Heaven and Earth

Were these giant organisms part of a lost kingdom of life?

The 1st giant lifeform to grow on Earth's ancient surface could represent an entirely lost kingdom of life. That's the claim of a new study challenging the typical classification of Prototaxites, towering lifeforms that dominated the landscape 400 million years ago. Read more about the possible lost kingdom of life.

'The April birthstone is the twinkling diamond

If you were born in April, your birthstone is the diamond. It's not the rarest of gems, but it is the hardest natural substance in the world. Read about the April birthstone.

This hummingbird chick is disguised as a caterpillar

Scientists studying white-necked jacobin hummingbirds in Panama have made an intriguing discovery. They've found that newborn chicks of this species are born with plumage resembling the prickly hair that shrouds some caterpillars. Coincidence? Scientists think not. It appears to be a defense mechanism for these tiny chicks.

The faint dot fixed in the center of this starfield is asteroid 2024 YR4. Earlier this year, it was thought this space rock had a greater than 3% chance of hitting Earth in 2032. Astronomers have now determined it won’t hit us in the foreseeable future. But, due to a strange orbital resonance, it - and others - will keep coming back into our vicinity.

At maximum eclipse today, 93% of the sun will be hidden behind the moon. That's a deep partial eclipse! It'll be exciting. If you're in the eclipse path, remember to look for shadows on the ground, mimicking the crescent shape of the eclipse in the sky. Follow our tips on how to watch a solar eclipse safely. We also have a video with lots of info here. Or read info, charts and more here.

NASA’s Curiosity rover has found the largest organic molecules on Mars we’ve yet seen. They seem to be remnants of fatty acids, which are known as building blocks for life on Earth. Image via NASA/ Dan Gallagher.

LIVE TODAY: 10 reasons to love the March 29 solar eclipse

It's almost time for another eclipse! Solar and lunar eclipses always come in pairs, separated by about a fortnight. And sure enough, 2 weeks after we enjoyed a stunning total lunar eclipse, we're being treated to a deep partial solar eclipse on Saturday. Viewing won't be quite so favorable for the Americas this time, but some in the U.S. will still see the moon take a chunk out of the sun. Veteran eclipse gazers Deborah Byrd and John Goss will be live today at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC) bringing you all you need to know. Join us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c8rqiz9LKQ&list=PLcwd1eS7Gpr5_Ran7WAUSPdz0DbVmrQ-a

New study reveals hidden chapter of human evolution

For 2 decades, scientists have thought that our species, Homo sapiens, descended from a single lineage. But new genetic research suggests that our origins are far more complex. Scientists now say that a population of our human ancestors split into 2 groups about 1.5 million years ago. Then, about 300,000 years ago in Africa, those 2 populations came back together, merging to form modern humans.

White dwarfs: The new hotspots for alien life?

Does a star have to be alive - that is, shining from within, burning thermonuclear fuel at its core - in order to sustain life? Scientists assumed that white dwarfs - the dense remnants of dead stars - would likely be unable to support life on nearby planets. But, last week, researchers said these dead stars could provide the perfect conditions for life on an Earth-like planet for nearly 7 billion years.https://earthsky.org/space/white-dwarfs-could-support-alien-life-habitable-zones/?mc_cid=4d653d19b6&mc_eid=48afe7f699

(3) A Mind-Blowing Perspective on the March Equinox - YouTube

LIVE TODAY: A remarkably good Venus conjunction

Venus gains a lap on us, going between us and the sun, about every 19.5 months. Earthly astronomers call this event an inferior conjunction of Venus. It's a crossing of Venus from our evening to our morning sky. Venus will reach an inferior conjunction this weekend … and a super inferior conjunction it is! Deborah Byrd will tell you why beginning today at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC). Deborah has some cool charts for you, and a discussion, and will tell you when and where you can next see Venus - the brightest planet - in your sky. Watch here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4n65o5u4ic&list=PLcwd1eS7Gpr5_Ran7WAUSPdz0DbVmrQ-a&index=2

The March equinox is here!

Happy March equinox! Today, the sun rises due east and crosses directly over the equator, meaning that Earth's 2 hemispheres receive our star's rays equally. For those in the south, that means autumn has arrived. And for those in the north, winter has finally given way to spring. Watch a video and find out more about the March equinox.https://youtu.be/xi4dvbYW3eI

Rare 3-body system in the Kuiper Belt?

In the far reaches of the solar system beyond Neptune, millions of sun-orbiting space rocks form the Kuiper Belt. Many of these are binary objects, paired up by gravity. But now, astronomers think they've found a rare 3-body system. This would be only the 2nd Kuiper Belt triplet ever discovered. And, if confirmed, it would suggest there are many more waiting to be found.

https://earthsky.org/space/kuiper-belt-triplet-altjira-hubble-space-telescope-keck-observatory/?mc_cid=c5a11e32ff&mc_eid=48afe7f699

Life on Mars? Odd markings tantalize scientists

NASA’s Perseverance rover has found some of the strongest evidence yet for ancient life on Mars. Last summer, the rover found a rock in a long-dry riverbed with strange "leopard spot" and "poppy seed" markings on it, similar to ones that are formed on Earth by microbes. And last week, 2 sets of scientists concluded that a biological explanation for these markings is the most likely. It's not proof of ancient martian life, but it's promising! Read about the signs of life on Mars.

https://earthsky.org/space/life-on-mars-leopard-spots-poppy-seeds-perseverance-rover/?mc_cid=f701f4b769&mc_eid=48afe7f699

Exciting! 4 new mini-Earth exoplanets at nearby star

Last October, astronomers announced the discovery of the first known planet orbiting Barnard's Star, the closest single star to our solar system at only 6 light-years away. Last week, an international team of astronomers said it has confirmed 3 more, for a total of 4 mini-Earth exoplanets orbiting this nearby star. https://earthsky.org/space/mini-earth-exoplanets-barnards-star-red-dwarfs/?mc_cid=8692df2e7f&mc_eid=48afe7f699

Did you see last night's total lunar eclipse?  Patrick Prokop caught it from Savannah, Georgia. Thanks for posting to our community photo page, Patrick! The images are still coming in, but we've started a gallery, which you can see here. Or join EarthSky's Deborah Byrd LIVE at 12:15 p.m. CDT (17:15 UTC) TODAY for more photos and a discussion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQPf95pqYDE&list=PLcwd1eS7Gpr5IyxV8Nkbkwy8rVvtN5OwI&index=2

LIVE today: Look skyward this equinox, and soar!

The March equinox is just a week away. How can you experience it over the coming days? One way is to look at the sky! Join EarthSky's founder Deborah Byrd LIVE at 12:15 p.m. CST (17:15 UTC) TODAY to learn what to see in the sky on and around this year's March equinox. Your spirits will soar!

Tips for watching tomorrow night's total lunar eclipse

In case you haven't heard yet, there’s a total eclipse of the moon tomorrow night! You have to be in the right place on Earth’s globe to see it. But there’s a good chance you will be, since it's visible from some of the most populated parts of the globe, including all of North America. Find tips here for making the most of this eclipse. And watch a video. 

earthsky.org

Those white blobs aren’t stars. They’re dwarf galaxies, orbiting the massive Andromeda galaxy. NASA recently used the Hubble telescope to produce a map of these 36 galactic satellites. Video via NASA/ ESA/ Christian Nieves (STScI)/ Alessandro Savino (UC Berkeley)/ Joseph DePasquale (STScI)/ Frank Summers (STScI)/ Robert Gendler.