Earth will pass between Saturn and the sun on July 9, bringing the planet opposite the sun in our sky. Astronomers call this an opposition of Saturn. It marks the middle of the best time of year to see the ringed planet. Read more. Want to see the rings? Try the Night Sky Network to find a star party near you.
What is ball lightning? Scientists have been trying to figure that out for hundreds of years, and now it seems they might finally be close to solving one of Earth's most intriguing natural mysteries. Read more.
She was the 1st American woman in space, eventually flying on 2 Space Shuttle missions. She played a key role in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. And she inspired people. Read more.
This is solstice week. And that means it's a good week for noticing where the sun sets on your horizon. The solstice - on June 21 - will mark the northernmost sunset of the year. Details here. This sunset image comes from Emilie Sellimi, who captured it on Sunday, June 16, over the fields of Arras in northern France. Thanks, Emilie!
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Asperitas clouds, caught on June 10 by Kent Reinhard in Bennet, Nebraska. They’ve been described as “… as if viewing a roughened sea surface from below.” The World Meteorological Organization officially recognized this type of cloud in the 2017 version of its International Cloud Atlas. It was the first new addition to the Atlas in over half a century. See more asperitas clouds, and learn how they came to be Earth's newest officially recognized cloud.
