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Planets & Solar System

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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See the Most Detailed Real Picture of the Sun’s Surface Ever Taken

Every so often, a new image comes along that completely resets what we thought...

What Colors Are the Planets in Our Solar System? (Including the Color Planet Venus)

Flip through any old astronomy textbook and you'll usually find the planets lined up...

What Sort of Star Is the Sun? Facts, Size, and Fate of Our Blazing Star

Weve all grown up staring at it, feeling its heat, and building our entire...

Astronomers Discover the Nearest Black Hole to Earth

Black holes have a reputation for being distant, exotic objects, the kind of thing...

How Will the Sun Die? Understanding When Does the Sun Explode (or Fade Away)

Its a question that pops into almost everyone's head at some point, usually somewhere...

Astronomy 101 : A Beginner’s Guide to the Planets in Our Solar System

Getting into astronomy can feel a little overwhelming at first, theres just so much...

What is Jupiter’s Distance from the Sun? Facts and Figures

Theres something almost hard to wrap your head around when you start comparing distances...

The Closest Star Systems to Earth: A Complete Guide

Stare up at a dark, clear sky long enough and its easy to start...

What is the Distance from the Jupiter to the Sun? (Facts & Figures)

Ask most people to name the planets in order and they'll usually get through...

Solar Eclipses Explained: What Are They, and How Often Does an Eclipse of the Sun Occur?

If you were anywhere in the path of totality back in April 2024, theres...

The Beauty of Great Comets: Images, Pictures, and Night Sky Wonders

Every once in a while, the night sky throws in something extra, a bright,...

Understanding Jupiter: Size, Orbit, and the Distance from the Sun to Jupiter

Look up on almost any clear night and theres a decent chance you'll spot...

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...