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Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Space | 2 hours ago

Vast areas of Mars’ nightside atmosphere glow and pulsate with ultraviolet light, according to images from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.

What is a waning crescent moon?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 2 hours ago

You’ll find a waning crescent moon in the east before sunrise. It’s waning toward new moon, when the moon will be between the Earth and sun.

Perseid meteors 2020: All you need to know

Posted by Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | 19 hours ago

In 2020, the peak mornings for the Perseid meteor shower – August 11, 12 and 13 – will feature meteors under moonlight. Still, the Perseids are bright. We expect a good number to overcome the moonlight. Here’s how to optimize your chances.

A deep, giant cloud disruption found on Venus

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 24 hours ago

Researchers have discovered a giant atmospheric wave-like phenomenon in Venus’ lower atmosphere, unlike anything else seen in the solar system. Evidence shows it has existed since at least 1983, but went completely undetected until now.

These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Human World | 1 day ago

Scientists have been working with professional trainers in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to train dogs to sniff out Covid-19. Most of the dogs have a 100% success rate.

A surprising spiral around a planet factory

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 2 days ago

A new image of the planet-forming disk around the young star RU Lup reveals a beautiful and unexpected massive spiral of gas, reminiscent of a spiral galaxy.

What is a globular cluster?

Posted by Andy Briggs in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 2 days ago

Unlike the open star clusters – containing sibling stars, scattered through the disk of our galaxy and presumably other galaxies – globular clusters are big, symmetrical and old, like an earthly city’s oldest and most staid citizens.

Last quarter moon is August 11

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 3 days ago

The moon reaches its last quarter phase on August 11, 2020, at 04:44 UTC.

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | Space | 4 days ago

We can’t believe it. One of the most popular articles at EarthSky this week is the one asking, will Mars be as big as the moon on August 27? Short answer … no. This hoax has been circulating since 2003.

Top tips for watching the Perseids in 2020

Posted by Deborah Byrd and Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | 4 days ago

On the expected peak mornings of 2020’s Perseid meteor shower – August 11, 12 and 13 – a waning moon will be shining, too. Here’s how to minimize the moon and optimize the Perseids.

Could ice sheets, not rivers, have formed the channels on Mars?

Posted by Paul Scott Anderson in Space | 4 days ago

New research suggests that many of Mars’ ancient channels, thought to have been carved by flowing surface water, were formed instead by meltwater beneath glacial ice sheets.

Satellites discover new penguin colonies from space

Posted by Eleanor Imster in Earth | 4 days ago

Satellite images have revealed 11 previously unknown emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica, identified by telltale reddish-brown guano stains the birds leave on the ice.

What is a waning gibbous moon?

Posted by Deborah Byrd in Moon Phases | 5 days ago

The waning gibbous moon falls between full and last quarter. See it best from late night through early morning.

Tonight

Today's Image

Tonight

Peak Perseid mornings: August 11, 12, 13

What is a waning crescent moon?

Peak Perseid mornings: August 11, 12, 13

Last quarter moon is August 11

Moon and Mars late evening to dawn August 7 to 9

Space

Could ice sheets, not rivers, have formed the channels on Mars?

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

A deep, giant cloud disruption found on Venus

A surprising spiral around a planet factory

What is a globular cluster?

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Could ice sheets, not rivers, have formed the channels on Mars?

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Is there life below the Martian surface?

Astro Essentials

Top tips for watching the Perseids in 2020

Perseid meteors 2020: All you need to know

What is a globular cluster?

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Top tips for watching the Perseids in 2020

Earth

Satellites discover new penguin colonies from space

Satellites discover new penguin colonies from space

Forecasters bump up hurricane predictions for 2020

Mysterious evolution of wonky whale skulls

Earth’s magnetic field may change faster than we thought

Gulf of Mexico dead zone: Summer 2020 forecast

Human-linked Earth vibrations dropped 50% during Covid-19 lockdown

A powerful 7.8-magnitude quake struck Alaska on July 21

Planetary alignment? Increase in volcanoes?

Human World

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

These dogs are trained to sniff out the coronavirus

Mars big as the moon on August 27?

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Top 10 tips for meteor-watchers

Videos

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Images show Martian night sky pulsing with ultraviolet light

Mars landings: '7 minutes of terror'

Successful splashdown for SpaceX Crew Dragon in Gulf of Mexico

Human-linked Earth vibrations dropped 50% during Covid-19 lockdown

1st direct image of 2 giant exoplanets orbiting a sunlike star

James Webb Space Telescope launch date delayed

Solar Orbiter’s 1st views of the sun

'Astonishing discovery' of massive prehistoric circle near Stonehenge