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EarthSky

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.

Fifty years of data show spring and fall bird migrations changing

Posted by in Earth | 1 day ago
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Bird-banding data in North America shows a spring migration pattern that’s become progressively earlier with each of the last 5 decades, and a fall migration that’s lasting longer than 50 years ago.
Artist's concept of a reddish, dusty galaxy.

Why did this galaxy blaze with stars, then become inactive?

Posted by in Space | 6 days ago
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Astronomers report on the very distant galaxy XMM-2599. It existed when the universe was very young, yet contains some 300 billion stars. It must have formed stars at a very rapid rate and then stopped. Why?

Today in science: Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto

Posted by in Space | 1 week ago
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On this date 90 years ago, Clyde Tombaugh was searching for a 9th planet when he discovered Pluto. In doing so, he unknowingly opened the door to the vast “3rd zone” of our solar system, known today as the Kuiper Belt.
Animated GIF image of 2020BX12 and its satellite.

Moon found orbiting near-Earth asteroid

Posted by in Space | 1 week ago
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Isn’t this cool? Scientists at the famous Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico made this rare find just days after resuming post-earthquake operations. It’s a moon orbiting the near-Earth asteroid 2020 BX12.

VLT sees surface of dim Betelgeuse

Posted by in Space | Today's Image | 1 week ago
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The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope is in northern Chile. Astronomers used it to capture the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. The new images show how the apparent shape of this star is changing.
Snow-covered mountaintop with people.

Himalayan glacier shows evidence of start of Industrial Revolution

Posted by in Earth | Human World | 2 weeks ago
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Human beings altered one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas hundreds of years before a person ever set foot there, new research has found.

Today is Chuck Yeager’s 97th birthday

Posted by in Human World | 2 weeks ago
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Chuck Yeager, first pilot to break the sound barrier, personified what it meant to have “the right stuff.”

February birthstone is the amethyst

Posted by in Human World | 3 weeks ago
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Are you a February baby? Here’s some cool info about your birthstone, the amethyst. Plus pics!

Groundhog Day is an astronomy holiday

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Human World | 4 weeks ago
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Groundhog Day is what’s called a cross-quarter day, a day about midway between a solstice and an equinox. Groundhog Day in history and culture here.
Dignitaries from the Groundhog Club’s “Inner Circle read Phil's prediction from a scroll.

How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?

Posted by in Human World | 4 weeks ago
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Every February 2, a weather-prognosticating groundhog in Pennsylvania tells us if we should expect 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring. Should we believe him? Phil’s track record here.