Galaxy Chronicle

Supermoon: What It Really Is, Why It Happens, and When to Catch the Next One

A supermoon is a full moon that lines up with the Moon's closest approach to Earth, making it look a little bigger and noticeably brighter than an ordinary full moon. At its best, a supermoon can appear up to 14% larger and about 30%...

What Is a Constellation? A Beginner’s Guide to the Sky’s 88 Star Patterns

A constellation is a group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the night sky, one we've given a name, usually after a mythological figure, animal, or object. There are 88 of them officially recognized, and together they map out the entire sky....
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Is the Moon a Planet: Why Our Nearest Neighbour Doesn’t Make the Cut

The Short Answer No, the Moon is not a planet. It's a natural satellite, which...

How Fast Does the Earth Spin: The Dizzying Speed You Never Feel

The Short Answer At the equator, the Earth spins at roughly 1,670 kilometres per hour,...

How Long Does It Take to Get to the Moon: From a Few Hours to Over a Year

The Short Answer For the crewed Apollo missions, the trip to the Moon took about...

Why Is the Moon Orange Tonight: The Simple Science Behind a Glowing Red Moon

The Short Answer The Moon usually looks orange or red because it's sitting low on...

Is Pluto a Planet: The Real Story Behind the Solar System’s Most Famous Demotion

The Short Answer No, Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. In 2006 the...

How Long Does It Take to Get to Mars: Why the Red Planet Is a Seven-Month Trip

The Short Answer Getting to Mars usually takes about seven months. Most robotic missions have...

Does Venus Have Moons: Why Earth’s Twin Is a World Without a Single Moon

The Short Answer No, Venus has no moons at all. Zero. Along with Mercury, it's...

Cassiopeia Constellation: How to Find the Vain Queen’s W in the Night Sky

Some constellations take real effort to trace. You squint, connect faint dots, and hope...

Betelgeuse: The Doomed Red Supergiant That Could Explode as a Supernova

Find Orion on a winter night and look at the hunter's shoulder, the bright...

The Orion Nebula (M42): A Stellar Nursery You Can See With Your Own Eyes

Most of the jaw-dropping objects in deep space are hopelessly out of reach. You...

Sirius, the Dog Star: Everything About the Brightest Star in the Night Sky

On a crisp winter evening, step outside and look toward the south. If you...

The Big Dipper: How to Find the Sky’s Most Famous Star Pattern and Use It to Find North

Almost everyone has spotted the Big Dipper at some point, even people who swear...

Latest articles

Supermoon: What It Really Is, Why It Happens, and When to Catch the Next One

A supermoon is a full moon that lines up with the Moon's closest approach...

What Is a Constellation? A Beginner’s Guide to the Sky’s 88 Star Patterns

A constellation is a group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the...

How Many Planets Are There? The Real Answer Is Bigger Than Eight

There are eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,...

What Is a Galaxy? A Simple Guide to the Great Islands of Stars

A galaxy is an enormous collection of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all...