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Posts by
Editors of EarthSky
Sapphire: September birthstone comes in many colors
Sapphire, the September birthstone, is typically blue, the color caused by small amounts of titanium and iron in the crystal structure.
September 1, 2026
Do you love twilight? The 3 stages explained
Twilight is that magical time between sunlight and darkness. Astronomers, experts on nighttime, recognize 3 stages of twilight.
August 30, 2026
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!
August 28, 2026
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.
August 27, 2026
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.
August 26, 2026
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.
August 24, 2026
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.
August 21, 2026
Perseid meteor shower 2027! All you need to know
The Perseid meteor shower peaks this week! It's best between midnight and dawn. The peak is August 12 and 13 before dawn, but watch around those mornings, too.
August 20, 2026
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.
August 18, 2026
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.
August 17, 2026
