Astronomy

June 14, 2025

June 14, 1949: The first mammal in space

Today in the history of astronomy, Albert II provides invaluable physiological data, part of a long line of animal experiments as precursors...

Astronomy

June 13, 2025

How one astroimager learned to love the Northern Lights

This Milky Way photographer has had many shots “ruined” by equally beautiful lights. Here are some of the best aurora images he's captured.

Astronomy

June 13, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Take a Look at the Sun

The current solar cycle is providing lots of sunspots and more.

Astronomy

June 13, 2025

Today in the History of Astronomy

Today in the History of Astronomy

Astronomy

June 13, 2025

June 13, 1983: Pioneer 10 leaves solar system

Today in the history of astronomy, Pioneer 10 cruises into interstellar space.

Astronomy

June 12, 2025

Hubble spots a cosmic bullseye

The galaxy LEDA 1313424 has been nicknamed the Bullseye Galaxy, thanks to the nine rings that circle its bright center.

Astronomy

June 12, 2025

June 12, 2021: Seiji Ueda discovers Nova Herculis 2021

Today in the history of astronomy, the fastest nova ever recorded blooms and fades in just a day.

Astronomy

June 12, 2025

The Sun

The Sun seems unchanging, but solar flares, prominences, and sunspots often pop up and disappear. Safely observing the Sun can be both fun a...

Astronomy

June 11, 2025

ESA’s Solar Orbiter reveals the Sun’s poles for the first time

ESA has just released the first-ever images taken of the Sun's south pole, as seen this year by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.

Astronomy

June 11, 2025

New astronomy products to kick off your summer observing

As June brings us the summer solstice, these new products will help you get the most from warmer nights spent at the telescope.

Astronomy

June 11, 2025

June 11, 1986: Chesley Bonestell dies

Today in the history of astronomy, the “father of modern space art” helped popularize the idea of manned space travel.

Astronomy

June 11, 2025

Galaxy cluster pileup sets record for the size of its glow

A cloud of energetic gas lit up by a collision of galaxies spans nearly 20 million light-years, leading astronomers to question what’s keepi...

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

Axiom 4 makes history while Starlink launches dominate the week

This week’s launches include Axiom 4, a historic crewed mission to the ISS, plus multiple satellite deployments from SpaceX and other provid...

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

Pismis-Moreno 1: An oddball open star cluster

Here's an oddball open star cluster you've likely never seen: Pismis-Moreno 1 in Cepheus, which lies embedded in Sharpless 2–140.

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: The Spring Sky

Let’s review some of the brightest constellations and stars out this time of year.

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

How tracking the Moon helped astronomers unlock our understanding of celestial motion

Earth’s companion has allowed astronomers to define lunar cycles, navigate without technology, and understand celestial movements.

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

June 10, 1927: The birth of Eugene Parker

The man who laid the foundation for heliophysics is born in Houghton, Michigan.

Astronomy

June 10, 2025

Observing Basics

Having trouble finding your way around the sky? Curious what that celestial object is? Here's what you need to know to get outside and start...

Astronomy

June 9, 2025

Lowell Observatory faces big challenges

Following a multimillion-dollar expansion program in recent times, sudden harsh science cuts are challenging America’s Observatory.

Astronomy

June 9, 2025

Astronomers royal: 350 years of advising British monarchs

Although the Astronomer Royal post is largely honorary today, it has long been a title awarded to the most prominent astronomers in the U.K.

Astronomy

June 9, 2025

This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: The Rho Ophiuchi Region

You’ll find marvelous nebulae, clusters, and bright stars all over this part of the sky.

Astronomy

June 9, 2025

Deep-Sky Objects

Deep-sky objects are celestial objects that exist outside our solar system. Three major types of deep-sky objects are nebulae, star clusters...

Astronomy

June 6, 2025

Lowell Discovery Telescope: Observing with a 4-meter telescope

A fortunate dozen spent a night with the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope, happy to be gazing at some great deep-sky objects.

Astronomy

June 5, 2025

NGC 6946 – An Intermediate Spiral Known as the Fireworks Galaxy

Explore NGC 6946, the Fireworks Galaxy — an active starburst galaxy on the Cepheus-Cygnus border known for its high rate of supernovae.

Astronomy

June 5, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Observing tips

Here are a few things to consider before you put your eye to an eyepiece.

