2020 | EarthSky

silhouettes of trees and firefights against fiery orange background

Another terrible year for wildfires and smoke in the US in 2020

Wildfires burned more than 10 million acres in the United States during the 2020 season. It was the worst season on record.

2020 tied for warmest year on record

2020 was Earth's hottest year in the 140-year record, effectively tying 2016, the previous record-holder.

Record number of billion-dollar disasters in U.S. in 2020

Last year, the U.S. experienced a record-smashing 22 weather and climate disasters that killed at least 262 people and injured scores more. Damages exceeded $1 billion each and totaled approximately $95 billion for all 22 events.

The sun in 2020

See a whole year of sun images, an image a day for 2020, taken by ESA's Proba-2 satellite.

The sky in 2020

A collection of astronomical photos of 2020 from southern British Columbia, Canada. The music is 'Windswept' by Kevin Macleod.

Jupiter and Saturn above bright city lights.

Your photos of 2020’s historic Jupiter-Saturn conjunction

Jupiter and Saturn's great conjunction - where they appeared exceedingly close on the sky's dome - was December 21. Thank you to EarthSky community members from around the world who captured photos!

2020 Arctic Report Card: Sea ice loss, extreme wildfires

NOAA’s 2020 Arctic Report Card describes a region that is warming even more rapidly than scientists expected.

A man extending his arm to the sky, as if to hold the planets Jupiter and Saturn which appear very close together.

All you need to know: 2020’s great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn at conjunction are only 0.1 degree apart. Don't miss them! Info, charts, photos here.

A composite of Geminid meteors on December 14, 2020.

Favorite photos of 2020’s Geminid meteor shower

EarthSky community members from around the world share their photos and experiences of this year's Geminid meteor shower, here.

Favorite photos: December 2020’s waning moon and Venus

A few of our favorite images of the waning crescent moon and dazzling planet Venus in the early-morning sky.

Satellite view of Atlantic Ocean showing 5 white circular tropical storm

Phew! Record-smashing 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is officially over

November 30 marked the official end of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, although more storms are still possible. Why did 2020 have so many storms? And what does climate change have to do with it?

Photos of 2020’s Leonid meteor shower

EarthSky Community members around the world are sharing their photos of this year's Leonid meteor shower. Beautiful! Thanks to all who contributed.

Diwali 2020 shone in this ashram, despite Covid-19

Images of Diwali 2020 from an ashram in India.

Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas) is closest November 14

Discovered last June, Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas) is closest to Earth - millions of miles away - on Saturday, November 14, 2020. It's in an easy-to-find location, if you have a dark sky. Charts and photos here.

2020 Atlantic hurricane season busiest on record

The formation of Subtropical Storm Theta on November 10 over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean made the 2020 season the most active on the 169-year record.

Black and white sketch of woman looking scared.

2020’s second Friday the 13th is this Friday

November 13, 2020, will be the second of 2020's two Friday the 13ths. This Friday the 13th comes exactly 39 weeks - that is, the number 3 multiplied by the number 13 - before the next Friday the 13th on August 13, 2021. Whee!

2020 Antarctic ozone hole among largest, deepest in recent years

This year's ozone hole covers most of the Antarctic continent and is among the largest and deepest in recent years.

The year's third and final conjunction of Jupiter and Pluto takes place on December 12, 2020.

Jupiter gives us Pluto in 2020

The 3rd of this year's 3 Jupiter-Pluto conjunctions is coming up on November 12, 2020. Jupiter won't have another conjunction with Pluto again until February 4, 2033. And another one this good? Not for centuries.

How to watch Taurid meteors in 2020

Although a modest shower, perhaps offering 5 meteors per hour, the Taurid shower lasts over a month and is known for producing dramatic fireballs, or exceptionally bright meteors.

Asteroid 2020 TF6 will come within 40% of moon’s distance on October 19

Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project captured an image of the asteroid last night.

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Another terrible year for wildfires and smoke in the US in 2020

2020 tied for warmest year on record

Record number of billion-dollar disasters in U.S. in 2020

The sun in 2020

The sky in 2020

Your photos of 2020’s historic Jupiter-Saturn conjunction

2020 Arctic Report Card: Sea ice loss, extreme wildfires

All you need to know: 2020’s great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Favorite photos of 2020’s Geminid meteor shower

Favorite photos: December 2020’s waning moon and Venus

Phew! Record-smashing 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is officially over

Photos of 2020’s Leonid meteor shower

Diwali 2020 shone in this ashram, despite Covid-19

Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas) is closest November 14

2020 Atlantic hurricane season busiest on record

2020’s second Friday the 13th is this Friday

2020 Antarctic ozone hole among largest, deepest in recent years

Jupiter gives us Pluto in 2020

How to watch Taurid meteors in 2020

Asteroid 2020 TF6 will come within 40% of moon’s distance on October 19