Astronomy Essentials
Tonight
Visible planets and night sky guide for June
Visible planets and night sky guide. Watch in the evening for Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury. Early next week, Venus and Jupiter will meet in a conjunction.
Space
Magnetic exoplanets? Strange winds are strongest hint yet
Astronomers have found the strongest hint yet of magnetic exoplanets, thanks to new measurements of strange winds on distant worlds.
Today's Image

Crystal Ball Nebula hides a fading star and its companion

The Crystal Ball Nebula is a giant sphere of gas and dust encircling a pair of stars in the direction of the constellation Taurus the Bull.
Tonight

Big and Little Dippers in the northern sky on June evenings

The Big and Little Dippers are June sky favorites, with the Big Dipper’s Pointer stars leading the way to Polaris and the Little Dipper.
Earth

Prepare for El Niño conditions, urge officials

The WMO said on June 2 that people should start preparing now for above average temperatures and extreme weather due to coming El Niño conditions.
Space

The black hole or galaxy: Which came 1st?

QSO1 is an ancient Little Red Dot galaxy from the early universe. It contains a supermassive black hole. Which came first, the black hole or galaxy?
Human World

June birthstone: Pearl, moonstone or alexandrite

June babies ... it is time to choose your June birthstone: pearl, moonstone or alexandrite. All of them are lovely choices.
Earth

Elephant calf reunion melts hearts in Kenya

An elephant calf reunion in Kenya melted hearts recently. The lost baby answered her aunt’s call and her family rushed in to welcome her home.
Space

Could aliens visit Earth? Here are some challenges

Scientists say it’s unlikely aliens visit Earth anytime soon, because interstellar travel faces huge barriers of distance, energy and time.
Earth
Human World

BOOM over Massachusetts and U.S. East probably a meteor

Many reported a streak across the daytime sky and a boom over Massachusetts and surrounding areas in the US East, probably a meteor.