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Here’s what ‘habitable’ means to astronomers
When astronomers say a distant world is 'habitable,' what do they mean? Do they mean humans could live there? Do they mean we've discovered alien life?
January 18, 2026
Top 10 brightest objects in our solar system
Ready for some easy astronomy? How about the top 10 brightest objects in our solar system? If you've seen every one of these objects, congrats!
January 14, 2026
Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2026
2026's Leonid meteor shower will peak on the morning of November 18, 2026. Watch for meteors after midnight until dawn. A 1st quarter moon will be present.
January 13, 2026
What does opposition mean for an outer planet?
Opposition is when Earth passes directly between the sun and an outer planet, placing the outer planet on the opposite side of the sky from the sun.
January 9, 2026
Venus superior conjunction (beyond sun) on January 6
The moment of the Venus superior conjunction - when it passes most nearly behind the sun as viewed from Earth - occurs today, January 6, 2026.
January 6, 2026
Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13-14
The Geminids are here! The 2026 shower peaks December 13-14. Watch in a dark sky. The peak time of night is probably around 2 a.m.
January 6, 2026
Are the December solstice and January perihelion related?
December solstice 2025 occurred on December 21. Earth will be closest to the sun about 2 weeks later, on January 3. Coincidence?
January 2, 2026
How to translate UTC to your local time zone
The Earth has about 24 time zones. Because these differ widely, science uses Universal Time, or UTC. Learn how to translate UTC to your local time zone.
January 1, 2026
Yarkovsky effect: Pushing asteroids with sunlight
The Yarkovsky effect is a minuscule push on a small body in space, imparted by nothing more than sunlight. It can change the direction of asteroids.
January 1, 2026
Learn how to shoot photos of meteors
Want to shoot photos of meteors with your camera? The first step is planning. The next step is to gather your equipment. Then on to the capture process.
January 1, 2026
