EarthSky - Earth, Space, Human World, Tonight

Top 5 Mercury mysteries that BepiColombo will solve

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Space | 10 seconds ago

BepiColombo – a joint mission of Europe and Japan – successfully passed Earth last night and is now headed toward the innermost part of the solar system. Here are questions about our sun’s innermost planet, Mercury, the spacecraft is expected to answer.

What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 22 hours ago

How the coronavirus infects and how it makes people sick.

EarthSky’s essential coronavirus links

Posted by Shireen Gonzaga in Human World | 22 hours ago

Updated April 9, 2020. African Americans more likely to get COVID-19. What’s next after stay-at-home orders are lifted? Worries about a global “poverty tsunami.” Coronavirus arrived in New York from Europe. Tweets from the frontlines. More.

Will you see BepiColombo’s goodbye flyby tonight?

Posted by Deborah Byrd and Eddie Irizarry in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 22 hours ago

BepiColombo is a spacecraft on a roundabout journey to Mercury. It’ll sweep near Earth tonight, using Earth as a gravity slingshot to send it hurtling toward the inner solar system. For most of us, BepiColombo will pass unseen. But people with telescopes might spot it! Charts and more here.

Here’s how to see that huge asteroid that’ll safely pass Earth in April

Posted by Eddie Irizarry in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 2 days ago

A huge asteroid – (52768) 1998 OR2 – will pass closest to Earth on April 29. Astronomers at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico begin detailed observations today. Charts, tips – plus how to watch online – here.

A rare ozone hole is open over the Arctic

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Earth | 2 days ago

Since March 14, ozone over Earth’s Arctic has decreased to what’s normally considered ‘ozone hole levels.’ Scientists expect this year’s Arctic hole – the largest ever seen over the Arctic – to close again around mid-April 2020.

Why did Ecuador’s tallest waterfall stop flowing?

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | 2 days ago

With water dropping 150 meters (490 feet) through a thick patch of cloud forest, San Rafael Waterfall was one of Ecuador’s most captivating landscapes and attracted tens of thousands of visitors per year. But on February 2, the water stopped flowing.

Is bright Comet ATLAS disintegrating?

Posted by Eddie Irizarry in Space | 4 days ago

Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) has been fainter during the last few nights. It’s possible it’s disintegrating (as comets sometimes do), although it’s still possible ATLAS will survive. Details here.

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 4 days ago

A waxing gibbous moon appears more than half lighted, but less than full. It rises before sundown and sets somewhere between midnight and dawn.

Fossil skull suggests human ancestors emerged 200,000 years earlier than thought

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Human World | 4 days ago

This newly discovered fossil is a hugely important find, say scientists. It means that one of our earliest ancestors possibly originated in southern Africa. Read more

What is a supermoon?

Posted by Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | 5 days ago

We’re currently enjoying a “season” of 3 full moon supermoons: March 9, April 7-8 and May 7, 2020. Then we’ll have a “season” of 3 new moon supermoons on September 17, October 16 and November 15, 2020. Supermoon-o-mania, here.

Was Mercury once habitable?

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 5 days ago

As unlikely as it may sound, Mercury may have once been able to support subsurface microscopic life, according to a new study from the Planetary Science Institute.

Ready, set, explore Earth from home

Posted by David Callejas in Earth | Human World | 7 days ago

We’re at home. How about you? But we just discovered these virtual tours, galleries and live webcams from around the world, which we wanted to share. Stay home, and have some virtual fun …

Tonight

Today's Image

Tonight

Seek a daytime moon after sunrise

Seek a daytime moon after sunrise

Year's biggest and brightest supermoon on April 7-8

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

Follow the arc to Arcturus, drive a spike to Spica

Space

Is bright Comet ATLAS disintegrating?

Top 5 Mercury mysteries that BepiColombo will solve

Will you see BepiColombo's goodbye flyby tonight?

Here's how to see that huge asteroid that'll safely pass Earth in April

Is bright Comet ATLAS disintegrating?

Was Mercury once habitable?

Jupiter gives us Pluto in 2020

What is dark energy?

Astronomers announce 100 new minor planets beyond Neptune

Astro Essentials

What is a supermoon?

Will you see BepiColombo's goodbye flyby tonight?

Here's how to see that huge asteroid that'll safely pass Earth in April

What is a supermoon?

Photos: Venus and the Pleiades meet

Earth

Why did Ecuador’s tallest waterfall stop flowing?

A rare ozone hole is open over the Arctic

Why did Ecuador’s tallest waterfall stop flowing?

Ready, set, explore Earth from home

April's birthstone is the diamond

International team discovers 3 new species of flying reptiles

Was this the ancestor of all animals?

Ancient 4-limbed fish reveals origin of human hand

Check out these mammatus clouds

Human World

Fossil skull suggests human ancestors emerged 200,000 years earlier than thought

What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly

EarthSky's essential coronavirus links

Fossil skull suggests human ancestors emerged 200,000 years earlier than thought

What is a supermoon?

Videos

A rare ozone hole is open over the Arctic

What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly

A rare ozone hole is open over the Arctic

Watch 2 penguins explore closed Chicago aquarium

Retreat at Pine Island glacier

Curiosity rover on Mars snags highest-resolution panorama yet

Want to be an astronaut? Apply now!

Astronomers detect biggest explosion in history of universe

InSight Lander reveals 1st marsquakes on Mars