Astronomy Magazine

NASA’s Explorer 6 satellite was launched Aug. 7, 1959, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft’s mission was to study Earth’s magnetic fields and radiation, as well as cosmic rays, geomagnetism, and micrometeorites. It also carried a photocell scanner, an instrument intended to photograph Earth’s cloud cover. A complication with one of its solar cells left

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. August 13: Catch streaming shooting stars Mars stands within 1° of the open cluster M35 in the early-morning sky. Both are located at the feet of Gemini the Twins, after Mars crossed into the constellation from Taurus just two days ago.  Around

Friday, August 14Mars stands within 1° of the open cluster M35 in the early-morning sky of the 14th. Both are located at the feet of Gemini the Twins, after Mars crossed into the constellation from Taurus just two days ago.  Around 4:45 A.M. local daylight time, you’ll find the Red Planet nearly 30° high in

Likely the best-known meteor shower of the year, the Perseids occur from late July through late August annually, typically peaking around Aug. 12-13. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the debris field left behind as a comet orbits the Sun. In the case of the Perseids, that comet is Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, discovered in

Erly Alexandrino da Silva Neto from Vitória, Brazil NGC 6188 gets its nickname — The Fighting Dragons of Ara — for the ridges of dust that appear at the center of this frame, arched against a blue backdrop of gas and dust lit by the hot young stars of open cluster NGC 6193. Below it