EarthSky

The EarthSky team has a blast bringing you daily updates on your cosmos and world. We love your photos and welcome your news tips. Earth, Space, Human World, Tonight.

Top 10 tips for meteor-watchers

Posted by EarthSky in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | 2 days ago

Posted by EarthSky

How to watch a meteor shower. Tips for beginners.

What is interstellar space?

Posted by EarthSky in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 2 weeks ago

Posted by EarthSky

You might be surprised to learn that interstellar space isn’t just vacuum. It’s full of gases, elements, and dust – very thinly spread, to be sure – but the building blocks of stars and planets.

What’s the birthstone for October?

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | 3 weeks ago

Posted by EarthSky

If you were born in October, your birth month has 2 birthstones: opal and tourmaline.

A star called Mira the Wonderful

Posted by EarthSky in Brightest Stars | 1 month ago

Posted by EarthSky

Mira, in Cetus the Whale, varies in brightness over about 11 months. In late September 2020, it might be near its peak brightness, easily bright enough to be viewed with the eye alone.

Close-up on Cassiopeia the Queen

Posted by EarthSky in Tonight | 1 month ago

Posted by EarthSky

The constellation Cassiopeia the Queen has the distinct shape of a W or M. Find her in the north-northeast sky on September and October evenings.

Comet in the sky above a lake, also reflecting in the lake.

What are comets?

Posted by EarthSky in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 1 month ago

Posted by EarthSky

Comets are loosely packed balls of ice and dust orbiting our sun, that sometimes become visible in Earth’s skies. A comet’s tail may stretch across millions of miles of space.

Illustration of Perseverance rover in space on Seotember 12, 2020.

Follow the Perseverance rover in real time on its way to Mars

Posted by EarthSky in Human World | Space | 1 month ago

Posted by EarthSky

Keep track of where NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance is on its journey through space toward its February 18, 2021, landing on Mars. This web app shows you where spacecraft is right now.