The Sun

The Sun seems unchanging, but solar flares, prominences, and sunspots often pop up and disappear. Safely observing the Sun can be both fun and rewarding.

Spanish moss is shown in the shape of a circle with Braille writing above it.

2024 Solar Eclipse, Observing, The Moon, The Sun, Upcoming events

A genius use of Spanish moss will help visually impaired people experience the eclipse

During the 2017 total solar eclipse, the Sun’s corona, only visible during the total eclipse, is shown as a crown of white flares from the surface.

2024 Solar Eclipse, Observing, Science, The Moon, The Sun, Upcoming events

A hidden part of the Sun will appear during Monday’s total eclipse for those in the right spot

Why is the Sun’s corona so hot?

Science, The Sun

These are the most noteworthy solar eclipses

The corona is made of hot, glowing plasma flying off of the Sun. It can only be seen when the Sun is completely eclipsed. Credit: Blake Estes

2024 Solar Eclipse, Observing, The Sun

The Great North American Eclipse: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

The astronauts of Apollo 12 — Alan Bean, Pete Conrad, and Dick Gordon — experienced a solar eclipse while returning home from the Moon. Their spacecraft flew through Earth’s shadow, allowing them to capture this image on their 16mm motion picture camera. Credit: NASA/JSC.

2024 Solar Eclipse, Observing, The Moon, The Sun, Upcoming events

What would a solar eclipse look like from the Moon?

During the dry season at Botswana’s Makgadikgadi salt pan, temperature inversions lead to all manner of mirages.

Observing, The Sun

Secret Sky: Tropical Novaya Zemlya effects

Observing, The Sun, Upcoming events

Solar eclipse 2024: How, when and where to see it

Aurora Borealis

Join Astronomy for an Icelandic eclipse adventure

The giant sunspot AR 3354 on June 29, 2023.

Secret Sky: Seeing sunspots on paper

The total solar eclipse of November 1966 as seen by the Gemini 12 astronauts while in space.

Human Spaceflight, The Sun

57 years ago, two astronauts saw the first solar eclipse from space

A spectacle of sparkling stars and shining planets dance in hues of yellow, orange, and blue, as if creating a painting made by nature during the transition from civil twilight to nautical twilight.

Discover the three kinds of twilight

Popular Observing Topics

Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

The Sun

Safely observing the Sun can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Credit: Ted Hauter.

The Moon

Our nearest celestial neighbor provides many great sights.

Planets

Targeting our solar system’s other worlds is well worth the effort.

Credit: Tony Hallas.

Deep-Sky Objects

Nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies are the night sky’s hidden gems.

Credit: Celestron.

Telescopes & Equipment

Explore the tools that can help you unlock the night sky.

Credit: Peter Michaud, Gemini Observatory.

Astrophotography

Capturing great celestial sights is both an art and a skill.

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