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Mars in 2022: Earth flies between Mars and sun December 7-8

Mars has brightened throughout 2022 as it draws near its opposition on December 8. Plus, the moon will occult - pass in front of - Mars. Read more.

Deborah Byrd

December 6, 2022

2022 December solstice: All you need to know

The 2022 December solstice takes place on December 21. Northern Hemisphere's shortest day. Southern Hemisphere's longest day. Happy solstice to all!

Deborah Byrd

December 3, 2022

Comet 2022 E3 now in morning skies, brightening

Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) is now in morning skies for the Northern Hemisphere. In early 2023, it should be visible in binoculars. Learn more here.

Don Machholz

Eddie Irizarry

December 1, 2022

Visible planets and night sky December 2022

In December, the morning planet is Mars. In the evening, all five bright planets are visible, with Venus and Mercury climbing higher in the evening twilight.

Marcy Curran

John Jardine Goss

Deborah Byrd

November 29, 2022

Gegenschein is the glow of interplanetary dust

Project Nightflight's Erwin Matys and Karoline Mrazek explain what the gegenschein is and how you can see this elusive stargazing target.

EarthSky Voices

November 25, 2022

Comets are icy balls of gas and dust

Comets are diffuse balls of ice and dust orbiting the sun. They're sometimes visible in our skies. A comet's tail can stretch millions of miles across space.

Editors of EarthSky

November 24, 2022

1st of 5 new supermoons in a row starting today

We will have 5 new supermoons in a row, starting on November 23, 2022. The January 21, 2023, new supermoon will be the closest new moon until 2145. Wow!

Marcy Curran

November 21, 2022

Is there a North Star for Mars?

Is there a North Star for Mars ... a guide star for future explorers? Not in any satisfying way. But Martian stargazers wouldn't lack for things to see!

Deborah Byrd

November 17, 2022