar occultation of Mars visible from the U.S. this year. Here's how to get the most out of it.

an illustration of Saturn

Saturn will disappear behind the moon for skywatchers in Europe on Saturday. Here's how to see it.

By Gretchen Rundorff published

One of the last easily visible lunar occultations of Saturn until 2037 will occur on Jan. 4.

a long exposure shot showing a meteor over a forest with the Milky Way visible

Ursid meteor shower 2024: Where and when to see the final meteor shower of the year

By Gretchen Rundorff published

Here's everything you need to know to catch the Ursids, the last meteor shower of 2024.

An image of Saturn

Saturn at opposition: How to see the ringed planet at its biggest and brightest this week

By Gretchen Rundorff published

Saturn will enter opposition on Sept. 7 and 8, orbiting on the opposite side of Earth as the sun. Here's everything you need to know to spot Saturn at its peak size and brightness this week.

A close-up of the lower half of the moon, with a time-lapse showing tiny Saturns visible in a line behind the Moon

The blue supermoon will 'swallow' Saturn tonight — here's when the rare 'lunar occultation' begins

By Gretchen Rundorff published

Here's everything you need to know to see the moon as it occults, or passes completely in front of, the bright planet Saturn tonight.

A meteor shoots across the starry sky against the silhouette of trees.

The best meteor showers of 2024 are yet to come. Here are the key nights to watch for.

By Gretchen Rundorff published

Here's everything you need to know to see the best meteor showers of 2024.