Astronomy Essentials
Tonight
Visible planets and night sky guide for July
EarthSky's visible planets and night sky guide. Tomorrow morning, watch in the east before dawn to see the thin waning crescent moon, glowing with earthshine.
Sun
Sun news: Sun still quiet, but auroras possible at Earth
Sun news July 11, 2026: A glancing blow from a July 9 CME could spark weekend auroras at high latitudes. Aurora watchers, get your cameras!
Human World

It’s time for Manhattanhenge, part 2! Here’s how to see it

Each year around May 28 and July 11, New Yorkers watch for Manhattanhenge, an alignment of the sunset along city streets. Here's how to see it.
Constellations

Scorpius the Scorpion and its legendary stinger

The southernmost constellation of the zodiac is Scorpius the Scorpion. It's easy to spot on July evenings from most of the globe. It has a distinctive J shape.
Moon Phases

What is a waning crescent moon?

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

Euclid finds the most ancient quasars in the universe so far

The Euclid space telescope has discovered 31 new quasars, including the 2 most distant and most ancient quasars yet known.
Space

Warped spacetime reveals exoplanet far from its star

The Gaia and TESS space telescopes have discovered a distant Jupiter-like world - Gaia23bra b - by studying warped spacetime.
Space

Apophis: From scary asteroid to a rare science opportunity

In just 3 years, asteroid Apophis will zoom safely past Earth. This much-anticipated event is a must-see! Here's how you can see it with your own eyes.
Earth

Atlantic hurricane season forecast updated due to El Niño

Colorado State University, one of the 2 organizations that make Atlantic hurricane season forecasts, has now revised its forecast downward for 2026.
Constellations
Tonight

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is overhead now

Corona Borealis, aka the Northern Crown, looks like the letter C. A dark sky is best for seeing this faint semicircle of stars. It's between Arcturus and Vega.

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