Astronomy, features and articles | Educational Science

Oct 24, 2023

How to watch the full 'Hunter's Moon' get eclipsed this weekend

This weekend (Oct. 28), the full Hunter's Moon will rise and, for some sky-watchers, be eclipsed by Earth. Observers in Europe, Africa and Asia will get the best view of the lunar eclipse, but there will be plenty to see from across the world, with Jupiter shining brightly alongside the...

Nov 7, 2023

The moon will 'smile' at Venus this Thursday. Here's how to see it.

If you're willing to get up early this Thursday (Nov. 9), you can catch one of the most delightful celestial sights of the year: the crescent moon smiling at Venus. During this close conjunction, the moon, arguably in its most delicate and beautiful phase of the month, will appear close...

Nov 14, 2023

Mysterious 'lunar swirls' that perplexed scientists for decades may be close to an explanation

New topographic maps of the moon may help to explain the mysterious bright swirls decorating the lunar surface, which have perplexed scientists for decades. Lunar swirls are areas of contrasting light and dark streaks spread across the moon's surface, and they occur on all types of terrain, from visibly dark...

Nov 22, 2023

Chinese rocket carrying 'undisclosed' object crashed into the moon and left twin craters, study claims

A mysterious rocket that crashed onto the moon's surface in March 2022 came from China and was carrying an undisclosed payload, a new study suggests. The debris, which smashed into the far side of the moon after spending years tumbling through space, has had its origins contested since it was...

Nov 24, 2023

The full 'Beaver Moon' rises next to bright Jupiter this weekend. Here's how to watch.

On Monday, Nov. 27, look east in the evening to see the full Beaver Moon rise into the sky. November's full moon occurs as Earth gets between the sun and moon. It's consequently 100% illuminated — at 4:16 a.m. EST on Nov. 27 — and will rise in the east...

Nov 26, 2023

Hydrogen discovered in Apollo-era moon rocks could change the future of lunar exploration

A fresh analysis of moon rocks brought home during the Apollo missions has, for the first time, revealed the presence of hydrogen. This finding suggests future astronauts could someday use water available right on the moon for life support and rocket fuel. Researchers with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL),...

Nov 27, 2023

'This must be what God sees': The inside story of 'Earthrise,' the most famous photo of our planet ever taken

The recent death of Frank Borman, commander of Nasa’s Apollo 8 mission in 1968, has focused attention on that incredible first voyage to the Moon. It took place eight months before Apollo 11, where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin explored the lunar surface for the first time. However, the impact...

Dec 6, 2023

The Peregrine Lunar Lander is set to launch on Dec 24. Here's what it'll bring to the moon

During the wee hours of Christmas Eve this year, before the gift wrapping begins and the aroma of gingerbread brightens the air, a spacecraft is set to launch to the moon. It's called the Peregrine Lunar Lander, named for the fastest flying bird on Earth. If all goes to plan,...

Dec 13, 2023

Humans are changing the moon's surface so much it's entered a new geological era, scientists say

A new geological epoch has begun on the moon, which reflects the fact that humans are now the biggest influence on the lunar surface, a group of scientists suggest. The researchers named the moon's new epoch the Lunar Anthropocene. Cultural processes are starting to outstrip the natural background of geological...

Dec 18, 2023

Winter solstice 2023: How to see Jupiter dance with the moon on the longest night of the year

Winter is officially coming to the Northern Hemisphere — and, with it, the longest night of the year. This year, that also means a special skywatching opportunity is at hand, with Jupiter shining brightly next to a nearly-full moon. The winter solstice, which will occur at 10:28 p.m. EST on...

Dec 22, 2023

What is the moon phase today?

The moon's phases are one of the most familiar sights in the night sky. Every month, we see our lone satellite wax and wane through a series of shapes, taking it from an unmissable full moon down to a tiny sliver of a crescent, briefly disappearing from view entirely and...

Dec 23, 2023

Cold Moon 2023: The final full moon of the year rises this Christmas

The final full moon of 2023 — and the first full moon of winter — will rise this Christmas when the Cold Moon ascends. Officially full at 7:34 p.m. EST on Tuesday (Dec. 26), the full moon will be best seen rising in the east later that day at the...

Jan 1, 2024

Full moons of 2024: Names, dates and everything you need to know

In 2024, you'll have the chance to see 12 full moons, including two supermoons, a blue moon and two lunar eclipses. Although experienced moon gazers know that the night of the full moon is not the best for observing the lunar surface (even with a good pair of binoculars), the...

Jan 19, 2024

Japan's 'Moon Sniper' lands on lunar surface, but it may be dead within hours

Japan successfully became the fifth nation to land on the moon on Friday (Jan. 19), when the country's robotic Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) successfully descended to the lunar surface at 10:20 a.m. EST (or 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Japan). The craft seems to have...

Jan 23, 2024

January's full 'Wolf Moon' rises Thursday. Here's how to see it at its best.

This month's full moon, known as the Wolf Moon, will be at its fullest on Thursday, Jan. 25 and will shine in the constellation Cancer. The moon will also appear bright and full on Wednesday (Jan. 24) and Friday (Jan. 26). According to Timeanddate.com, the Wolf Moon gets its name,...