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Posts by
Editors of EarthSky
Synchronous fireflies light up these national parks
The synchronous fireflies are back! These lightning bugs flash in harmony in the Great Smoky Mountains and other nearby parks from mid-May to mid-June.
May 20, 2026
The Lyrid meteor shower in 2027 peaks April 22
The best time to watch the Lyrid meteor shower is before dawn on the mornings of April 22 and 23. You'll have a bright waning gibbous moon in the sky.
May 20, 2026
Constellations and signs: What’s the difference?
What is the difference between the signs of the zodiac and the constellations of the zodiac? Astronomer Guy Ottewell illustrates and discusses this difference.
May 20, 2026
Apex of the sun: Look to Vega in May
Apex of the sun shows the direction our solar system moves through space, toward the bright star Vega in the May night sky.
May 15, 2026
The Southern Cross: your guide to due south
There's no bright star marking due south from the Southern Hemisphere. But the Southern Cross points the way.
May 14, 2026
Von Kármán vortices are mesmerizing, swirling clouds
See von Kármán vortices - mesmerizing, swirling pattern of clouds - in these satellite images. These clouds form when the wind hits a barrier like a mountain.
May 8, 2026
Venus greatest distance from the morning sun January 2027
Look for Venus before sunrise. It's blazingly bright, and still visible in the morning twilight! It'll be in the morning sky through November.
May 1, 2026
May birthstone: The magnificent green emerald
Happy birthday, May babies! The May birthstone is the emerald, a stone once worn by royalty in ancient Babylon and Egypt.
May 1, 2026
See great pics of Comet R3 PanSTARRS from our community
Comet R3 PanSTARRS is closest to Earth on April 26. See a cool image from a sun-watching spacecraft, and these fantastic community photos.
April 25, 2026
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.
April 16, 2026
