Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

Earth farthest from sun – at aphelion – July 6, 2026

Earth farthest from sun - aka aphelion - occurs on July 6. That's despite the fact that it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Draconid meteor shower 2026: All you need to know

In 2026, the Draconid meteor shower will probably produce the most meteors on the evening of October 8 through dawn on October 9.

June full moon – Strawberry Moon – is the lowest (highest) of the year

The June full moon - the Strawberry Moon - occurs on the overnight of June 29, 2026, and it will lie in the constellation Sagittarius. And it's a micromoon.

Why do stars twinkle, but planets don’t?

Seen from space, both stars and planets shine steadily, but seen from Earth, stars twinkle while planets (usually) do not. Here’s why.

Why aren’t the hottest days on the solstice?

June solstice 2026 is the longest day for us in the Northern Hemisphere, but the hottest days for the northern Earth are still to come. Why is that?

Mammatus clouds are ominous and beautiful

Mammatus clouds look like bubbling, low-hanging clouds. They're often associated with thunderstorms. Learn more about them and see photos here.

The northernmost sunset is on the June solstice, today!

The northernmost sunset (and sunrise) happen at the June solstice. Here's some quick info that'll help you connect with nature on this special day.

Rastaban and Eltanin, the Dragon’s Eyes, on June evenings

Look in the northeast on these June evenings, near the star Vega. You'll see Rastaban and Eltanin, the eyes of Draco the Dragon.

The Crow, Cup and Water Snake in June skies

Use the bright star Spica to help you find the Crow, Cup and Water Snake. And learn the mythology behind these constellations.

Kilauea spawns a volcanic tornado, or volnado! See it here

On June 14, 2026, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii produced a volnado, or volcanic-generated tornado. See videos of it here and check out the live cam.