EarthSky - Earth, Space, Human World, Tonight

Ceres’ bright spots come from salty water below

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Space | 21 hours ago

The mysterious bright spots on Ceres caused a sensation when the Dawn spacecraft first spied them in 2015. Now, they’re known to be salt deposits from a recent or ongoing percolation of briny water from a large reservoir in Ceres’ interior.

Insect apocalypse? Not so fast, at least in North America

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | 23 hours ago

Recent reports of dramatic declines in insect populations have sparked concern about an ‘insect apocalypse.’ But a new analysis of data from sites across North America suggests the case isn’t proven.

Astronomers spy a Milky Way look-alike 12 billion light-years away

Posted by EarthSky in Space | 2 days ago

This distant galaxy – SPT0418-47 – surprised astronomers by being organized enough to have a spinning disk and a galactic bulge, early in the history of our universe.

Visualize the Perseid meteor stream in space

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Today's Image | 3 days ago

This visualization by Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens uses NASA data to render known Perseid meteoroids in space. Don’t miss this!

Arecibo Observatory damaged by broken lashing cable

Posted by Eddie Irizarry in Human World | Space | 3 days ago

The new damage to Arecibo, caused by the heavy cable, happened while repairs from 2017’s Hurricane Maria were still ongoing.

Another intense summer of fires in Siberia

Posted by EarthSky Voices in Earth | 3 days ago

Following an active 2019 season, fires in Siberia in 2020 have again been abundant and widespread, and have produced abnormally large carbon emissions.

Surprising number of exoplanets could host life

Posted by Eleanor Imster and Deborah Byrd in Space | 4 days ago

A new study suggests that distant stars in our Milky Way galaxy might be orbited by as many as 7 Earth-like planets, in the absence of a gas giant planet like Jupiter.

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Space | 4 days ago

Vast areas of Mars’ nightside atmosphere glow and pulsate with ultraviolet light, according to images from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.

What is a waning crescent moon?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 4 days ago

You’ll find a waning crescent moon in the east before sunrise. It’s waning toward new moon, when the moon will be between Earth and the sun.

Perseid meteors 2020: All you need to know

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

In 2020, the peak mornings for the Perseid meteor shower – August 11, 12 and 13 – will feature meteors under moonlight. Still, the Perseids are bright. We expect a good number to overcome the moonlight. Here’s how to optimize your chances.

A deep, giant cloud disruption found on Venus

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 5 days ago

Researchers have discovered a giant atmospheric wave-like phenomenon in Venus’ lower atmosphere, unlike anything else seen in the solar system. Evidence shows it has existed since at least 1983, but went completely undetected until now.

These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Human World | 5 days ago

Scientists have been working with professional trainers in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to train dogs to sniff out Covid-19. Most of the dogs have a 100% success rate.

A surprising spiral around a planet factory

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 6 days ago

A new image of the planet-forming disk around the young star RU Lup reveals a beautiful and unexpected massive spiral of gas, reminiscent of a spiral galaxy.

Today's Image

Tonight

Tonight

Spectacular! Moon and Venus before sunrise August 14 to 16

Spectacular! Moon and Venus before sunrise August 14 to 16

What is a waning crescent moon?

Peak Perseid mornings: August 11, 12, 13

Last quarter moon is August 11

Space

Surprising number of exoplanets could host life

Ceres' bright spots come from salty water below

Astronomers spy a Milky Way look-alike 12 billion light-years away

Arecibo Observatory damaged by broken lashing cable

Surprising number of exoplanets could host life

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

A deep, giant cloud disruption found on Venus

A surprising spiral around a planet factory

What is a globular cluster?

Astro Essentials

Perseid meteors 2020: All you need to know

Visualize the Perseid meteor stream in space

Perseid meteors 2020: All you need to know

What is a globular cluster?

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Earth

Another intense summer of fires in Siberia

Insect apocalypse? Not so fast, at least in North America

Another intense summer of fires in Siberia

Satellites discover new penguin colonies from space

Forecasters bump up hurricane predictions for 2020

Mysterious evolution of wonky whale skulls

Earth’s magnetic field may change faster than we thought

Gulf of Mexico dead zone: Summer 2020 forecast

Human-linked Earth vibrations dropped 50% during Covid-19 lockdown

Human World

Arecibo Observatory damaged by broken lashing cable

Arecibo Observatory damaged by broken lashing cable

These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Videos

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

Astronomers spy a Milky Way look-alike 12 billion light-years away

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Successful splashdown for SpaceX Crew Dragon in Gulf of Mexico

Human-linked Earth vibrations dropped 50% during Covid-19 lockdown

1st direct image of 2 giant exoplanets orbiting a sunlike star

James Webb Space Telescope launch date delayed

Solar Orbiter’s 1st views of the sun