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Explore the many bodies in the Sun's neighborhood, and learn how to observe meteor showers, the Moon, eclipses, and more.
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Comet are more than small, icy objects that can produce spectacular shows if they pass near Earth; the gases and dust they release hold clues to the conditions that existed as our planetary system was born.
By
Richard Talcott |
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These small, rocky objects are leftovers from the formation of our planetary system and have changed little since that time.
By
Liz Kruesi |
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Get the details on this oddball planet discovered in 1930 and the various other worlds beyond Neptune that later influenced its planetary status.
By
Richard Talcott |
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Its blue hue, changing atmosphere, thin rings, and dynamic moon make the eighth planet from the Sun a captivating place for astronomers to explore.
By
Bill Andrews |
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In this episode of the "Tour the solar system" series, Associate Editor Liz Kruesi explores the oddball planet that seems to roll around the Sun on its side and the new studies that clearly show Uranus is anything but dull.
By
Liz Kruesi |
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Often considered the most beautiful planet in the solar system, Saturn has many interesting features to explore — from its expansive ring system and volatile atmosphere to the different surface details of its four largest moons.
By
Bill Andrews |
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The king of planets is known for its light and dark belts and zones, giant storm systems, and four Galilean moons, each a captivating world in its own right.
By
Richard Talcott |
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Although humans have always known about Earth's only natural satellite existence
, scientists are only recently beginning to understand how it formed and what's beneath its battered surface. By
Bill Andrews |
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While the Red Planet is geologically inactive now, astronomers see evidence of a much more turbulent past as well as the strong possibility that it once held liquid water.
By
Liz Kruesi |
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Varied worlds large and small offer backyard observers spectacular targets for the naked eye, binoculars, and telescope.
By
Richard Talcott |
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Billions of years ago, our galaxy gave birth to an unassuming star. Even today, that star is the only one astronomers can study in detail.
By
Richard Talcott |
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In this installment of the "Tour the solar system" series, Assistant Editor Bill Andrews explains the characteristics of our home star and the methods scientists are using to study it.
By
Bill Andrews |
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Here is a thumbnail guide to the fascinating worlds of our solar system.
By
Richard Talcott |
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In this installment of the "Tour the solar system" series, Senior Editor Richard Talcott explains why, beyond size and mass, Earth's nearest planetary neighbor is nowhere near a "twin" of our home planet.
By
Richard Talcott |
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Observers have known about Mercury's existence since antiquity, but it's difficult to study because of its position in the solar system. In the first installment of the "Tour the solar system" series, Associate Editor Liz Kruesi explores what scientists know about the innermost planet and what they're still hoping to learn in the future.
By
Liz Kruesi |
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In this installment of the "Tour the solar system" series, Assistant Editor Bill Andrews explores what makes Earth unique and how space travel has led to a better understanding of our home planet.
By
Bill Andrews |
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Astronomy Senior Editor Michael E. Bakich helps you get the most out of the Moon's ever-changing face with binoculars.
By
Michael E. Bakich |
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Follow a few easy tips, and you'll be an experienced moonwatcher in no time.
By
Michael E. Bakich |
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The Moon passing through Earth's shadow is one of the most dramatic sky events — it's also one of the easiest to observe.
By
Michael E. Bakich |
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Snowballs from the solar system's edge create one of grandest spectacles visible to the naked eye.
By
Francis Reddy |
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You can see a "shooting star" on any dark night — but some nights of the year are much better than others.
By
Francis Reddy |
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Enjoying a meteor shower requires only comfort and patience. Senior Editor Michael E. Bakich gives tips on spending a night under "shooting stars."
By
Michael E. Bakich |
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The ghostly glow of an aurora is the visible manifestation of complex interactions between Earth and the Sun.
By
Francis Reddy |
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