astronomy /news/tags/astronomy astronomy en-US Copyright Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:27:25 GMT It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a pretty neat planetary viewing! /npr-news/2023-03-27/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-a-pretty-neat-planetary-viewing Over the next couple of nights, five planets are expected to align in the sky. And you won't even need a telescope to see them (although binoculars will help). Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:27:25 GMT /npr-news/2023-03-27/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-a-pretty-neat-planetary-viewing Manuela López Restrepo Astronomers still have their eyes on that asteroid NASA whacked /2023-03-04/astronomers-still-have-their-eyes-on-that-asteroid-nasa-whacked NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test slammed a spacecraft into an asteroid, directly altering its path through space. Scientists are still studying the space rock to learn more. Sat, 04 Mar 2023 10:00:31 GMT /2023-03-04/astronomers-still-have-their-eyes-on-that-asteroid-nasa-whacked Nell Greenfieldboyce Look up! Venus and Jupiter are going in for a nighttime kiss /npr-news/2023-03-01/look-up-venus-and-jupiter-are-going-in-for-a-nighttime-kiss The two brightest planets in Earth's night sky are millions of miles apart. But due to an astronomical quirk, they appear to be engaging in a cosmic dance tonight. Now that's a moment of awe. Wed, 01 Mar 2023 23:45:00 GMT /npr-news/2023-03-01/look-up-venus-and-jupiter-are-going-in-for-a-nighttime-kiss Michaeleen Doucleff Tired of Saturn's rings? Check out NASA's latest image of the bands around Neptune /news/npr-news/2022-09-22/tired-of-saturns-rings-check-out-nasas-latest-image-of-the-bands-around-neptune The last time scientists caught such a clear glimpse of Neptune's rings was when Voyager 2 flew past the distant planet in 1989. Now the James Webb Space Telescope has delivered a crisp new image. Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:44 GMT /news/npr-news/2022-09-22/tired-of-saturns-rings-check-out-nasas-latest-image-of-the-bands-around-neptune Dustin Jones A newly discovered planet 40% larger than Earth may be suitable for life /news/npr-news/2022-09-07/a-newly-discovered-planet-40-larger-than-earth-may-be-suitable-for-life It's one of two new planets that were recently found about 100 light years from Earth, both of which take just days to orbit their own sun. Wed, 07 Sep 2022 16:07:35 GMT /news/npr-news/2022-09-07/a-newly-discovered-planet-40-larger-than-earth-may-be-suitable-for-life Dustin Jones The last time to catch a supermoon this year is approaching /news/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-11/the-last-time-to-catch-a-supermoon-this-year-is-approaching Supermoons in general appear 17% bigger and 30% brighter than when the moon is at its farthest point away from Earth, according to NASA. Thu, 11 Aug 2022 08:48:50 GMT /news/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-11/the-last-time-to-catch-a-supermoon-this-year-is-approaching Ayana Archie