SUNSET: 
Comet Watch 2021
If you own an 8-inch or larger telescope you might see more than a dozen new and returning comets this year, including one potential naked-eye candidate.
Amateur Astronomer Finds “Lost” Moons of Jupiter
An amateur astronomer has recovered four of five "lost" Jovian moons.
Will the Next Solar Cycle Surprise Us?
The coming months will test a new prediction that — contrary to most expectations — forecasts one of the strongest sunspot cycles on record.
Jupiter and Saturn Embrace in Solstice Conjunction
Jupiter and Saturn fashion the Great Conjunction of 2020 when they pair up on December 21st, the winter solstice. That evening they'll be closest in nearly 400 years.
The Eventual Fate of Our Solar System
Have you ever wondered about the future of our solar system? Astronomers have predicted the effect of the Sun's expansion on its planets.
Earth's New "Minimoon" May be a 1960s-Era Rocket Booster
An object set to pass near Earth next month may in fact be a relic of the early Space Age.
Leonid Meteor Shower to the Rescue
Modest but reliable, the annual Leonid meteor shower returns this week. Take an hour or two to relax and enjoy the show.
NASA's Osiris-REX Has Stowed Its Bite Out of Asteroid Bennu
NASA’s Osiris-REX successfully stowed its sample of Bennu's regolith, collected earlier this week. Images show a good haul.
Juno Discovers Sprites and Elves on Jupiter
NASA's Juno spacecraft has captured ultraviolet images of a rare atmospheric phenomenon in Jupiter's atmosphere.
Psyche: A Metal-Rock World with Iron Lava?
New observations suggest the main-belt asteroid Psyche is an intriguing world, possibly one with volcanic flows of iron on its surface.
(Very) Small Chance of Apophis Asteroid Impact in 2068
The subtle effect of sunlight may turn the near-Earth asteroid Apophis toward Earth in 2068 . . . but chances for impact remain small.
Water on the Moon Isn't Just at the Poles
Water exists even on the sunlit Moon, a new study shows — trapped in glass beads but still extractable for lunar exploration.
Osiris-REX "TAGs" Bennu, Returns Stunning Views
See images and video from NASA’s Osiris-REX spacecraft as it samples the Nightingale site.
Moon’s Magnetism Might Have Protected Earth
The Moon's magnetic field, now long gone, might once have shielded Earth from the young Sun's radiation.
Comets Crawl through the Skies at Dawn and Dusk
Comets have been scarce since NEOWISE departed the scene. Not anymore. Suddenly, there are four fresh faces visible from dusk til dawn.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Osiris-REX Successfully Collected Sample from Asteroid Bennu
NASA's Osiris-REX mission has successfully touched down on the asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of its surface for return to Earth.
Osiris-REX Finds Some of Solar System's Oldest Rocks on Bennu
NASA's Osiris-REX mission has found evidence of ancient water flows on the surface of asteroid Bennu.
Did Pioneer Venus Find Phosphine First?
NASA's Pioneer Venus mission, which launched in 1978, found the first tantalizing clues of phosphine, a potential biosignature gas — but it took 40 years to realize it!
Calling on Amateur Astronomers: Observe Venus!
The Mercury-bound BepiColombo spacecraft will fly by Venus on October 15th, and the mission is asking amateurs for their help.
Evidence Grows for Super-Salty Underground Lakes on Mars
New analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter strengthens the case for salty lakes underneath Mars's south polar cap.
