ASTRONOMY

How to Spot the Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower in May 2021

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks in early May this year. Here is when and where you should look for it.

The Ever Given shortly after being dislodged in the Suez Canal.

How the Full Worm Moon Helped Free the Stuck Ship in the Suez Canal

Regular full moons cause spring tides, but March’s worm moon wasn’t a regular one—it was a supermoon.

Don't Miss the Super Pink Moon Coming in April 2021

On April 26, the full moon will appear especially large and bright in the night sky. Here's what you need to know to catch the super pink moon.

An image of the March equinox taken by the GOES-13 satellite in 2013.

Solstice vs. Equinox: What’s the Difference?

‘Vernal equinox’ isn’t just the technical term for the first day of spring, and 'summer solstice’ means something beyond ‘first day of summer.’

Don't Miss the Lyrid Meteor Shower Lighting Up Skies in April 2021

The Lyrid meteor shower is famous for its rare and unpredictable bursts of shooting stars. Here's what you need to know to see the event in 2021.

Earthshine Is Coming—How to See the Dark Part of the Crescent Moon in Spring 2021

Spring is the best time to observe Earthshine—the phenomenon in which the glow of the Earth lights up the crescent moon.

New Spacecraft Named After Katherine Johnson Honors the Pioneering NASA Mathematician

A cargo craft delivering supplies to the International Space Station has been named after Katherine Johnson, the influential "human computer" who helped send the first Americans to space.

Don't Miss the Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury in 2021

Witness the conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury when the largest planet and the smallest planet in our solar system appear exceptionally close in the night sky.

President John F. Kennedy urged Americans that going to the moon was within reach.

When John F. Kennedy Told the World Why 'We Choose to Go to the Moon'

John F. Kennedy's stirring speech on September 12, 1962, sparked a passion for space exploration that eventually led us right to the moon.

Mercury Reaches Its Greatest Eastern Elongation in January 2021

Kick off another year of skygazing by catching Mercury at its greatest distance from the sun on the evening of January 23.

Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency relaxes on board the International Space Station on December 25, 2014.

Starry Night: A History of Celebrating Christmas in Space

The space program often calls for astronauts to be in orbit for the holidays. Here's how they do it.

How to Live Stream This Month's Total Solar Eclipse

When the next solar eclipse appears over South America on December 14, Slooh will stream the event to viewers around the world.

Don't Miss Saturn And Jupiter's Great Conjunction on the Winter Solstice

On December 21, 2020, Saturn and Jupiter will share their closest conjunction since 1653. Here's what you need to know to see the event.

Christine Schmitt, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Uranus Reaches Opposition on Halloween in 2020

This Halloween, look up for a shot at spotting Uranus with your naked eye when the planet reaches opposition.

The Leonid Meteor Shower Follows a New Moon in November

The Leonid meteor shower peaks just days after a new moon, which means it will be especially visible in 2020.

The Northern Lights Could Be Visible Over Parts of the Northern U.S. This Week

Two geomagnetic storms are predicted to make the northern lights appear at lower latitudes this week.

Did the Northern Lights Play a Role in the Sinking of the Titanic? A New Paper Says It’s Possible

The northern lights were spotted the night the 'Titanic' sank, and the solar storm that caused them may have contributed to the ship's demise.

Earth Is Set to Get a New Mini-Moon Next Month

Astronomers are still unsure whether the object headed toward Earth is an asteroid or a piece of debris left over from a 50-year-old rocket launch.

Space Hero, a New Reality Show, Wants to Send You to the International Space Station

Contestants will learn how to become astronauts—and compete for a 10-day trip to the ISS while doing it.

Halloween will be even spookier this year.

A Rare Blue Moon Will Light Up the Night Sky This Halloween

A blue moon on Halloween only happens once in a blue moon (once every 19 years or so, in this case.)

The Draconid, Taurid, and Orionid Meteor Showers Are Coming This Fall

In October and early November, the Draconid, Taurid, and Orionid meteor showers will light up the night skies.

Dr. Jeanette Epps to Become the First Black Woman to Live Aboard the International Space Station

Jeanette Epps has dreamed of being a NASA astronaut since age 9, and her first-ever spaceflight will make history.

Two asteroids are expected to come close to Earth soon, but there's no cause for alarm.

Worried About Asteroids Hitting Us in 2020? Don't Be

Two asteroids are projected to swing by Earth in the coming months, but the odds of them causing a problem are very low.

NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Naval Research Lab/Parker Solar Probe/Brendan Gallagher

The NEOWISE Comet Is Visible This Month—But Won't Be Again for 6000 Years

Just a few months after its discovery, the C/2020 F3 NEOWISE comet will disappear until the year 8736.

PREV NEXT