SUNSET: 
Planet-Protection Policies: Due For Revision?
A new National Academies study assesses NASA's efforts to protect neighboring worlds from contamination and recommends ways the space agency could do a better job.
Identifying Life from Varying Atmospheres
There’s no hiding — changes in Earth’s atmosphere over the seasons are a dead giveaway to the fact that Earth hosts life. Now a new study explores whether we might use atmospheric seasonality like Earth’s to detect life on other planets. Looking for Change Most of the searches for life…
Observers Anxious for Dust to Settle as Mars Opposition Approaches
With opposition only weeks away, will the current global dust storm finally break? We look at the prospects.
Crescent Moon and Venus Will Bedazzle on Sunday
Hanging dramatically in the west during twilight next Sunday evening (July 15, 2018) will be a bright “star” and crescent: Venus and the Moon. The cosmic couple will be quite the eye-catcher if your sky is clear.
Nautilus Expedition Recovers Possible Seafloor Meteorites
The expedition off the coast of Washington state performs a first, recovering meteorite fragments from a documented fall.
First Confirmed Image of Newborn Planet
Astronomers using a new instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chile have directly imaged a newborn planet.
60-Second Astro News: Impact Shaped Ice Giant, Jupiter's Moons Cause Complicated Aurorae & Eta Carinae, the Cosmic Ray Gun
This week in astronomy: Simulations show what kind of cataclysmic impact shaped the ice giant Uranus's evolution, new observations from Juno reveal complex auroral patterns due to Jupiter's moons, and NuSTAR provides conclusive evidence that the superstar Eta Carinae acts as a cosmic-ray accelerator.
Don't Miss Aldebaran's Last Occultation Till 2033
The last and one of the most picturesque occultations of Aldebaran by the Moon happens on Tuesday morning, July 10. Catch it or wait 15 years for the next!
Organics Inside Enceladus: Complex Enough for Life?
Scientists aren't comfortable yet saying that organics on Saturn's icy moon arose from life, but they have an idea of what to look for next.
Fireworks, Planets, Comets, a Nova — July's Got it All!
July's a busy month for skywatching. Not only are five bright planets in view, but three comets and a newly-discovered nova are also observable. And it all starts with a bang on Independence Day.
Wheel-spoke Magnetic Field in Supernova 1987A
Researchers have mapped the magnetic field in Supernova 1987A, shedding light on how stellar blasts act as particle accelerators.
Scientists See Strong Evidence of Rare Middle-weight Black Hole
New observations give more fuel to the concept of intermediate-mass black holes.
Tour July's Sky: Planet Parade
This month's astronomy podcast tells you how to spot a five bright planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn — in the evening sky.
NASA Sets March 2021 Launch Date for James Webb Space Telescope
Despite significant cost overruns, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is now set for a March 2021 launch — assuming it receives Congressional reauthorization.
'Oumuamua Was a Comet After All
Researchers have found that 'Oumuamua — the first confirmed object to enter the solar system from interstellar space — was a comet, releasing just enough gas to subtly change its course.
Hayabusa 2: Welcome to Ryugu
We got a peek at a new worldlet in the inner solar system this week, as the Japanese Aerospace Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 gave us our first good looks at the tiny asteroid 162173 Ryugu.
See Saturn at Its Highest & Brightest This Week
Saturn arrives at opposition on June 27th, very close to the time of full Moon.
Best Test of General Relativity on Galaxy Scales
Astronomers have conducted the best, galaxy-scale test of general relativity yet, and it rules out some (but not all) theories of modified gravity.
Big Dust Storm Blows up on Mars (Updated)
Will Mars soon be hidden under a veil of dust? Let's hope not. We explore the current storm and the planet's upcoming close opposition.
Martian Supervolcano Created Mysterious Rock Formation
Scientists have discovered that a supervolcano likely created a mysterious rock formation on Mars some 3 billion years ago.
