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EarthSky’s top photos from 2021
Enjoy EarthSky's top photos from 2021. All these photos were taken by members of the EarthSky community from all around the globe.
December 23, 2021
A nameless grasshopper, found via social media
Old photos on social media helped citizen scientists discover a new species of nameless grasshopper. Its nickname is "the nameless Scaria."
December 22, 2021
Why do pine trees smell good?
Pine trees - as well as spruce and fir, all Christmas tree favorites - produce chemicals called terpenes, giving them their special, distinctive scent.
December 22, 2021
A Mars-sized exoplanet, like Mercury inside
Astronomers have found a nearby, blazing hot, Mars-sized exoplanet. It's like Mercury in composition and orbits its star in only 7.7 hours.
December 20, 2021
Comet Leonard in the evening sky
The first comet to be found in 2021 was Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1). It's now the brightest and best comet of this year! Charts and more here.
December 20, 2021
Seeking Europa’s water plumes with Clipper
Are Europa's water plumes real? NASA's Europa Clipper will launch in 2024 to visit this moon to answer this and other questions about its subsurface ocean.
December 19, 2021
Ursid meteor shower peaks morning of December 22
The Ursid meteor shower always peaks around the December solstice. The dark hours before dawn are best. This year, a nearly full moon interferes.
December 19, 2021
Atmospheric lakes bring much-needed rain
Atmospheric lakes form in the Indian Ocean and bring much-needed rain to dry areas of Africa's eastern coast. They are peaceful cousins to atmospheric rivers.
December 17, 2021
Barreleye fish shows a transparent head
On December 9, 2021, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute shared this rare video of a barreleye fish, or Macropinna microstoma.
December 17, 2021
5 weird things that happen in outer space
Here are 5 weird things that happen in outer space: the state of plasma, extreme temperatures, cosmic alchemy, magnetic explosions and supersonic shocks.
December 16, 2021
