EarthSky - Earth, Space, Human World, Tonight

It flew! Mars helicopter takes to the air

Posted by Lia Rovira in Space | 10 hours ago

The Mars helicopter – named Ingenuity – successfully flew in the thin air of Mars early in the day on Monday, April 19. A press conference is scheduled for later today. Images and links here.

For the 2nd time, Northrop Grumman catches a satellite in Earth orbit

Posted by Lia Rovira in Space | 1 day ago

Northrop Grumman said last week that its Mission Extension Vehicle 2 – a robot spacecraft designed to help prolong the life of satellites in space – successfully docked to a commercial communications satellite. “We are now the only provider of life extension services for satellites,” a company spokesperson said.

Listen to a spiderweb

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Earth | Human World | 1 day ago

Spiders are master builders, expertly weaving strands of silk into intricate 3D webs. Now, scientists report they have translated the complex structure of a web into music. Listen here.

A case against killing spiders

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | Human World | 1 day ago

An entomologist explains why it’s a good idea to be nice to the spiders you encounter and consider a live-and-let-live policy.

Before-and-after of asteroid Bennu’s sample site

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Space | 2 days ago

During its final flyby this month, the spacecraft OSIRIS-REx took an image of the location where it collected a sample from asteroid Bennu’s surface. It’ll return to Earth 2 years from now, providing scientists with clues to the creation of our solar system.

Is Jupiter a key to finding dark matter?

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Space | 3 days ago

Jupiter’s large size and cool core make it an excellent target in the search for dark matter. A team of scientists is analyzing gamma-ray data from the Fermi Telescope looking for signs of the elusive substance.

Earliest known honey jars in Africa are 3,500 years old

Posted by Shireen Gonzaga in Human World | 3 days ago

An ancient people with a sweet tooth – the Nok culture of sub-Saharan Africa – used terracotta pots to hold honey 3,500 years ago. They may be the earliest confirmed honey collectors in Africa.

How to take photos of star trails

Posted by Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | 3 days ago

Photographers take star trail photos by pointing their cameras at the sky and leaving the shutter open for long exposures, resulting in an image that shows streaks of light from the movement of Earth’s rotation.

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi sets a new space record

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Human World | 3 days ago

Congratulations to Japan’s astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who this month was awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest time between spacewalks: 15 years and 214 days.

Yellowballs offer insights into star formation

Posted by Amy Oliver in Space | 4 days ago

The unexpected discovery of yellowballs by citizen scientists – in 2011 and 2012 – is shaking up astronomers’ ideas about how stars and star clusters form. It’s giving scientists a new window into the birth and evolution of young stars.

Martian hill named to honor Curiosity scientist

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Human World | Space | 4 days ago

NASA has given the name Rafael Navarro Mountain to a hill in Gale Crater on Mars, where the Curiosity rover has been exploring since 2012. Navarro, a mission scientist, died in January 2021 from Covid-19.

Sea level rise creating ghost forests in U.S. East

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | 4 days ago

Sea level rise is killing trees along the U.S. east coast, creating ‘ghost forests’ that are visible from space.

Milky Way season has started!

Posted by Kelly Kizer Whitt in Space | Today's Image | 4 days ago

Spring brings flowers to the landscape and photos of the Milky Way to EarthSky! Enjoy these photos of our galaxy taken in 2021, and keep your eye on this space for more to come!

Today's Image

Tonight

Tonight

Moon and Gemini stars on April 18 and 19

Moon and Gemini stars on April 18 and 19

In mid-April, look west after sunset for Mars and the moon

Leo? Here's your constellation

Great chance to spot a very young moon April 12

Space

Before-and-after of asteroid Bennu's sample site

It flew! Mars helicopter takes to the air

For the 2nd time, Northrop Grumman catches a satellite in Earth orbit

Before-and-after of asteroid Bennu's sample site

Is Jupiter a key to finding dark matter?

Yellowballs offer insights into star formation

Martian hill named to honor Curiosity scientist

Milky Way season has started!

Chemical fingerprint reveals a migrating exoplanet

Astro Essentials

How to take photos of star trails

How to take photos of star trails

2021 Lyrid meteor shower: All you need to know

Beta Centauri is a Southern Pointer Star

The Coma Cluster contains thousands of galaxies

Earth

Sea level rise creating ghost forests in U.S. East

Listen to a spiderweb

A case against killing spiders

Sea level rise creating ghost forests in U.S. East

Carbon dioxide levels now higher than at any time in past 3.6 million years

5 ways fish are like you and me

Guatemala's Pacaya volcano still erupting

Newly-discovered dino named the ‘one who causes fear’

Billions of Brood X cicadas set to emerge in spring 2021

Human World

Earliest known honey jars in Africa are 3,500 years old

Listen to a spiderweb

A case against killing spiders

Earliest known honey jars in Africa are 3,500 years old

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi sets a new space record

Videos

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi sets a new space record

Listen to a spiderweb

Before-and-after of asteroid Bennu's sample site

Astronaut Soichi Noguchi sets a new space record

Hubble spots double quasars in merging galaxies

Scientists detect X-rays from Uranus

Interstellar visitor Borisov could be 1st truly pristine comet yet seen

Billions of Brood X cicadas set to emerge in spring 2021

Striking new image of M106