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Sun
Sun news: Two M flares lift sun activity to moderate levels
Sun news August 20, 2026: Two M flares! Newcomer AR4513 debuted with an M1.9, and added an M1.0. Notably flare production increased.
August 20, 2026
Space
Mission to save Swift spacecraft fails, will crash back to Earth
NASA said on August 19, 2026, the mission to save the Swift spacecraft will not work after attitude control issues. Swift will crash back to Earth this year.
Astronomy Essentials
Tonight
Visible planets and night sky guide for August
Visible planets and night sky guide: Join EarthSky’s Deborah Byrd live today at noon CDT (17 UTC) for a preview of the August 27-28 near total lunar eclipse.
August 19, 2026
Today's Image
See the August 12 solar eclipse from the moon’s perspective
Korean's lunar orbiter, Danuri, captured a view of the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. This unique perspective includes the moon's limb in the foreground.
August 19, 2026
Space
Super-Earths might be solid deep on the inside
Super-Earths might be solid in their deep insides, a new study says. Minerals might take unusual forms and remain solid despite the intense heat and pressure.
August 19, 2026
Clusters Nebulae Galaxies
The Great Rift is a dark swath in the Milky Way
The Great Rift or Dark Rift is a darkened swath of the Milky Way where new stars are forming. It's best seen from a rural location away from light pollution.
August 19, 2026
Constellations
Is Ophiuchus the 13th constellation of the zodiac?
The sun passes through Ophiuchus for about 2 weeks every year, so why isn’t this constellation considered the zodiac’s 13th sign?
August 19, 2026
Space
1st ultra-faint Milky Way satellite galaxy found by Rubin
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has only just begun its survey, yet it has already discovered its first ultra-faint Milky Way satellite, Aquarius IV.
August 18, 2026
Astronomy Essentials
Give me 5 minutes and I’ll give you Saturn
We're now in the best months for viewing Saturn in 2026. It'll be at it's best around October 4 when it's closest to Earth and visible all night.
August 18, 2026
Space
A moon for Mars! Asaph Hall finds Phobos 149 years ago
On this date in 1877, astronomer Asaph Hall discovered a moon for Mars: Phobos, the larger of 2 moons. He discovered the other moon, Deimos, later that year.
August 17, 2026
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