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Colors of scintillating Venus
Venus reaches inferior conjunction today, officially leaving the evening sky. It has been low in the sky, where Earth's atmosphere has caused Venus to scintillate, or twinkle, in many colors.
March 25, 2017
New map of space dust in 3-D
Sure, we're all collections of space dust. But astronomers also want to study it in order to understand how space dust in our Milky Way obscures starlight from afar.
March 25, 2017
Perfect airplane glory
You might catch an airplane glory when a mist or cloud lies below you, with the sun shining upon it.
March 24, 2017
Venus after sunset and before sunrise!
The planet Venus is now appearing in the west after sunset and in the east before sunrise. Don't believe it? Astronomer Bruce McClure reports on his observation.
March 23, 2017
Record low sea ice at both poles
Considering both poles in February 2017, Earth essentially lost the equivalent of a chunk of sea ice larger than Mexico, in contrast to the average global minimum for 1981-2010.
March 23, 2017
Does Mars sometimes have rings?
It's possible that Mars' closer moon - Phobos - might alternate between becoming a planetary ring and clumping together to form a moon.
March 23, 2017
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Ancient structures in a desolate area of land in surrounded by a Navajo reservation. Around 1,000 years ago, the architects of this place walked away.
March 23, 2017
Star’s death spiral into black hole
What happens when a star with about our sun's mass spirals into a black hole? With the distant event known as ASASSN-14li, astronomers have figured out some details.
March 22, 2017
Green flash at sunset
It's easiest to see a green flash with optical aid, but you have to be very careful not to look too soon, or you'll dazzle - or damage - your eyes.
March 22, 2017
Arcturus, a northern springtime star
Orange Arcturus is the constellation Bootes the Herdsman's brightest star. Look for it in the east around nightfall.
March 22, 2017
