Sun
Sun news: Auroras continued and more to come
Sun news August 19, 2026: Two G1 storms brought auroras overnight, thanks mostly to coronal hole wind. More storm conditions are expected today and tomorrow.
Constellations
Is Ophiuchus the 13th constellation of the zodiac?
Born between November 29 and December 18? Then the sun passes in front of Ophiuchus on your birthday. Here's how to spot the constellation Ophiuchus in the sky.
Astronomy Essentials
Tonight

Visible planets and night sky guide for August

Visible planets and night sky guide: Join EarthSky’s Marcy Curran for your skywatching best bets for the week of August 17 in this new video.
Space

1st ultra-faint Milky Way satellite galaxy found by Rubin

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has only just begun its survey, yet it has already discovered its first ultra-faint Milky Way satellite, Aquarius IV.
Astronomy Essentials

Give me 5 minutes and I’ll give you Saturn

We're now in the best months for viewing Saturn in 2026. It'll be at it's best around October 4 when it's closest to Earth and visible all night.
Space

A moon for Mars! Asaph Hall finds Phobos 149 years ago

On this date in 1877, astronomer Asaph Hall discovered a moon for Mars: Phobos, the larger of 2 moons. He discovered the other moon, Deimos, later that year.
Space

Swift spacecraft, and a mission to save it, caught on video

The Swift space telescope is falling back to Earth. The LINK spacecraft is trying to save it. See both in orbit in a new video.
Space

Were these polygonal cracks on Venus once on a seafloor?

Sprawling, huge cracks on Venus have long puzzled scientists. A new study suggests the polygon shapes formed from drying mud on an ancient seafloor.
Astronomy Essentials

Deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28, 2026

A deep partial lunar eclipse takes place of the full Sturgeon Moon on August 27-28, 2026, It's well placed for the Western Hemisphere.
Earth
Human World

Ancient Amazon civilization might have been home to millions

Laser surveys have revealed hundreds of earthworks in the Amazon. Researchers estimate the ancient Amazon civilization could have supported 3 million people.