Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!
A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Home galaxy found for fast radio burst
In a breakthrough study, astronomers pinpointed the location in the sky of a fast radio burst. That let them determine its home galaxy, and improve their theories about its cause.
January 5, 2017
How your brain plays tricks on your eyes
Your eyes aren't always telling the truth, thanks to your brain. Fun video from the guys at AsapSCIENCE.
January 4, 2017
New app identifies birds from photos
Snap a pic, and the (free) Merlin Bird Photo ID app will identify the bird. Once downloaded, it can go anywhere bird-watchers go, even places without cell service or Wi-Fi.
January 4, 2017
Aurora alert! Thanks to huge coronal hole
The hole is gigantic and facing Earth's way. Possible aurora sightings at the latitude of the northern U.S. – for example, in Michigan or Maine – on January 4 and 5.
January 4, 2017
Will I see the northern lights tonight?
Answers to commonly asked questions about seeing one of nature's wonders: the aurora borealis or northern lights.
January 4, 2017
Light pillars over Sun Valley, Idaho
Ice crystals in the air create these beautiful, upward shafts of light.
January 4, 2017
See it! Moon sweeps past Venus and Mars
As 2017 opens, the young moon is sweeping past dazzling Venus in the west after sunset. Mars is there, too, and, for those with optical aid, Neptune! Photos here.
January 3, 2017
Close and far moons in 2017
We list the 13 lunar perigees (close moons) and 13 lunar apogees (far moons) for the year 2017, plus share a secret on the intriguing cycle of close and far moons.
January 2, 2017
Geese flying along anticrepuscular rays
Elusive anticrepuscular rays converge towards a point on the sky opposite the sun. Karl Diefenderfer caught them as 2016 came to a close, as a flock of geese was passing by.
January 1, 2017
Moon, Venus and Mars after sunset
The dazzling “star” near the waxing moon on January 1, 2 and 3, 2017 is Venus. Mars is also along a line between the sunset location on your horizon and the moon and Venus in your sky.
January 1, 2017
