Our Star, the Sun
The Sun was born about 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a vast cloud of gas and […]
What causes the bright halo that sometimes surrounds the Moon?
This bright ring of light is quite common. It’s related to the same process that creates rainbows: refraction. In this
What causes the bright halo that sometimes surrounds the Moon? Read More »
Are there shortcuts through space?
According to Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, it is feasible in areas of intensely strong gravity to create “wormholes”
What causes the Northern and Southern Lights?
The famous Northern and Southern Lights — Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis for those Latin lovers among us — are
Can solar flares and sunspots affect Earth?
While no direct link between sunspots and Earthly events, such as volatile stock markets, has ever been found, extremes in
What is the nearest star?
Of course, the nearest star to Earth is the one we see every day — our dear old Sun. At
How big is the solar system?
The farthest known object orbiting our Sun is a ball of ice and rock unofficially called FarFarOut, which lies about
Is there a tenth planet in our solar system?
No. On August 23, 2006, the International Astronomical Union decided that the solar system contains only eight planets. Pluto, which