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Editors of EarthSky

Castor – the twin star – is 6 stars in one

The bright blue-white star Castor, in the constellation Gemini, appears to our eyes as a single star. But it’s really a family of 6 stars.

Meet Pollux: The brighter twin star of Gemini

Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, blazes in a golden light next to its bluish-white heavenly twin, Castor.

Look for the colors of the stars in the night sky

Winter is the perfect time for noticing the colors of the stars. Start with Capella, then move on to Taurus and Orion. Check out some colorful stars tonight!

Happy Lunar New Year 2026! The Year of the Horse

Lunar New Year 2026 kicks off February 17 with the new moon, marking the start of the Year of the Horse — fireworks, dragons and global celebrations await!

Jupiter’s moons: How to see and enjoy them

December 2026 and January 2027 are great months for seeing Jupiter's moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto with binoculars or a small telescope.

Amazing cloud streets video: See it here!

See a new video of cloud streets from off the coast of the southeastern U.S. and read more about the phenomenon here.

Full moon names of the month and by the season

Lists of common full moon names - both by month and by season - for North America. And a word about full moon names in the Southern Hemisphere.

Happy Groundhog Day! Will Phil see his shadow?

The predicted high for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2, Groundhog Day, is 24 degrees F (-4 C) and cloudy. Will Phil see his shadow?

The February birthstone is the purple amethyst

Are you a February baby? Here's some cool info about your February birthstone, the amethyst. Read the lore of this purple stone, a variety of quartz.

Watch for the February full moon – or Snow Moon – on February 1

The full Snow Moon will shine brightly all night on February 1-2, 2026. This February full moon will glow near the star Regulus in Leo the Lion.