297 Items Tagged

Astronomy

The Tomnaverie Stone Circle is a dramatic megalithic monument devoted to the Moon. A large recumbent stone, arranged between two smaller, upright stones, is visible just to the left of the image's center.

Scotland's Ancient Stone Circles Mark Our Deep Connection to the Moon

Unlike Sun-focused Stonehenge and other megalithic monuments, Tomnaverie and similar stone circles hint at the Moon's importance to ancient people.

Rebecca Boyle January 17, 2024

Wonder is coming (return engagement) on April 8, 2024.

Embrace the Looming Shadow of Atlas Obscura's Ecliptic Festival

Learning more about the upcoming April astronomical extravaganza with organizer Megan Roberts.

Atlas Obscura January 16, 2024

A female astronomer peers through Yerkes Observatory's massive refractor telescope in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

Uncovering the Forgotten Female Astronomers of Yerkes Observatory

It all started with a photo of Einstein.

April White January 9, 2024

Fremont Solstice Parade.

16 Places to Celebrate the Solstice

Revel in the darkness and the light at ancient astronomical clocks and fiery festivals.

Diana Hubbell December 21, 2023

Eggnog, technically, comes from space.

Asteroid Collisions, Wandering Spacecraft, and Eggnog

Taking holiday a moment to appreciate how Earth got its water—and eggnog and mulled wine.

Robin George Andrews December 21, 2023

4 Days of Music, Science, Art, and Wonder

Initial Lineup Announced for Atlas Obscura's Ecliptic Festival!

Join us for 4 days of music, science, art, and wonder in celebration of the 2024 eclipse at Valley of the Vapors!

Atlas Obscura December 13, 2023

Turtle doves are two of the many birdy gifts bestowed by a true love during "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Where Did the 12 Days of Christmas Come From?

The answer is the Moon.

Rebecca Boyle December 13, 2023

A illustration imagines the aftermath of Earth's collision with Theia, and how the material ejected by it slowly began to reform into an orbital body.

Theia and the Collision That Gave Birth to the Moon

Evidence deep within the planet suggests that remnants of Earth's catastrophic twin might still lie below.

Robin George Andrews December 4, 2023

Clear winter skies offer exhilarating sights for stargazers, from auroras to the Milky Way; the right gear makes viewing them cozy and comfortable.

A Holiday Gift Guide for Winter Stargazing and More

From telescopes to fun and functional hats, we've got ideas for every astro-enthusiast in your life this giving season.

Rebecca Boyle November 29, 2023

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins became obsessed with rugby after discovering the sport in college.

Passing on the Olympics to Go to Space

Rugby and exploring the cosmos have more in common than you might think.

Jessica Watkins November 21, 2023

Planetário do Porto

Porto, Portugal

Planetário do Porto

A scientific observatory managed the largest Portuguese astronomy research unit.

Providence, Rhode Island

Ladd Observatory

A 132-year-old telescope continues to keep watch over the night skies above Providence.

Caravaggio's 1597 painting of the gorgon Medusa vividly captures the violence behind origin stories for many of our constellations.

In October, Our Night Sky Is Full of Scary Stories

Stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere can find the demon star Algol, a murdered monster, and victims of vengeful gods.

Rebecca Boyle October 25, 2023

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station

Since its original beginnings as a weather observatory mountaintop, this facility played an instrumental role in gathering atmospheric data for almost 100 years.

An annular eclipse over the northern Chinese city of Jinan in 2010.

During an Annular Eclipse, Look to the Shadows

While some people in the Western Hemisphere will witness a "ring of fire" during the eclipse, many more will experience the phenomenon of crescent sunlight.

Rebecca Boyle October 11, 2023

Strada del Sole ('Road of the Sun')

A former millstone quarry in the Italian Alps is strewn with rocks bearing distinct round shapes.

The center of the Milky Way glows in various colors, an effect invisible to the naked eye, in this time-exposure photo from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Northern Chile.

The Milky Way's Heart Is Disappearing—For Now

For most of us, the next few weeks are our last chance to glimpse our galaxy's center, before the sun gets in the way.

Rebecca Boyle September 27, 2023

Mercury, an "empty little rock," appears as a small black dot as it crosses in front of the Sun.

Mercury Retrograde Is Ending, and It’s Up to You How to Feel About It

The first planet from the Sun doesn't influence your love life or your luck, but it can help foster a cosmic connection.

Rebecca Boyle September 13, 2023