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.
Bluish stars form a C shape against a starry sky.

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is overhead now

Corona Borealis, aka the Northern Crown, looks like the letter C. A dark sky is best for seeing this faint semicircle of stars. It's between Arcturus and Vega.

 Read More

How to see the Northern Crown (Corona Borealis)

Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is an almost-perfect semicircle of stars. Learn to find it and identify its brightest star, and about its mythology.

 Read More
Seated man and woman in Grecian garb painted in red, white, and black on pottery.

Alphecca, a jewel in Corona Borealis the Northern Crown

Alphecca. Gemma. Alpha Coronae Borealis or simply Alpha Cor Bor. They're all names for a single star, the brightest star in the Northern Crown.

 Read More
Star chart showing a Teapot-shaped group of stars and a curve of stars below labeled Corona Australis.

Corona Australis is the sparkling Southern Crown

Corona Australis is a dim constellation lying below the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius. Its sparkling, curving shape befits its name.

 Read More
Star chart showing Sagittarius with its teapot shape and Corona Australis below, in evening sky.

Sagittarius the Archer is home to deep-sky wonders

The zodiacal constellation Sagittarius the Archer contains the center of the Milky Way and a famous asterism known as the Teapot.

 Read More
Semi-rectangular shape with arms and legs spiraling out from the corners and stars labeled.

Hercules the Strongman and a great globular cluster

Hercules the Strongman is a great constellation to view in Northern Hemisphere summer. With binoculars you can see Hercules' remarkable star cluster, M13.

 Read More
Star chart: Constellation Boötes shaped like long narrow kite with 5 labeled stars.

Boötes the Herdsman and its bright star Arcturus

Boötes the Herdsman is a large constellation that holds one of the brightest stars in the sky, Arcturus. Only 3 other stars in the night sky are brighter.

 Read More

Will the Blaze Star explode in 2026? How to see it

We're still waiting for the Blaze Star to go nova! Will it happen in 2026? Here's how to find Corona Borealis so you're ready when this star goes kablooey.

 Read More
Animation: A large reddish star with material streaming to a tiny white one which suddenly explodes hugely.

Blaze Star to go nova soon! Here’s how to see it

A recurring nova - long overdue - in Corona Borealis - nicknamed Blaze Star - should appear bright enough to see with the unaided eye sometime in 2026.

 Read More
sun news

Sun activity archive for December 2025

Sun activity archive for December 2025. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
Large orangish full moon with kids on a fence in front.

Our top 10 stargazing tips for beginning astronomers

If you're new to observing the night sky, check out our top 10 stargazing tips for beginners. We'll help you explore and expand your love for astronomy.

Read More

Sun activity archive for May 2025

Sun activity archive for May 2025. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
A globe-shaped map with differently colored dots, most dots red and stretching almost from top to bottom.

Meet Quipu, largest known structure in the universe

Quipu is the largest known structure in the universe. Find out more about its size, its influence on our universe and the fate that awaits it.

 Read More
An animated red globe

Sun activity archive for October 2023

Sun activity archive for October 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
A red quarter of a circle over a black background.

Sun activity archive for July 2023

Sun activity archive for July 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
May 9, 2023 Sun activity shows sunspot AR3296 spewing out an M5.6 flare.

Sun activity archive for May 2023

Sun activity archive for May 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
Red ball of light on left, green comet with tail extending out on right.

Green comet photos and video: Editors’ picks

Enjoy these photos of Comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) as it departs the inner solar system. It was closest to Earth on February 1 and 2, 2023.

 Read More
January 27, 2023 Sun activity shows prominences all around.

Sun activity archive for January 2023

Sun activity archive for January 2023. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

 Read More
Chart showing Earth and Mars orbit around the sun and marking position of comet over 3 months.

The green comet: Comet 2022 E3 ZTF

Learn about the trajectory of the green comet - Comet 2022 E3 ZTF - by the renowned astronomer Guy Ottewell. The comet will be closest to Earth on February 2.

 Read More

Big Dipper (Sky Bear) comes to Earth in November

Every year, the Big Dipper (Great Bear) descends to its lowest point in the sky on November evenings. This makes it difficult, or impossible, to see.

 Read More
EarthSky YouTube Channel
YouTube
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Store
Donate
WEbsite by Milkyway.co
About
Contact Us
Terms & PRivacy