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Brightest Planets in June’s Night Sky: How and When to See Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn
Skywatchers can spot Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn in prime June skies during dusk and dawn hours. With Mercury at its best visibility, Mars pairing with Regulus, and Venus and Saturn rising before sunrise, celestial highlights abound. A crescent moon joins Mars on June 29, making this month ideal for skywatching and astrophotography.
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Hubble Spots Isolated Barred Spiral Galaxy That’s Secretly Part of a Cosmic Duo
Hubble’s latest view features NGC 3507, a barred spiral galaxy in Leo, secretly traveling with its companion NGC 3501. Though only one is captured in the frame, both are spiral galaxies seen from different angles, offering a dual cosmic perspective. The image also reveals nearby stars and faint, distant galaxies across the backdrop of deep space.
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Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole
Earth’s 26,000-year axial precession gradually shifts the celestial pole, replacing Polaris with new North Stars over millennia. Stars like Thuban, Kochab, Errai, and Vega have taken turns guiding humanity, and more will follow. According to NASA, gravitational forces cause this cosmic wobble, reminding us that even the seemingly constant night s...
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Canadian Astrophotographer Captures Stunning Sunflower Galaxy from Ontario
Astrophotographer Ronald Brecher has captured a magnificent image of Messier 63, famously known as the Sunflower Galaxy, from his backyard observatory in Guelph, Ontario. With over 13 hours of exposures taken using a Celestron 14" EDGE HD telescope and advanced imaging filters, the spiral galaxy’s fragmented arms and bright core are revealed in s...
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World's Largest Digital Camera Installed on Vera Rubin Observatory for Cosmic Exploration
Vera Rubin Observatory Installs World's Largest Digital Camera for Sky Survey
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Vernal Equinox 2025: Date, Time, and the Science Behind the Event
The vernal equinox 2025 is set for March 20 at 09:01 UTC, marking the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This event occurs due to Earth’s axial tilt aligning with its orbit, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and night across the globe. While the equinox does not bring perfectly...
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T Coronae Borealis Nova Event: When and Where to See the 'Blaze Star'
T Coronae Borealis, also known as the 'Blaze Star,' is predicted to undergo a rare nova event, briefly making it visible to the naked eye. This recurrent nova, last seen erupting in 1946, is expected to brighten anytime between now and late 2024. Positioned in the constellation Corona Borealis, the star will be best visible a few hours after sunset...
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February 2025 Planet Parade: How to See Five Planets Align in the Sky
A rare celestial event will unfold in February 2025, with five bright planets—Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn—visible in the evening sky. The highlight occurs on February 24, when Mercury and Saturn appear closest. Uranus and Neptune can also be observed with telescopes. Best viewing conditions require a clear west-southwest horizon a...
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Geminid Meteor Shower 2024 to Peak on December, But Moonlight May Affect Visibility
The Geminid meteor shower, renowned for its vibrant meteors, will peak overnight on December 13-14. However, a full moon on December 15 is expected to obscure much of the shower's activity, reducing visibility significantly. Limited dark sky windows are available in some regions before the peak, offering brief opportunities to observe this celestia...
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T Coronae Borealis' Nova Outburst May Happen Soon, Experts Suggest
Astronomers are closely monitoring T Coronae Borealis, a binary star system in the Corona Borealis constellation, for its next nova eruption. The event, expected within months, could light up the night sky as the white dwarf gathers material from its red giant companion, triggering a nuclear explosion. Advanced telescopes like NASA’s Fermi are ga...
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North Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks, Bringing Fireballs to US Night Skies
The North Taurid meteor shower, peaking November 11, offered skywatchers in the US a view of rare bright fireballs across the sky. Part of the Taurid meteor system, these meteors are known for their intensity and visibility, even under strong moonlight. Though fewer meteors occur in these showers, their brightness will make for a striking display o...
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November Night Sky 2024: Check Out the Brightest Planets and How to Watch Them?
November's night sky features a spectacular lineup of planets, including Venus, which becomes increasingly prominent in the west. Mars glows brightly as it approaches Earth, while Jupiter rises in the east, captivating observers with its brilliance. Saturn, with its magnificent rings, is also visible high in the southern sky. This month presents id...
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Euclid Space Telescope Unveils First Images of Its Cosmic Atlas
The first stunning images from the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope reveal a mosaic of over 14 million galaxies, marking just 1% of its cosmic atlas. Captured over two weeks, this vast collection aims to enhance our understanding of dark matter and dark energy, contributing to the largest and most accurate map of the universe yet. The teles...
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Draconid Meteor Shower 2024: How to Watch Dozens of Shooting Stars in Night Sky
The Draconid Meteor Shower will peak on October 8 and 9, offering a chance to spot meteors shooting across the night sky. Named after the constellation Draco, the shower is known for its variable meteor count, with skywatchers able to see up to 10 meteors per hour. The radiant point of the shower lies in the northern sky, and unlike other meteor sh...
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Saturn to Enter Opposition Soon: What It Means and How to Watch the Rare Astronomical Event
Saturn will reach opposition on the night of September 7 and 8, marking a key astronomical event. During the event, Earth is positioned directly between Saturn and the Sun. This alignment allows Saturn to appear at its largest and brightest in the night sky. For those keen to observe Saturn in all its splendour, this is the ideal time as Saturn wil...
