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Caral, Peru

Pyramids of Caral-Supe

A 5,000-year-old city in Peru holds the remains of a stunning set of astronomically-aligned pyramids.
London, England

Edmond Halley Memorial

It holds a fabulously designed tribute to astronomer Edmond Halley.
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
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
The Milky Way rises above Pakistan's Karakoram Mountain Range.
meteorites

The 8 Best Astronomy Books For Beginners

From Mary Roach’s hilarious look at space travel to astronaut Scott Kelly’s photos documenting a year off planet.
Sarah Durn August 10, 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
Potsdam, Germany

Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam

A historical observatory still in use by modern astronomers.
Great Refractor Potsdam
List

11 Telescopes Exploring The Magic of Space

A journey to infinity and beyond.
Jonathan Carey July 28, 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
Madrid, Spain

Planeta Arganzuela Mural

A neighborhood represented by an apparent geocentric and flat-earth model of the Solar System is hidden in the subway of Madrid.
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
We asked readers to share their best stories about the night sky—quite a few included magical tales of seeing the northern lights.
meteorites

9 Summer Night Sky Stories From Our Readers to Warm the Heart

From seeing the northern lights aboard a Navy ship in Norway to braving the cold for a glimpse of a blood moon.
Sarah Durn June 28, 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
Holmdel, New Jersey

Karl Jansky Monument

A monument commemorating the discoverer of radio astronomy.