Posts by

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Why is the snowman shape so common in the Kuiper Belt?

Scientists at MSU have modeled the process of gravitational collapse that they say creates the snowman shape that is so common in the outer solar system.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 24, 2026

NASA says it failed Starliner astronauts, blasts Boeing

In a press conference on February 19, 2026, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman took responsibility for the agency's failures during the 2024 Starliner flight.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 19, 2026

Fire weather threatens a large swath of the US

Critical fire weather will threaten much of the southwestern and central US on Thursday. Wildfires already plagued parts of Oklahoma and Kansas on Tuesday.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 19, 2026

For you, Valentine. Heart photos from nature

This Valentine’s Day, we find so much to love in the many heart shapes right here on Earth and all the way out in remote spots of the universe.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 13, 2026

New clues to how giant galaxies formed in the early universe

Astronomers studying giant galaxies in the early universe have found some 40 galaxies tied together that will likely transform into 1 huge elliptical.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 12, 2026

Meteorite hunting? Here’s tips on how to find one

Meteorite hunters look for rocks different from their surroundings. Later, they analyze the properties of unusual rocks to confirm it's a meteorite.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 6, 2026

What are the best targets for binoculars?

The best targets for binoculars in the night sky are the moon, planets, star clusters and nebulae. You can even catch the smudge of distant galaxies in them.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

February 4, 2026

Dorado and Mensa house the Large Magellanic Cloud

The constellations Dorado and Mensa are deep in southern skies. Between them, stretching across the border, lies the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

January 30, 2026

Heiligenschein is the halo around your head’s shadow

Have you ever looked down at your shadow and noticed it looks like you have a bright halo around your head? That's heiligenschein.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

January 28, 2026

The moon’s terminator line divides night and day

The moon’s terminator line divides day and night on the moon. As we see it from Earth, it marks the line of lunar sunsets or sunrises. Read more.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

January 25, 2026

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Kelly Kizer Whitt - EarthSky’s nature and travel vlogger on YouTube - 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.