EarthSky | Updates on your cosmos and world

See the year’s fastest sunsets and sunrises around equinoxes

September 17, 2026

2026 September equinox: All you need to know

The September equinox is almost here! Autumn for the Northern Hemisphere. Spring for the Southern Hemisphere. Here's all you need to know.

Deborah Byrd

September 17, 2026

Earth

Wildfires near the South Pole burned 90 million years ago

Researchers have found evidence in a sediment core in Antarctica that wildfires near the South Pole were a regular occurrence some 90 million years ago.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

September 16, 2026

Space

The rings of Chariklo are unexpectedly dynamic and changing

New observations by the James Webb Space Telescope show that the rings of Chariklo, a Centaur in the outer solar system, changed over a period of a few years.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 16, 2026

Sun

Sun news: The sun is about to run out of sunspots

Sun news September 17, 2026: Only one sunspot remains, and it's about to leave. Will tomorrow bring the first spotless sun since February 24? Stay tuned!

September 16, 2026

Visible planets and night sky guide for September

Visible planets and night sky guide: Join today's livestream at noon CDT (17 UTC) and find out about the upcoming September equinox.

September 16, 2026

Why is planet Venus so bright in Earth’s sky?

You can't miss dazzling Venus after sunset! It's the 3rd brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon. But why is Venus so bright?

Deborah Byrd

September 16, 2026

Space

JUICE mission to fly by Earth in late September

The JUICE mission will perform a flyby of Earth in late September 2026. The spacecraft is headed toward Jupiter's icy moons, where it will arrive in 2031.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

Will Triggs

September 16, 2026

Space

Did Venus have a moon for nearly 2 billion years?

Venus had a moon a long time ago, scientists in the US and France say. It likely survived for nearly 2 billion years until Venus' gravity tore it apart.

Paul Scott Anderson

September 15, 2026

Space

Mercury is shrinking up to 30% more than expected

A new study shows Mercury is shrinking more than scientists first thought. They say the planet might have already shrunk up to 30% more than expected.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

September 15, 2026

Astronomy Essentials