EarthSky | Updates on your cosmos and world

2 asteroid flybys yield new closeup images

July 7, 2026

Guy Ottewell honored with an asteroid in his name

On July 6, 2026, the IAU honored longtime astronomy educator Guy Ottewell with an asteroid. Thus 21008 (1988 PE) is now also known as asteroid Ottewell.

Editors of EarthSky

July 7, 2026

Human World

See 6 major spaceport launch sites … from space!

These 6 major spaceport launch sites helped open the space age. Now, satellites orbiting Earth can look back at the very gateways that sent them there.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 7, 2026

Space

Opportunity left for Mars on July 7, 2003

NASA's Opportunity rover launched to Mars on July 7, 2003. The rover surpassed all expectations. It officially ended its mission on February 13, 2019.

Deborah Byrd

July 7, 2026

Astronomy Essentials

Tonight

Visible planets and night sky guide for July

EarthSky's visible planets and night sky guide. Today, after midnight, look for a half illuminated moon near planet Saturn. You can catch them through dawn.

July 7, 2026

Circinus the Drawing Compass, Alpha Centauri’s neighbor

Circinus the Drawing Compass is a dim constellation located next to the 3rd brightest star in the sky, Alpha Centauri. It looks like a pair of tweezers.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 7, 2026

Sun

Sun news: Monstrous sunspots depart with a fiery show

Sun news July 7, 2026: Last week's monster active regions have rotated to the sun's far side, exiting in fiery style. AR4482 now takes center stage.

July 7, 2026

Puffiest exoplanets yet found are as dense as cotton candy

Astronomers have discovered the 2 puffiest exoplanets known so far. They are similar in size to Jupiter, but have the density of cotton candy.

Paul Scott Anderson

July 6, 2026

Space

How a planet survived the death of its sunlike star

Scientists have solved the mystery of how a gas giant planet survived the death of its star. The planet migrated inward after the star's red giant phase.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 5, 2026

Constellations

Ursa Minor the Lesser Bear contains the Little Dipper

Ursa Minor is the Lesser Bear, but you might recognize it as the Little Dipper. Also, its brightest star is Polaris, the North Star.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 3, 2026

Space

The Milky Way’s arms might not look as we thought

The Milky Way's arms might be farther away than we thought, meaning our galaxy is likely larger than previously believed. Here's how they made the measurements.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 3, 2026