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Atmosphere on lava planet is an exciting surprise
Astronomers have found evidence for a thick atmosphere on lava planet TOI-561 b. It's a broiling hot super-Earth world 560 light-years from Earth.
January 2, 2026
Bright blue cosmic outbursts linked to black holes
Astronomers studying one of the strongest bright blue cosmic outbursts believe they occur in a binary star system where a black hole tears its companion apart.
January 2, 2026
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.
January 1, 2026
What is an astronomical unit?
An astronomical unit - or AU - is a measurement that astronomers use to describe distances in the solar system. Find out how long an AU is here.
January 1, 2026
Are Uranus and Neptune rock giants and not ice giants?
Are Uranus and Neptune really ice giants as scientists have long thought? A new study suggests they might be much more rocky instead of icy on the inside.
January 1, 2026
Dwarf planet Ceres discovered 225 years ago today
Dwarf planet Ceres was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi on January 1, 1801. That was 225 years ago. It was 1st considered an asteroid.
January 1, 2026
The moon illusion makes the moon look huge!
When you see a large-looking moon low in the sky, does the moon look bigger to you? That's the moon illusion that makes the moon look so big.
January 1, 2026
Deep-sky objects: Small telescope and binocular targets
Deep-sky objects - including bright and dark nebulae, star clusters and distant galaxies - are favorite targets for amateur stargazers.
January 1, 2026
How often do 7 eclipses occur in 365 days?
It's rare to have 7 eclipses in a calendar year. It's less rare to have 7 eclipses in 365 days. There are 7 eclipses in 365 days 29 times in the 21st century!
January 1, 2026
What’s the youngest moon you can see with your eye alone?
It has long been a sport for skywatchers to spot the youngest moon after sunset, with the eye alone. What does it take to see a very young crescent moon?
January 1, 2026
