Never miss a full moon, eclipse, or meteor shower with reminders from the Almanac Daily newsletter.
This Week's Amazing Sky
Earth’s magnificent Moon isn’t the only one in the solar system. Let’s take a tour through some of the other lunar landscapes that inhabit our space. Which is your favorite?
Our System’s Many Moons
There are at least 214 known natural satellites, or “moons,” that orbit planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids in our solar system. Most of the planets in our system have at least one moon…
Seen any shooting stars lately? Worried about being clobbered by a meteor? Let’s talk about the chances of a meteor hitting Earth—and one of us!
For reasons no one can explain, meteors are mostly crammed into the final five months of the year. The most famous is the Perseids, which peak in August. These “falling stars” are mostly the size of apple seeds. But larger ones are out…
We’ve all heard of the Big Bang Theory. One of the goals of the new James Webb Telescope is to reveal what happened after the Big Bang. Why do we need to understand the Big Bang? And how will the Webb telescope help us understand the secrets of the origins of the universe—and of life itself?
July’s first-ever James Webb Telescope images, released just a couple of weeks ago, showed…
In early summer, night falls at its latest hour—around 9:30 to 10 PM. High in the east shines summer’s bright star—the famous Vega. Learn fascinating facts about Vega, a favorite of stargazers and astronomers, and its fascinating folklore.Away from city lights in mid-July, one could see as many as 2,500 naked-eye stars. But if you look east, only one star stands out because it’s…
This month, we saw the first-ever photograph of the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy. We had seen stars orbiting around something invisible and massive but this image was the first direct visual evidence of our black hole. But what are we really seeing in this image? Bob Berman shares insight.
As you may have heard, astronomers unveiled the first-ever image…
Who hasn’t heard of the Dog Star, Sirius? It’s the brightest star in the sky in late winter and early spring. And, boy, is it easy to find! Just face south at 8 P.M. and look for Orion. Plus, you also have a chance to see its pup. Yes, it’s a two-dog night.
How to Find Sirius
Simply locate Orion. See its famous belt made up of three bright stars? The belt points downwards…
Both of our neighboring planets, Venus and Mars, are carbon dioxide (CO2) worlds. On Earth, there is only a trace amount. So why all the fuss about carbon dioxide? In half a minute, you can fully grasp how CO2 does its dirty work. Interested?
Earth’s Carbon Dioxide Levels
Six years ago, for the first time in 800,000 years, our own world’s carbon dioxide level passed 400 parts per…
Does your mind puzzle about the cosmos as it spreads across the heavens during these carefree summer nights? It’s probably the lure of the unknown that keeps me repeatedly peering upward. If you enjoy mysteries and curiosities, there’s no doubt you’re a skywatcher, too!Being a Night Sky DetectiveWhat’s particularly strange is that what most people regard as most awesomely mysterious—…
Spring’s metamorphosis in the garden is grabbing our attention but a quick upward glance shows the sky is radically changing, too! Your location matters as well. See how the skies change in spring.Quiet Skies of SpringThe brilliant winter constellations—the hunter Orion and his friends—now balance for a final week low in the west at nightfall. After 9 or 10 P.M., they’re gone,…
Maybe you’ve heard those radio commercials. The announcer says, “If you’re looking for a perfect gift for that special someone … then have a star named after them!” Can you really name a star? The answer to this question is … in the eye of the beholder. Let’s see what you think.
The International Star Registry is still in business. More than 30 years ago, when I first saw…
During the early weeks of spring, the most widely recognized constellation at nightfall is Orion, standing upright in the southwest. People who appreciate the outdoors may know this prominent constellation best. Here are Orion constellation facts and viewing tips from Almanac astronomer Bob Berman.
Ubiquitous Orion
For us during these first weeks of spring, Orion’s famous 3-star Belt…
Did you know that spring is galaxy time? More galaxies are visible from March to mid-May, early in the evening. Find out more about famous galaxies and how to see a galaxy this spring!
What Is a Galaxy?
It may help the novice sky watcher to understand the definition of a galaxy: A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar…
