SUNSET: 
The Year 2016 Will Be One Second Longer
Do you think 2016 has seemed unusually long? An international agency has decided to make it even longer.
Vera Rubin, "Mother of Dark Matter" (1928–2016)
Astronomer Vera Rubin, known for her revolutionary work confirming the existence of dark matter, died on December 25th. She was 88.
"Library Telescope" Program Takes Off
From humble beginnings in 2008, a simple idea — equipping libraries with loaner telescopes — has caught on across the United States.
IAU Standardizes 212 Traditional Star Names
Bringing order to chaos, the International Astronomical Union has approved standardized spellings and designations for the traditional names of 212 bright stars.
Embracing the "Supermoon," Hyped or Not
Much has been said and written about the Moon's proximity to Earth today. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Daily Alert for Asteroid Flybys
A new e-digest from the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center gives the public a head’s up on passing asteroids.
1967 Solar Flare Nearly Took U.S. and Soviets to Brink of War
An historical study from former U.S. military officials found that a solar flare was nearly responsible for military conflict with the Soviet Union in May 1967.
Measuring the Impacts of Light Pollution
Light pollution is pervasive, and its impact on people is larger than you might think.
Celebrate Global Astronomy Month
Join the world’s largest celebration of astronomy — in person or via online webcasts of events — throughout April.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Navy Resumes Celestial Navigation Course
Modern security threats have brought back an old method — celestial navigation — to help U.S. Navy sailors navigate the high seas.
It's International Dark-Sky Week!
What began as a student's simple idea a decade ago has grown into a worldwide celebration of the night sky and easy ways to reduce light pollution.
Flood Threatens Photographic Plates
A burst pipe flooded Harvard College’s Observatory Hill, submerging thousands of historic photographic plates underwater. Recovery is now under way.
Help Keep Our Skies Dark — Join IDA Today
It's high time that we amateur astronomers got serious about protecting the night sky from light pollution.
How Astronomers Count Sunspots
A multi-year investigation revealed errors in our understanding of the Sun.
Solar System Featured on New U.S. Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service has unveiled new stamps, to be issued later this year, that feature 10 solar-system objects — including Pluto.
New Star and Exoplanet Names OK'd by IAU
Following a wildly popular contest, the International Astronomical Union has named 14 stars and 31 planets that orbit them.
Rate the Darkness of Your Sky
A new website shows how light pollution spreads around the globe — using data gathered by its users.
White House Hosts Second Astronomy Night
For the second time during his tenure, President Obama invited amateur astronomers to join him on the South Lawn for an evening of stargazing.
Geoff Marcy, Exoplanet Leader in Sexual Harassment Case, Resigns
Geoffrey Marcy, a top figure in exoplanet discovery, sexually pressured and harassed students and researchers for at least a decade.
ISS Photos Yield "Cities at Night" World Map
Researchers on the ground have combed through a trove of images taken by orbiting astronauts to reveal unprecedented details about light pollution streaming from Earth's major cities.
