260 Items Tagged

Astronomy

Supermoons can appear not just bigger but about 30 percent brighter.

Just How Super Is The Coming Supermoon?

July's full moon will be thousands of miles closer to us than usual. Learn how to measure it with your hand.

Rebecca Boyle June 28, 2023

Holmdel, New Jersey

Karl Jansky Monument

A monument commemorating the discoverer of radio astronomy.

Nature’s Window in Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia. The rock arch is one of the state’s iconic natural attractions, formed from layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone.

Tips for the Best Milky Way Images, From a Photographer Obsessed With It

Stanley Aryanto took a once-in-a-lifetime photo of the Milky Way, Comet NEOWISE, and auroras thanks to planning, patience, and luck. Now he's sharing what he knows.

Emily Dieckman June 27, 2023

Edinburgh, Scotland

Royal Observatory Edinburgh

Even though some of the buildings date back to the Victorian era, this research institute is still involved in cutting-edge astronomy research.

The Delta College Planetarium

9 Planetariums to Get Lost in the Cosmos

Travel the stars without leaving Earth.

Jonathan Carey June 23, 2023

The solar system as seen from Voyager 1 on June 22, 2023, via NASA's Eyes simulation. (Not pictured, because it's too small: Earth)

Explore the View From Humanity’s Most Distant Spacecraft

Launched in 1977 and now nearly 15 billion miles from the Sun, Voyager 1 continues its journey at 38,000 miles per hour.

Frank Jacobs, Big Think June 23, 2023

Dave Rowntree, the drummer of the band Blur, has been looking up at the night sky since he got his first telescope as a kid.

How the Britpop Legends Blur Almost Launched the U.K. Space Program

What started as a late-night chat transformed into millions of dollars of funding for a Mars lander.

Dave Rowntree June 22, 2023

Berlin, Germany

Sternenwächter

A statue of an astronomer gazes at the sky as a tribute to Caroline Herschel.

The Summer Triangle dominates the left side of this image: Vega is the bright star at top left, Altair appears just below the center of image, and Deneb at far left.

At Solstice, the Summer Triangle Is Full of Celestial Drama

On the Northern Hemisphere's shortest night of the year, spot this trio of bright stars with stories to tell.

Rebecca Boyle June 21, 2023

The Beehive Cluster, also known as Praesepe and M44, can be spotted near Venus this week.

Watch the Beehive Cluster and Venus Dance in the Night Sky

Summer is the time to spot a group of "sibling stars" observed for millennia. Use our gear guide to get started.

Rebecca Boyle June 14, 2023

A solitary tree flanked by Venus and Mars on the left, the Moon on the right.

How to See Venus and Mars in the Summer Sky

Our nearest planetary neighbors can help you map your place in the solar system.

Rebecca Boyle June 7, 2023

The 2018 Strawberry Moon rises behind St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, England. While increased humidity in the atmosphere may turn these early summer full moons pinkish, their name originates with the ripening time of strawberries in North America.

The Strawberry Moon Marks a Sweet Start to Summer

Here's why you should welcome this most lovely of full moons—and how to experience it.

Rebecca Boyle May 31, 2023

The azimuth theodolite.

9 Observatories Where Ancient Humans Looked to the Stars

The mysteries of the night sky have captivated our species for millennia.

Diana Hubbell May 25, 2023

All Roads Lead to Texas: Big Wonder

Sponsored by Travel Texas

7 Places to Experience Big Wonder in Texas

Hit the state’s highest peaks, darkest skies, and widest vistas on this super-sized road trip.

Sponsored by Travel Texas

The changing colors of Uluru at sunset. The famous gigantic monolith rock in the Australian desert.

The Explorer’s Guide to the Northern Territory, Australia

Stargazing, bush tucker, and wildlife from the Top End to the Red Centre

Sponsored by Tourism Northern Territory

Bonfires and revelry dominate modern Beltane celebrations, but the origins of the event are more mundane.

Beltane Is About More Than Fire and Fertility

The ancient “Celtic” start of summer is rooted in animal husbandry—and it’s not on May 1.

Gemma Tarlach April 28, 2023

Centre of the Universe

Victoria, British Columbia

Centre of the Universe

A cheeky name for an observatory visitor's center.