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Stargazing

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Mercury, an "empty little rock," appears as a small black dot as it crosses in front of the Sun.
astronomy

Mercury Retrograde Is Ending, and It’s Up to You How to Feel About It

The first planet from the Sun doesn't influence your love life or your luck, but it can help foster a cosmic connection.
Rebecca Boyle September 13, 2023
Science has not fully explained why we perceive the Moon to be so much larger than it actually is when it's near the horizon.
astronomy

Is It a Super Blue Moon or a Blue Supermoon?

Whatever you call it, this week's full moon is particularly rare—we won't see one again until 2037.
Rebecca Boyle August 28, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura
puzzles

The Atlas Obscura Crossword: Oh, Heavens!

AO Puzzles August 28, 2023
Saturn at its closest point to Earth in 2019.
astronomy

Saturn at Opposition Is an Unforgettable Stargazing Experience

The ringed planet will be at its closest point to Earth, and opposite the sun, this weekend.
Rebecca Boyle August 23, 2023
astronomy

A Cosmos of Contemplation Awaits the Mindful Stargazer

The night sky offers a path to both scientific understanding and being present in the universe.
Rebecca Boyle August 16, 2023
A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above northwestern China on August 12, 2022.
meteorites

The Perseid Meteor Shower Is Summer's Best Show

Here's what you need to know about witnessing the annual August event, when Earth passes through a comet's castoffs.
Rebecca Boyle August 9, 2023
An artist's visual rendering of noisy gravitational waves.
observatories

Stargazing in a Multi-Sensory Universe

Sight is only one of the senses we can use to explore space. Welcome to multi-messenger astronomy.
Rebecca Boyle August 2, 2023
The Moon is a great first target for young skywatchers—but there's plenty more to spot in the night sky.
astronomy

Stargazing With Kids Is Fun, Free, and Full of Possibility

Stay up way past bedtime with us to explore new worlds of wonder with a child's-eye view.
Rebecca Boyle July 26, 2023
Star parties are a great way to learn how to find your way among the stars. This composite photo, created from 80 still shots, was taken during a star party at Utah's Canyonlands National Park, celebrating its designation as an International Dark Sky Park.
astronomy

A Beginner's Guide to Finding Your Way in the Heavens

It's easy to identify planets, stars, and even galaxies once you know where to look for them.
Rebecca Boyle July 19, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura
puzzles

Puzzle Monday: Starstruck Crossword

AO Puzzles July 17, 2023
Oxygen in the atmosphere gives auroras over Vik, Iceland, their eerie green glow.
auroras

Auroras Are the Sun's Special Nighttime Light Show

As our day star enters its most active period, look for more opportunities to catch these spectral northern (and southern) lights. Here's how.
Rebecca Boyle July 11, 2023
The BlueWalker 3 satellite leaves a trail in the sky above the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Arizona's Kitt Peak National Observatory. Breaks in the trail are the result of image processing: Four 20-second exposures were stacked to create the shot.
astronomy

Spot the ISS and Other Satellites in Our Busy Night Skies

The International Space Station and a growing number of communications satellites have redefined humans' view of the heavens.
Rebecca Boyle July 5, 2023
The sun sets over West Bali National Park, ushering in the first of three twilights that herald night the world over.
sailors

Why Are There Three Twilights?

And we’re not talking about vampire books.
Gemma Tarlach July 5, 2023
Supermoons can appear not just bigger but about 30 percent brighter.
astronomy

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
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.
astronomy

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.
astronomy

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.
astronomy

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
It's remarkable how the coldness of space can evoke a tropical dive.
maps

A 19th-Century Family Portrait of Comets

The thrills and horrors of strange heavenly bodies, condensed into one attractive snapshot.
Frank Jacobs, Big Think June 2, 2023