EarthSky - Earth, Space, Human World, Tonight

X-ray data reveal 1st-ever planet orbiting stars in another galaxy

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 16 hours ago

While extragalactic “rogue” planets – not orbiting any star – have been reported before, the new exoplanet is the first to be detected orbiting stars in another galaxy. And not just any galaxy … but M51, the beautiful Whirlpool, 23 million light-years away.

Coronavirus mutations: what we’ve learned so far

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 19 hours ago

Geneticists around the world are studying 100,000 coronavirus genomes – sampled from Covid-19 patients in over 100 countries – to try to understand how the virus is mutating, What science has learned.

Spectacular Venus-Regulus conjunction in early October!

Posted by Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | 2 days ago

Brilliant Venus, in and of itself, is worth getting up for, but the tantalizingly close encounter of Venus with the bright star Regulus won’t happen again for another 8 years. Start watching them now!

Are there active geysers at Enceladus’ north pole?

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 2 days ago

Water-vapor geysers erupt from cracks at the south pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Scientists using Cassini data now have evidence for fresh ice at the moon’s north pole, too. Could it be more geysers for this fascinating ice moon?

All you need to know: 2020’s Harvest Moon

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | 3 days ago

It’s an early October Harvest Moon in 2020, coming up on October 1-2 for the Northern Hemisphere. What’s more, this Harvest Moon will be near fiery red Mars. Wow!

When is the next Blue Moon?

Posted by Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | 3 days ago

According to folklore, the next Blue Moon will come on October 31, 2020. It’ll be called a Blue Moon because it’ll be the 2nd of 2 full moons in a single calendar month.

Photos of fiery Mars, nearly at its best in 2 years

Posted by Deborah Byrd and Claudia Crowley in Astronomy Essentials | Today's Image | 3 days ago

Photos from the EarthSky community of the bright planet Mars, now nearly at its best. Earth will pass between Mars and the sun – bringing the planet to a once-in-two-years opposition – on October 13, 2020.

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 3 days ago

A waxing gibbous moon appears more than half lighted, but less than full. It’s in the sky when darkness falls and lights up the early evening.

EarthSky’s top 10 tips for super stargazers

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | 5 days ago

Here are 10 simple tips that can help you connect with the night sky, and have fun.

What is a galaxy?

Posted by Andy Briggs in Astronomy Essentials | 5 days ago

We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way. But there is so much more to know about these grand and glorious star islands in space! Click in here, and prepare to have your mind expanded.

Asteroid or space junk? Approaching object might become Earth’s mini-moon

Posted by Eddie Irizarry and Deborah Byrd in Space | 6 days ago

A newly discovered “asteroid” may become a new mini-moon for Earth. Instead of an ordinary asteroid, it might be a lost rocket from the Surveyor 2 mission, launched from Earth more than 50 years ago.

The detection of phosphine in Venus’ clouds is a big deal

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Space | 6 days ago

Here’s how we can find out if it’s a sign of life.

Watch online today: Small, close-passing asteroid

Posted by Eddie Irizarry in Space | 7 days ago

Watch online today as asteroid 2020 SW swoops in for its closest approach to Earth on Thursday. The asteroid will pass just 7% of the moon’s distance. Charts here for telescope users. How to watch online.

Today's Image

Tonight

Tonight

Moon and Fomalhaut in late September

Moon and Fomalhaut in late September

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Orion's Belt points to Sirius

Mercury in the west after sunset

Space

Asteroid or space junk? Approaching object might become Earth's mini-moon

X-ray data reveal 1st-ever planet orbiting stars in another galaxy

Are there active geysers at Enceladus' north pole?

Asteroid or space junk? Approaching object might become Earth's mini-moon

The detection of phosphine in Venus' clouds is a big deal

Watch online today: Small, close-passing asteroid

Astronauts shelter as ISS boosted to avoid orbital debris

Cool new Hubble portrait of Jupiter's storms

Giant 'survivor' planet found orbiting dead star

Astro Essentials

Photos of the moon, Jupiter, Saturn in September 2020

Spectacular Venus-Regulus conjunction in early October!

All you need to know: 2020's Harvest Moon

When is the next Blue Moon?

Photos of fiery Mars, nearly at its best in 2 years

Earth

All you need to know: 2020's Harvest Moon

2020 Arctic sea ice minimum 2nd lowest on record

A Chinese perspective on autumn

Why Earth has 4 seasons

What is a hurricane storm surge?

Satellite data helps climbers ascend Mt. Everest

Earth's glaciers and ice sheets are melting

Northern Hemisphere just had its hottest summer on record

Why are skies so red over the U.S. West this week?

Human World

Astronauts shelter as ISS boosted to avoid orbital debris

Coronavirus mutations: what we've learned so far

Astronauts shelter as ISS boosted to avoid orbital debris

A Chinese perspective on autumn

What is a hurricane storm surge?

Videos

2020 Arctic sea ice minimum 2nd lowest on record

2020 Arctic sea ice minimum 2nd lowest on record

Advice from an astronaut

Solar Cycle 25 Is here

Amazon River from space

What are comets?

A breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

NASA’s guide to near light speed space travel

Researchers track slowly splitting 'dent' in Earth’s magnetic field