Voyager 2 acquired this image fewer than 5 days before its closest approach to Neptune on August 25, 1989. You can see Neptune’s Great Dark Spot, a storm in its atmosphere. Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech.
EarthSky News is taking a rest until Wednesday, but we didn't want you to miss these great stories …
On today's date - August 25, 1989 - Voyager 2 passed just 4,950 kilometers (3,000 miles) above Neptune's north pole. It was the craft's closest approach to any planet in its Grand Tour of the outer solar system. Read more.
We can't see Mars in our night sky now. Beginning this week, space engineers won't risk sending commands to spacecraft at Mars. What happens instead? Watch this video.
India's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft is slowing down for its final orbit, with its next maneuver scheduled for August 28. It's due to land on the moon on September 7. Click here for details about the mission, including its first image of the moon.
The hashtag #PrayForAmazonas was a top-trending topic on Twitter last week, as images of a rain forest on fire spread across the internet. Here’s what we know about the fires raging in the Amazon.
It sounds preposterous. But - beginning on today's date in 1835 - a newspaper claimed a famous astronomer had found life on the moon, including bat-men and unicorns. The Great Moon Hoax was widely read and believed. Read more.
The moon has now waned to a slim crescent phase. It's near the stars Castor and Pollux - the legendary Gemini "twins" - on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Read more.