Astronomy

June 2, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Open cluster NGC 225

NGC 225 in Cassiopeia is an open cluster that is sometimes called the Sailboat Cluster or the Halloween Cat.

Astronomy

June 2, 2025

Farewell, Mr. Eclipse: Fred Espenak dies at 71

NASA astrophysicist and Earth’s premiere authority on solar eclipses, Fred Espenak, died June 1, 2025.

Astronomy

June 2, 2025

This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: Venus in the Morning Sky

See the third-brightest celestial object as it dazzles before dawn.

Astronomy

June 1, 2025

Telescopes and Equipment

Whether you're looking for a new telescope, eyepiece, binoculars, or anything else you need to up your observing game, we've got you covered...

Astronomy

May 30, 2025

Open Cluster NGC 7789

Located in Cassiopeia, open cluster NGC7789, or "Caroline's Rose," is one of the richest clusters you'll observe in the northern sky.

Astronomy

May 30, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Universal Time

The time we now use around the world is called Universal time, or UT. It was formalized a century ago — here's how it works.

Astronomy

May 30, 2025

Astrophotography

Photographing the night sky can be an intimidating task. But by following a few simple tips, you can start capturing your own stunning astro...

Astronomy

May 29, 2025

The Owl Cluster in Cassiopeia

The Owl Cluster is an open cluster in Cassiopeia that has the appearance of a bird in flight — at least to one magazine editor.

Astronomy

May 29, 2025

Review: DwarfLab’s DWARF 3 Smart Telescope

DwarfLab’s updated smart scope has a larger lens, an equatorial option, and an enhanced sensor.

Astronomy

May 28, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Sharpless 2–157

Sharpless 2–157 is rarely observed by amateur astronomers. It is sometimes called the Lobster Claw Nebula due to its distinctive shape.

Astronomy

May 28, 2025

Voyage to an asteroid and a comet

The Tianwen-2 spacecraft will study both of these solar system bodies up close.

Astronomy

May 27, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: The Bubble Nebula

NGC 7635, also called the Bubble Nebula, is an emission nebula lit from within by the hot, young star SAO 20575.

Astronomy

May 24, 2025

How close are we to 'The Martian'? A planetary scientist checks in

A decade after the release of "The Martian" and a decade out from the world it envisions, how close is reality to fiction?

Astronomy

May 23, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Kemble's Cascade

Kemble's Cascade is an asterism in Camelopardalis in which a line of colorful stars appears to terminate with the small open cluster NGC 150...

Astronomy

May 23, 2025

Asteroids hitting the Moon may have spiked its magnetic field

A combination of a dynamo-generated magnetic field and massive impacts could explain the highly magnetized rocks in some lunar regions.

Astronomy

May 23, 2025

Does our solar system have a new dwarf planet?

The recently discovered object has a diameter about one-third that of Pluto.

Astronomy

May 22, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Face-on spiral IC 342

Also known as the enigmatic "hidden galaxy," IC 342 is a big barred spiral with low surface brightness in the constellation Camelopardalis.

Astronomy

May 22, 2025

In The Sky

Astronomy.com is for anyone who wants to learn more about astronomy events, cosmology, planets, galaxies, asteroids, astrophotography, the B...

Astronomy

May 22, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Mosquitoes

Here’s how to deal with this problem when you’re observing.

Astronomy

May 21, 2025

Michael’s Miscellany: Virgo’s finest galaxies

This spring, point your telescope at these 15 star cities.

Astronomy

May 21, 2025

Stellar gifts for Dad: 10 astronomy essentials for Father’s Day

These practical telescope accessories make great gifts — and they’re all priced to keep your budget intact.

Astronomy

May 20, 2025

The Moon’s two different faces

Our satellite is a little off-balance. GRAIL data show a mass asymmetry of a few percent between its near and far sides.

Astronomy

May 19, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Peculiar galaxy NGC 520

NGC 520 is a bright and highly distorted galaxy in the constellation Pisces, discovered by William Herschel in 1784.

Astronomy

May 19, 2025

The Tarantula Nebula casts a wide web

The Hubble Space Telescope image of the Tarantula Nebula's outskirts shows colorful stars, billowing gas clouds, and thick dust.

Astronomy

May 16, 2025

Deep-Sky Dreams: Coddington’s Nebula

Calling this object a “nebula” is a bit of a misnomer, but galaxy IC 2574 does feature impressively large star-forming regions.