Posts by 

Kelly Kizer Whitt

The Brood X cicadas are emerging now

Some areas of the United States are starting to report the emergence of the Brood X cicadas after their 17-year absence.

Photos from 2021’s Eta Aquariid meteor shower

Check out these pics from the annual Eta Aquariid meteor shower. The peak morning was likely May 5, 2021, but the following morning, May 6, might be good, too.

The length of a day on Venus is always changing

Scientists have used radio waves to precisely measure Venus' spin rate and tilt on its axis. We knew the Venus day was exceedingly long, but now we know that the length of a day on Venus regularly changes in length!

Space rock found on Earth traced back to origins on Vesta

In 2018, a small asteroid crashed into Earth, and scientists recovered pieces of it in a Botswana game reserve. Now the scientists have determined the space rock's origin: Vesta, in the asteroid belt.

Lyrid meteor and Milky Way over Sedona

The expanse of the Milky Way is punctured by a Lyrid meteor in this incredible photograph taken from Sedona, Arizona, by Cecilia Ray.

Is there such a thing as earthquake season?

Researchers have found a connection between earthquakes in Taiwan and its dry and rainy seasons.

Martin Rees and Frederick Lamb on humanity’s fate

From nuclear weapons to biowarfare to cyberattacks, humanity has much to overcome. Martin Rees and Frederick Lamb discuss the obstacles we must face as we look forward to humanity's future on Earth.

New Horizons passes milestone distance 50 AU

On April 17, 2021, the New Horizons spacecraft passed 50 astronomical units - 50 times Earth's distance from the sun - while speeding toward interstellar space. It also captured an image of another earthly spacecraft, even farther out.

Moon-Mars occultation, from India

Some lucky skywatchers in Southeast Asia saw the moon pass in front of Mars on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Check out these images from EarthSky readers!

Before-and-after of asteroid Bennu’s sample site

During its final flyby this month, the spacecraft OSIRIS-REx took an image of the location where it collected a sample from asteroid Bennu's surface. It'll return to Earth 2 years from now, providing scientists with clues to the creation of our solar system.