ASTRONOMY

NASA’s iconic image of Pluto, showing its heart-like pattern, captured by the New Horizons flyby in 2015.

7 Surprising Facts About Pluto

The dwarf planet sports steep mountains, smooth young surfaces, ice dunes, and a stunning blue atmosphere.

Not everyone gets to enjoy a view like this.

Wyoming Is Home to the World’s First Dark Sky Certified County

The Jackson Hole Airport is Dark Sky certified as well, making it the first airport to earn the recognition.

7 Fascinating Facts About the Sun

Get ready to feel small: The sun is 99.8 percent of the mass of the solar system. Here are more colossal facts about our star.

A fireball streaks through the sky in Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013.

It’s Fireball Season: Spot Meteors Brighter than Venus this Spring

Learn about the mysteries of fireball season, which peaks in the weeks around the vernal equinox.

11 Space Facts That Will Change Your Perspective

If the sun were the size of a basketball, the Earth would be no larger than a pinhead.

5 Fast Facts About the Spring Equinox

Wondering when the first day of spring is in 2025? Here’s everything you need to know about the vernal equinox.

The Milky Way over Monument Valley in Arizona.

10 Astonishing Things You Should Know About the Milky Way

The Milky Way is one of the biggest in the observable universe: Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take 100,000 years to go from one end of our home galaxy to the other.

You likely have a chance to see the total lunar eclipse in March!

Don’t Miss the “Blood Moon” Total Lunar Eclipse Coming in March

The total lunar eclipse on March 13–14 will cause a “blood moon” visible from coast to coast.

The History of How Each Month’s Full Moon Got its Name

Each month’s full moon marks the changing seasons.

Here‘s the remarkable Wizard Island at the Crater Lake National Park.

The 20 Best National Parks for Stargazing

There‘s no doubt that national parks are treasures, but which ones are best for those who love stars?

What‘s less frequent than northern lights? Their opposite: anti-auroras.

Rare, Black ‘Anti-Auroras‘ Spotted in Alaska

Anti-auroras are even less common than the northern lights.

The northern lights are an event to remember.

Missed the Northern Lights This Year? Scientists Say They’re About to Get More Active

If the northern lights are on your bucket list, the 2026 to 2027 winter season will be exciting for you.

New Jupiter Images Paint a Detailed Picture of the Gas Giant

These processed images of Jupiter make the planet look like a painting.

Now is the perfect time to add the northern lights to your bucket list.

The 10 Most Affordable Places to See the Northern Lights

Planning to see the northern lights soon? Take a look at these hotel prices before booking your trip.

We'll see some gorgeous views later this month.

Don’t Miss the Harvest Supermoon Partial Lunar Eclipse This Month

This fall, sky-gazers will be treated to a supermoon and a partial lunar eclipse on the same night.

Astronomically speaking, fall doesn’t start until late September.

What You Should Know About the 2024 Fall Equinox

The fall equinox lands on Sunday, September 22 this year. Here’s what you need to know about the first day of autumn.

Scientists can now better understand how supermassive black holes and stars interact.

See How Black Holes Shred Stars in This Groundbreaking Simulation

A scientific breakthrough in astrophysics demonstrates how stars and supermassive black holes interact.

Don't miss the Southern Delta Aquarid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers in late July.

Don't Miss the Rare Double Meteor Shower at the End of July

Astronomy enthusiasts are in for an amazing treat this month.

Typical northern lights over Longyearbyen. The “exceptionally gigantic” polar rain aurora was even bigger.

An “Exceptionally Gigantic” Polar Rain Aurora Blanketed the Arctic Sky

The ultra-rare event puzzled scientists for more than a year—but a new study suggests that “polar rain” and a lack of solar wind caused the ginormous aurora.

The Full Flower Moon Will Dazzle Skies This Month

Skygazers know that the arrival of May’s full moon—dubbed the “flower moon”—is a harbinger of warmer weather, burgeoning plants, and animal activity.

Horsehead Nebula Captured Like Never Before in New Images

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest images of the Horsehead Nebula ever taken.

Is Mercury retrograde really the reason you computer crashed? Here's what an expert has to say about it.

What Is Mercury in Retrograde, and Why Do We Blame Things on It?

Mercury retrograde will make the planet appear to move backwards. No, that doesn’t mean your electronics or your relationships will fail.

Artist's concept of red giant triggering thermonuclear reaction in white dwarf.

How to See the Super-Bright Star Nova Set to Explode Any Minute

If you missed this year's total solar eclipse, this is your chance to see another once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.

The Lyrids meteor shower will light up skies around Earth Day.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks on Earth Day in 2024

Make some time for the Lyrid meteor shower and you’ll probably see shooting stars zooming across the heavens every few minutes.