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....
Everybody knows Saturn has rings. They're the poster child, the show-off of the solar system. But ask someone whether Neptune has rings and you'll usually get a blank look. It turns out our most distant planet wears a set too, they're just so faint...
Six more meteor showers cross Earth's path before the year is out, and two of them rank among the best of the entire year. Here's exactly when to look up, what to expect, and how the Moon will affect each one.
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Astronomers have a habit of naming things exactly what they look like, and Green Pea galaxies earned their nickname honestly, small, round, and distinctly green when viewed through a telescope. One of these unassuming little galaxies just turned out to be hiding something nobody...