astronomy

Lucky stargazers in America have gotten the chance to see them from their own backyards lately—and may be able to again this week.

The season of colorful foliage, frosty mornings, and pumpkin-spice everything is upon us.

In a galaxy far, far, far away, astronomers have found the oldest black hole in the universe, thought to have formed less than 500 million years after the Big Bang.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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

Each month’s full moon marks the changing seasons.

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

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.

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

The northern lights are an event to remember.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Astronomy enthusiasts are in for an amazing treat this month.

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

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.

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.

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

What Are the Northern Lights?

Autumn Equinox: The Science Behind the First Day of Fall

It’s Official: Astronomers Confirm the Universe’s Oldest Black Hole

7 Surprising Facts About Pluto

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

7 Fascinating Facts About the Sun

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

11 Space Facts That Will Change Your Perspective

5 Fast Facts About the Spring Equinox

10 Astonishing Things You Should Know About the Milky Way

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

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

The 20 Best National Parks for Stargazing

Rare, Black ‘Anti-Auroras‘ Spotted in Alaska

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

New Jupiter Images Paint a Detailed Picture of the Gas Giant

The 10 Most Affordable Places to See the Northern Lights

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

What You Should Know About the 2024 Fall Equinox

See How Black Holes Shred Stars in This Groundbreaking Simulation

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

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

The Full Flower Moon Will Dazzle Skies This Month

Horsehead Nebula Captured Like Never Before in New Images