Sun
Sun news: M8.1 flare nears X flare boundaries
Sun news August 21, 2026: AR4513 struck again with an M8.1, just shy of X class, plus an M2.9. With a fresh delta complexity, bigger flares could follow.
Favorite Star Patterns
Teapot of Sagittarius points to the Milky Way’s center
As you gaze toward the famous Teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius, you are looking toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
Earth

Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are fire-generated thunderstorms

This summer, NASA is studying pyrocumulonimbus clouds, or fire-driven thunderstorms. Researchers are flying planes right into the smoke plumes for samples.
Space

Astronomers discover a black hole star, a new type of object

Astronomers believe the little red dots we see in the early universe are a newly discovered type of object called a black hole star.
Space

Detecting whispers from the early universe … from the moon

A tiny UK satellite called CosmoCube is to listen for signals from the early universe. It will use the dark side of the moon to block out noise from Earth.
Astronomy Essentials
Tonight

Visible planets and night sky guide for August

Visible planets and night sky guide: The moon floats near red Antares this evening. And see a video about the lunar eclipse coming up on August 27-28.
Space

Voyager 2 spacecraft launched 49 years ago today

Voyager 2 realized the vision of what was originally called a Grand Tour of the outer solar system. It is the only craft that has visited all 4 outer planets.
Constellations

Sagitta the Arrow lies inside the Summer Triangle

Sagitta the Arrow is a dim constellation that lies inside the Summer Triangle. It contains one Messier object, a small globular cluster.
Space

Mission to save Swift spacecraft fails, will crash back to Earth

NASA said on August 19, 2026, the mission to save the Swift spacecraft will not work after attitude control issues. Swift will crash back to Earth this year.
Today's Image

See the August 12 solar eclipse from the moon’s perspective

Korean's lunar orbiter, Danuri, captured a view of the solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. This unique perspective includes the moon's limb in the foreground.