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Venus Shines as 'Evening Star' in May, Set to Reach Peak Brightness by September

Venus Shines as 'Evening Star' in May, Set to Reach Peak Brightness by September

Venus, often referred to as the 'Evening Star,' is currently visible in the evening sky, glowing brighter than any star. Positioned east of the sun, Venus is reflecting sunlight back to Earth, making it the brightest planet in our solar system. This visibility will increase as Venus climbs higher in the sky throughout the summer, reaching its peak brightness in mid-September. The planet follows a synodic cycle of approximately 584 days, alternating between its appearances as the 'Morning Star' and the 'Evening Star.' As it rises, Venus will transition through phases similar to the moon, from a bright, rounded glow to a crescent. By October, Venus will disappear into the sun's glare, reemerging as the 'Morning Star.'
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NASA's Pandora Mission Releases First Images, Advancing Exoplanet Research

NASA's Pandora Mission Releases First Images, Advancing Exoplanet Research

NASA's Pandora mission, part of the Astrophysics Pioneers Program, has released its first engineering images, marking a significant milestone in exoplanet exploration. Launched on January 11, 2026, from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Pandora is a small, cost-effective mission designed to gather data on exoplanets in visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The mission is a collaboration between NASA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and partners like Blue Canyon Technologies and Corning Incorporated. Pandora aims to observe the atmospheres of exoplanets in unprecedented detail using its two instruments, CODA and NIRDA. The mission will focus on analyzing the atmospheric conditions of 20 known exoplanets, helping scientists identify elements like water vapor and hydrogen that could indicate habitability.
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NASA Highlights May 2026 Skywatching Events Including Meteor Shower and Blue Moon

NASA Highlights May 2026 Skywatching Events Including Meteor Shower and Blue Moon

NASA has outlined several astronomical events for May 2026, offering skywatchers a chance to witness the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, a conjunction of the Moon and Venus, and a Blue Moon. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, originating from Halley’s Comet, is expected to peak around May 5-6, with up to 50 meteors per hour visible under ideal conditions. The Moon and Venus will appear close together in the sky on May 18, providing a striking visual for observers. The month will conclude with a Blue Moon on May 31, marking the second full moon of the month, a relatively rare occurrence.
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May 2026 Skywatching: Meteor Showers and Celestial Events to Observe

May 2026 Skywatching: Meteor Showers and Celestial Events to Observe

May 2026 Skywatching: Meteor Showers and Celestial Events to Observe
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Rare Blue Moon to Illuminate May Skies, Last Until 2028

Rare Blue Moon to Illuminate May Skies, Last Until 2028

May 2026 is a rare month featuring two full moons, with the second, known as a Blue Moon, set to appear on May 31. This phenomenon occurs due to the lunar cycle's 29.5-day span, occasionally resulting in two full moons within a single calendar month. The Blue Moon will reach its peak brightness at 4:45 a.m. EDT. Unlike its name, the moon will not appear blue but will be a micromoon, appearing smaller and dimmer as it reaches its farthest point from Earth.
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Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Bright Moon

Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Bright Moon

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, originating from Halley's Comet, is set to peak between May 5 and 6, 2026. This annual event is known for its bright meteors, which are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, visibility is expected to be limited due to a bright waning gibbous moon, which will reduce the number of visible meteors to fewer than 10 per hour. The shower is best observed in the early morning hours before dawn, with the constellation Aquarius as the radiant point. Observers are advised to find a dark location away from city lights for optimal viewing.
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Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Moonlight

Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Moonlight

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, originating from Halley's Comet, is set to peak between May 5 and 6, 2026. This annual event is known for its bright meteors, which are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, visibility is expected to be limited due to a bright waning gibbous moon, which will reduce the number of visible meteors to fewer than 10 per hour. The shower is best observed in the early morning hours before dawn, with the constellation Aquarius as the radiant point. Observers are advised to find a dark location away from city lights for optimal viewing.
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Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Bright Moon

Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks with Limited Visibility Due to Bright Moon

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, originating from Halley's Comet, is set to peak between May 5 and 6, 2026. This annual event is known for its bright meteors, which are best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, visibility is expected to be limited due to a bright waning gibbous moon, which will reduce the number of visible meteors to fewer than 10 per hour. The shower is best observed in the early morning hours before dawn, with the constellation Aquarius as the radiant point. Observers are advised to find a dark location away from city lights for optimal viewing.
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Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peaks Amid Bright Moonlight

Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peaks Amid Bright Moonlight

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, generated by debris from Halley's Comet, is peaking today. Despite the interference from a bright gibbous Moon, early risers can still catch glimpses of fast-moving meteors. The best viewing time is in the hour before dawn, when the shower's radiant in northern Aquarius is over 20° high in the east. Under ideal conditions, up to 50 meteors per hour can be seen, but the Moon's brightness will reduce visibility. The Eta Aquariids are known for their speed, with some particles traveling at 40 miles per second.
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International Space Station Visible from Earth: How to Spot It

International Space Station Visible from Earth: How to Spot It

The International Space Station (ISS) has been a fixture in Earth's orbit for over 25 years, serving as a hub for scientific research and international collaboration. The station orbits Earth every 90 minutes, making it visible to observers on the ground multiple times a day. The ISS is a joint project involving NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. It has hosted over 290 astronauts from 26 countries, including 170 from the United States. The station is visible to the naked eye and can be tracked using NASA's 'Spot the Station' app, which provides notifications and real-time tracking data. The best times to view the ISS are shortly before sunrise or after sunset when it reflects sunlight.
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NASA Advances Near-Earth Asteroid Detection with New Space Telescope

NASA Advances Near-Earth Asteroid Detection with New Space Telescope

NASA is advancing its efforts to detect potentially hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs) with the development of the NEO Surveyor, an infrared space telescope. Scheduled for launch no earlier than September 2027, the telescope is designed to discover asteroids and comets that pose risks to Earth. The NEO Surveyor will operate from the Sun-Earth Lagrange point, scanning the sky for five years to identify objects that ground-based telescopes might miss. The mission aims to provide critical data for planetary defense by detecting NEOs that are difficult to observe due to their size, darkness, or proximity to the Sun.
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NASA Releases 12,000 Photos from Artemis 2 Mission, Showcasing Lunar Journey

NASA Releases 12,000 Photos from Artemis 2 Mission, Showcasing Lunar Journey

NASA has released over 12,000 photos taken by the Artemis 2 astronauts during their mission around the moon. The images include stunning views of Earth, the moon, and the astronauts inside their Orion capsule. This mission marked the first time in over 50 years that astronauts traveled beyond low Earth orbit, providing a unique perspective of our planet and its celestial neighbor. The photos, now available on NASA's public archive, offer a glimpse into the journey of the Artemis 2 crew, which included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.