Posts by

Kelly Kizer Whitt

How a planet survived the death of its sunlike star

Scientists have solved the mystery of how a gas giant planet survived the death of its star. The planet migrated inward after the star's red giant phase.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 5, 2026

Ursa Minor the Lesser Bear contains the Little Dipper

Ursa Minor is the Lesser Bear, but you might recognize it as the Little Dipper. Also, its brightest star is Polaris, the North Star.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 3, 2026

The Milky Way’s arms might not look as we thought

The Milky Way's arms might be farther away than we thought, meaning our galaxy is likely larger than previously believed. Here's how they made the measurements.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 3, 2026

Rubin Observatory begins 10-year timelapse of the universe

The Rubin Observatory has now begun its Legacy Survey of Space and Time. This 10-year survey will create a timelapse record of the universe.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

July 1, 2026

A passing star may have unleashed a comet deluge

Scientists think a passing star 2.5 million years ago might have sent a wave of comets in toward the sun. Some of those comets could still be arriving today.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 30, 2026

Earth

The Tunguska explosion rocked Siberia 118 years ago

The Tunguska explosion on June 30, 1908, is the largest asteroid impact in recorded history. Researchers are preparing for future Tunguska-sized events.

Paul Scott Anderson

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 30, 2026

A lunar quarantine facility to protect from alien microbes?

Scientists are proposing a lunar quarantine facility on the moon to protect Earth from possible alien microbes. Do we need one?

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 28, 2026

H5N1 bird flu has now spread to all 7 continents

The H5N1 bird flu has reached Australia, completing its spread to all 7 continents and raising concerns for the nation’s birds, wildlife and livestock.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 28, 2026

See Milky Way’s core in most detailed photo yet

ESA released a new image of the Milky Way's core. This view, from the Euclid space telescope, is the largest and most detailed image yet of the galactic center.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 26, 2026

Voyager 1 to reach 1 light-day from Earth on November 18

The Voyager 1 spacecraft -- launched from Earth in 1977 -- will become the 1st human-made object to reach 1 light-day from Earth on November 18.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 26, 2026

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Kelly Kizer Whitt writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She's been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children's picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.