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Editors of EarthSky

Best eclipse photos! Nearly total, August 27-28

EarthSky community photos of the lunar eclipse of August 27-28, 2026. Thanks to all who submitted eclipse photos!

The Winter Circle: Catch in the morning before dawn

The majestic Winter Circle isn't a constellation. This giant circle - or hexagon - is an asterism, or a pattern made up of stars from several constellations.

The return of Sirius in the morning signals seasonal change

A sign of the changing season is the return of Sirius before sunup. Want to make sure you've spotted Sirius? The 3 stars in Orion's Belt point to it.

Pluto demoted to dwarf planet 20 years ago today

Pluto is the largest of many small bodies in the outer solar system. That's partly why it was demoted from major planet to dwarf planet in 2006.

Voyager 2 confirms Neptune’s rings on August 22 in 1989

NASA's Voyager 2 confirmed the discovery of Neptune's rings on August 22, 1989, when it took images of a faint, continuous ring system around the planet.

Give me 5 minutes and I’ll give you Saturn

We're now in the best months for viewing Saturn in 2026. It'll be at it's best around October 4 when it's closest to Earth and visible all night.

A moon for Mars! Asaph Hall finds Phobos 149 years ago

On this date in 1877, astronomer Asaph Hall discovered a moon for Mars: Phobos, the larger of 2 moons. He discovered the other moon, Deimos, later that year.

Will you see the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction on August 15?

A conjunction is when 2 objects share the same right ascension. The Jupiter-Mercury conjunction on August 15 is the next one. Look for them before sunrise.

Venus greatest distance from the sun August 14-15, 2026

In 2026, look for Venus after sunset! It's high in the August evening sky for all to see. It'll be brightest in the evening sky on September 22.

The 2nd eclipse season of 2026 is underway

One of the many noticeable cycles in the heavens is an eclipse season. The 2nd eclipse season of 2026 starts with a total solar eclipse on August 12.