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Editors of EarthSky

Seattle waterspout! What are waterspouts and how do they form?

See the Seattle waterspout that formed in Puget Sound on Wednesday. Then read more about waterspouts, which are essentially tornadoes over water.

Pareidolia is seeing things like faces in random objects

Seeing things such as a creepy face in satellite imagery is called pareidolia. Now, a new study says we're more likely to see angry men in random objects.

What is the Earth’s most distant spacecraft?

The most distant spacecraft from Earth is Voyager 1. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is a few billion miles farther from Earth than its sibling, Voyager 2.

Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica

If you only ever learn 1 star mnemonic, make it this one! Arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica to identify 2 of the sky's brightest stars.

Watch sungrazing Comet MAPS break up near the sun

Sungrazing comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) apparently didn't survive its close encounter with the sun. Watch the apparent breakup in spacecraft images!

Star-hop from Orion to Sirius: See them before they go!

Star-hopping is going from stars you know to stars you don't know. Star-hop from the constellation Orion to Sirius, sky's brightest star, before they're gone.

Easter is April 5 and Orthodox Easter is April 12

In 2026, Easter falls on April 5. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the March equinox. More about the date of Easter, here.

Comet Hale-Bopp closest to the sun 29 years ago today

Comet Hale-Bopp was at its closest point to the sun 29 years ago today. It was widely seen from the Northern Hemisphere. When will we see it again?

The April birthstone is the diamond, the hardest known gem

Happy birthday, April babies! The April birthstone, the diamond, is the hardest of the known gems. And it's a popular choice for engagement rings.

Biggest earthquake in North America 62 years ago today

On Good Friday, March 27, 1964, south-central Alaska heaved under the biggest earthquake recorded in North America, registering a 9.2 on the Richter scale.