282 Items Tagged

Astronomy

Perhaps due to Japan's temperate climate, the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu is more gentle and benevolent than some other sun deities.

space exploration

How Can Myths Help Us Understand the Stars? AO Wants to Know.

Astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier teaches science through storytelling.

Andrew Coletti March 20, 2025

An artist's rendering of NASA's Europa Clipper passing over the ice-covered moon Europa as it orbits Jupiter. The spacecraft is scheduled to reach Jupiter in 2030.

How Many Other Oceans Exist in Our Solar System?

Some of the moons orbiting Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus may hide deep saltwater expanses beneath their icy crusts.

Robin George Andrews March 18, 2025

The walls of the Octagon Earthworks in Heath, Ohio, form an enclosure large enough to fit four Roman Colosseums.

These 2,000-Year-Old Mounds Trace the Path of the Moon

After spending the last century as a golf course, the Octagon Earthworks are now protected—and celebrated—for their ancient Native American origins.

Olivia Young March 5, 2025

Hat Creek, California

Hat Creek Radio Observatory

The first radio telescope dedicated to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

Cawston, British Columbia

Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory

One of Canada's premier radio observatories sits in a radio-quiet valley outside Penticton.

Comet C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, nearly 100 million miles from Earth, seen from the International Space Station on Sept. 22.

Long Seen as Omens, Comets Do Tell Us Something About Ourselves

For thousands of years, comets have fascinated us, filled us with dread, and, in some ways, made us who we are.

Rebecca Boyle November 20, 2024

Meridian Line of Basilica di San Petronio

A massive line that stretches across the floor of Bologna’s largest church was created by a 17th-century scientist to measure the movements of the Sun.

Dumfries, Scotland

Dumfries Camera Obscura

The oldest working camera obscura in the world sits on the top floor of an old windmill tower.

Millican, Oregon

Pine Mountain Observatory

In the high desert east of Bend, the University of Oregon maintains a research observatory on a remote mountain peak.

Don't believe the hype about object 2024 PT5 being a "mini-moon." We have only one moon, seen here during the Artemis I mission in 2022.

Our 'Mini-Moon' 2024 PT5 Is Mini—But It's Not a Moon

The space rock taking a surprise swing around our planet is just visiting from Earth's asteroid belt.

Rebecca Boyle September 25, 2024

Our planet frequently gets dinged with smaller, harmless asteroids like RW1. Planetary defense systems able to detect them should also be able to spot bigger threats.

Asteroid 2024 RW1 Just Hit Earth. That's a Good Thing.

The asteroid that exploded over Luzon was not a threat—but it was a victory for our planetary defense systems.

Robin George Andrews September 5, 2024

For more than half a century, the traveling International Astronomical Youth Camp has offered a gateway to careers in astronomy—and to lifelong friendships.

Up at Noon, Out All Night: This Summer Camp Is for Serious Stargazers

For more than half a century, the International Astronomical Youth Camp has attracted aspiring astronomers from around the world.

Hannah Seo July 5, 2024

Cointe Observatory

Liège, Belgium

Cointe Observatory

This Belgian observatory bears a striking resemblance to Futurama's Planet Express building.

Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger Astronomical Society Observatory

Peer into the night sky with one of Norway's oldest associations of land-based space explorers.

Springfield, Vermont

Stellafane Observatory

An amateur telescope-making club has been gathering at this Vermont site for more than a century.

An interferogram of Kathmandu shows the amount of land deformation after a 2015 quake: Each color represents about an inch of deformation. In areas that appear speckled, including the large area on the right, the ground deformed more than three feet.

Plate Tectonics Has a Surprise Silver Lining

Without this restless geologic process, which triggers destructive earthquakes, Earth would not be habitable.

Robin George Andrews May 29, 2024

The latest electromagnetic storm even penetrated deep into the ocean.

Solar Storms Create Wondrous Auroras—But Dangerous Power Surges

The next potential space voltage could be on the horizon very soon.

Meg St-Esprit May 28, 2024

Valentine, Nebraska

Merritt Reservoir

In addition to fishing and camping, this spot in Nebraska’s Sandhills is one of the world’s darkest places.