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.

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.

Witnessing the birth of today’s stars

Dust shrouds the era of distant galaxies, in which most of today's stars were born 10 billion years ago. Astronomers used radio telescopes to pierce the dust.

Super fast spin for supergiant Betelgeuse

This famous red star is spinning some 150 times faster than expected. Astronomers think it swallowed a companion star just 100,000 years ago.

Cold Neptunes an exoplanet sweet spot?

As astronomers explore distance solar systems, what can they expect to find? A new study suggests likely Neptune-mass worlds in solar systems' icy outer realms.

Spacecraft to search for Trojan asteroids

In February 2017, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will search for Earth-Trojan asteroids in the vicinity of Earth's L-4 point while on its outbound journey to the asteroid Bennu.

Scientists explore Ceres’ water wealth

Water ice in permanently shadowed craters on Ceres. Water ice everywhere, on or near the surface. Last week, Dawn spacecraft scientists presented 2 lines of evidence that Ceres is water-rich.

Ceres bright spots get names

The International Astronomical Union approved the new names on November 26, and scientists used them while discussing other findings about Ceres at this week's American Geophysical Union meeting.

Rosetta comet craft’s last words

One of Rosetta's final reports was of a large object in its field of view: the comet's horizon as the spacecraft was about to strike the comet.

Rover hits jackpot of Mars evidence

A cool animation showing now and long ago at Gale Crater, plus the path of the Curiosity rover on Mars today, and an update on Curiosity's findings.

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