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For arid, Mars-like desert, rain brings death

By EarthSky in Earth | 5 hours ago

When rains fell on the arid Atacama Desert, it was reasonable to expect floral blooms to follow. But a team of astrobiologists has found that the water brought death instead.

How to watch Mars Insight landing November 26

By Eleanor Imster in Human World | Space | 1 day ago

On November 26, 2018, NASA’s InSight lander will make its daring descent to Mars’ surface. The spacecraft is scheduled to touch down Monday at approximately 20:00 UTC (3 p.m. EST), with live landing commentary starting about an hour before.

Today in science: Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe

By Deborah Byrd in Space | 1 day ago

Last month, the International Astronomical Union – same organization that demoted Pluto to dwarf planet status – voted to rename Hubble’s law as the Hubble–Lemaître law. Will astronomers use the new name?

How rare are November hurricanes?

By Deanna Conners in Earth | 1 day ago

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season is nearing an end, but November hurricanes do occur and they can be deadly.

Pleiades star cluster, aka Seven Sisters

By Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Clusters Nebulae Galaxies | Favorite Star Patterns | 2 days ago

November is sometimes called “the month of the Pleiades,” because this cluster is now so well placed for viewing in the evening sky.

Lunar Outpost unveils small, exploratory moon rovers

By Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 3 days ago

Last week, the space technology startup Lunar Outpost publicly displayed its rover concept – the Lunar Resource Prospector – for the 1st time. The rovers may help pave the way for a human return to the moon.

New NASA video calls for return to moon and Mars

By Deborah Byrd in Human World | Space | 3 days ago

“We’re returning to the moon, preparing to go beyond to Mars. We are going. We are NASA.”

Merging galaxies fuel mega black holes

By Eleanor Imster and Deborah Byrd in Space | 3 days ago

It hasn’t been easy for astronomers to peer into the cores of merging galaxies. Dust obscures the view. Now, new research has given astronomers a better look.

Narwhal adopted by belugas

By EarthSky Voices in Earth | 3 days ago

Scientists are trying to solve the mystery of why a narwhal was adopted by a group of beluga whales in Canada’s St. Lawrence River.

Captive killer whales share personality traits with humans and chimps

By EarthSky in Earth | Human World | 3 days ago

Killer whales share some personality traits with humans and chimps – such as playfulness, independence, stubbornness, bravery, sensitivity and protectiveness – according to a new study.

Huge meteorite crater discovered under Greenland ice

By Eleanor Imster in Earth | 3 days ago

Researchers have identified a large meteorite impact crater hiding under the Greenland ice. The enormous crater – bigger than Paris – appears to be result of meteor strike just 12,000 years ago.

Pine Island Glacier drops another massive iceberg

By Eleanor Imster in Earth | 5 days ago

The giant iceberg – about 3 times the size of Manhattan – broke off from Pine Island Glacier in late October. Scientists say the frequency of such events appears to be on the rise.

Gaia spots enormous ghost galaxy on Milky Way’s outskirts

By EarthSky in Space | 5 days ago

Gaia satellite data revealed the galaxy, which has avoided detection until now, thanks to its extremely low density and hiding place behind the shroud of the Milky Way’s disk.

Tonight

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Tonight

Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters

Come to know the Pleiades, or 7 Sisters

Moon near Uranus on November 20

Pleiades star cluster, aka Seven Sisters

Use Big Dipper to find star Capella

Space

Lunar Outpost unveils small, exploratory moon rovers

How to watch Mars Insight landing November 26

Today in science: Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe

Lunar Outpost unveils small, exploratory moon rovers

New NASA video calls for return to moon and Mars

Merging galaxies fuel mega black holes

Gaia spots enormous ghost galaxy on Milky Way's outskirts

What is space weather?

At last, a planet for Barnard's Star

Astro Essentials

Pleiades star cluster, aka Seven Sisters

Pleiades star cluster, aka Seven Sisters

The enduring mystique of Barnard's Star

Venus hovers near Spica

All you need to know: 2018's Leonid meteor shower

Earth

Narwhal adopted by belugas

For arid, Mars-like desert, rain brings death

How rare are November hurricanes?

Narwhal adopted by belugas

Captive killer whales share personality traits with humans and chimps

Huge meteorite crater discovered under Greenland ice

Pine Island Glacier drops another massive iceberg

What is space weather?

Researchers walk back major ocean warming result

Human World

New NASA video calls for return to moon and Mars

How to watch Mars Insight landing November 26

New NASA video calls for return to moon and Mars

Captive killer whales share personality traits with humans and chimps

Could consciousness come down to the way things vibrate?

Videos

Merging galaxies fuel mega black holes

Merging galaxies fuel mega black holes

Narwhal adopted by belugas

Huge meteorite crater discovered under Greenland ice

What is space weather?

Largest U.S. indoor ocean exhibit has good news

2018 ozone hole slightly above average

Dusk for Dawn mission to asteroids

Zoom in on the Ghost Nebula