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Brightest Planets in June’s Night Sky: How and When to See Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn
Skywatchers can spot Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn in prime June skies during dusk and dawn hours. With Mercury at its best visibility, Mars pairing with Regulus, and Venus and Saturn rising before sunrise, celestial highlights abound. A crescent moon joins Mars on June 29, making this month ideal for skywatching and astrophotography.
-
Hubble Spots Isolated Barred Spiral Galaxy That’s Secretly Part of a Cosmic Duo
Hubble’s latest view features NGC 3507, a barred spiral galaxy in Leo, secretly traveling with its companion NGC 3501. Though only one is captured in the frame, both are spiral galaxies seen from different angles, offering a dual cosmic perspective. The image also reveals nearby stars and faint, distant galaxies across the backdrop of deep space.
-
Polaris Wasn’t Always the North Star: How Earth’s Wobble Shifts the Celestial Pole
Earth’s 26,000-year axial precession gradually shifts the celestial pole, replacing Polaris with new North Stars over millennia. Stars like Thuban, Kochab, Errai, and Vega have taken turns guiding humanity, and more will follow. According to NASA, gravitational forces cause this cosmic wobble, reminding us that even the seemingly constant night s...
-
Canadian Astrophotographer Captures Stunning Sunflower Galaxy from Ontario
Astrophotographer Ronald Brecher has captured a magnificent image of Messier 63, famously known as the Sunflower Galaxy, from his backyard observatory in Guelph, Ontario. With over 13 hours of exposures taken using a Celestron 14" EDGE HD telescope and advanced imaging filters, the spiral galaxy’s fragmented arms and bright core are revealed in s...
-
World's Largest Digital Camera Installed on Vera Rubin Observatory for Cosmic Exploration
Vera Rubin Observatory Installs World's Largest Digital Camera for Sky Survey
-
Vernal Equinox 2025: Date, Time, and the Science Behind the Event
The vernal equinox 2025 is set for March 20 at 09:01 UTC, marking the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This event occurs due to Earth’s axial tilt aligning with its orbit, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and night across the globe. While the equinox does not bring perfectly...
-
T Coronae Borealis Nova Event: When and Where to See the 'Blaze Star'
T Coronae Borealis, also known as the 'Blaze Star,' is predicted to undergo a rare nova event, briefly making it visible to the naked eye. This recurrent nova, last seen erupting in 1946, is expected to brighten anytime between now and late 2024. Positioned in the constellation Corona Borealis, the star will be best visible a few hours after sunset...
-
February 2025 Planet Parade: How to See Five Planets Align in the Sky
A rare celestial event will unfold in February 2025, with five bright planets—Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn—visible in the evening sky. The highlight occurs on February 24, when Mercury and Saturn appear closest. Uranus and Neptune can also be observed with telescopes. Best viewing conditions require a clear west-southwest horizon a...
-
Geminid Meteor Shower 2024 to Peak on December, But Moonlight May Affect Visibility
The Geminid meteor shower, renowned for its vibrant meteors, will peak overnight on December 13-14. However, a full moon on December 15 is expected to obscure much of the shower's activity, reducing visibility significantly. Limited dark sky windows are available in some regions before the peak, offering brief opportunities to observe this celestia...
-
T Coronae Borealis' Nova Outburst May Happen Soon, Experts Suggest
Astronomers are closely monitoring T Coronae Borealis, a binary star system in the Corona Borealis constellation, for its next nova eruption. The event, expected within months, could light up the night sky as the white dwarf gathers material from its red giant companion, triggering a nuclear explosion. Advanced telescopes like NASA’s Fermi are ga...
-
North Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks, Bringing Fireballs to US Night Skies
The North Taurid meteor shower, peaking November 11, offered skywatchers in the US a view of rare bright fireballs across the sky. Part of the Taurid meteor system, these meteors are known for their intensity and visibility, even under strong moonlight. Though fewer meteors occur in these showers, their brightness will make for a striking display o...
-
November Night Sky 2024: Check Out the Brightest Planets and How to Watch Them?
November's night sky features a spectacular lineup of planets, including Venus, which becomes increasingly prominent in the west. Mars glows brightly as it approaches Earth, while Jupiter rises in the east, captivating observers with its brilliance. Saturn, with its magnificent rings, is also visible high in the southern sky. This month presents id...
-
Euclid Space Telescope Unveils First Images of Its Cosmic Atlas
The first stunning images from the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope reveal a mosaic of over 14 million galaxies, marking just 1% of its cosmic atlas. Captured over two weeks, this vast collection aims to enhance our understanding of dark matter and dark energy, contributing to the largest and most accurate map of the universe yet. The teles...
-
Draconid Meteor Shower 2024: How to Watch Dozens of Shooting Stars in Night Sky
The Draconid Meteor Shower will peak on October 8 and 9, offering a chance to spot meteors shooting across the night sky. Named after the constellation Draco, the shower is known for its variable meteor count, with skywatchers able to see up to 10 meteors per hour. The radiant point of the shower lies in the northern sky, and unlike other meteor sh...
-
Saturn to Enter Opposition Soon: What It Means and How to Watch the Rare Astronomical Event
Saturn will reach opposition on the night of September 7 and 8, marking a key astronomical event. During the event, Earth is positioned directly between Saturn and the Sun. This alignment allows Saturn to appear at its largest and brightest in the night sky. For those keen to observe Saturn in all its splendour, this is the ideal time as Saturn wil...
