Heiligenschein is the halo around your head’s shadow

Have you ever looked down at your shadow and noticed it looks like you have a bright halo around your head? That's heiligenschein.

Iconic Ring Nebula holds a mysterious iron bar, study finds

Scientists have discovered a mysterious bar of iron hidden within the iconic Ring Nebula. It's not yet clear what created it.

Quantum computers and exoplanets: New view of distant worlds

Quantum computers and exoplanets: Distant planets around other stars are difficult to image. But quantum computers could help astronomers see them better.

New evidence for ancient Mars ocean found in giant canyon

Evidence for an ancient Mars ocean keeps growing. Deltas in the Valles Marineris canyon along the former shoreline show that the ocean covered half the planet.

Betelgeuse will explode someday, but WHEN?

Will Betelgeuse have another period of noticeable dimming? Betelgeuse will explode as a supernova someday. When it does, it'll be visible in daylight.

Tiger shark mating site identified off Maui

Researchers have identified a tiger shark mating site off Maui. Their study reveals a predictable gathering pattern among the sharks for mating.

The moon’s terminator line divides night and day

The moon’s terminator line divides day and night on the moon. As we see it from Earth, it marks the line of lunar sunsets or sunrises. Read more.

This galaxy cluster provides a lens on distant space

The Webb space telescope has imaged the stunning galaxy cluster MACS J1149, putting a spotlight on its prominent gravitational lensing.

What causes an aurora, the northern or southern lights?

The aurora, or northern and southern lights, occur when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field. Read more here.

2027 Quadrantid meteor shower has narrow peak on January 3-4

The Quadrantid meteor shower in 2027 will peak in the hours before dawn on January 4, in a dark sky.