The Rhythm of the Spheres
Reading the Night Sky
Wandering in Astronomy
The night sky is the oldest pattern of man, and every culture reads it differently. The stars above keep silent time, moving to a rhythm we are just now beginning to understand. Astronomy is where math, science, art, music, and words meet in a wondrous collision. In this section of our site, learn the basics of astronomy: from how a star chart is made, to projections and art that map the night sky, to how an astrolabe works just like it did thousands of years ago. Watch the North Star shift across centuries, explore how one sky has been mapped by many traditions, read what happened on this day in space, and see tonight’s moon for your location.
Map the Stars
The math behind star charts, with a projection explorer and a working astrolabe.
The Moving Sky
How the sky shifts across centuries, with a precession clock you can run.
The Traditions
One sky reads many ways, with a same-sky overlay of the world’s constellations.
This Day in the Stars
The sky’s events, discoveries, and lore tied to today’s date.
The Moon Tonight
Its phase and face, drawn live for where you’re standing.
The Astronaut Who Captured a Satellite
Customized Star Charts Coming 1st Quarter 2027
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases
The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunl…
ReadFour 'Little Red Dot' pairs hint at black hole mergers in early universe
After analyzing infrared images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of researchers has discovered multiple massive black holes from approximately 12.5–12.8 bi…
ReadNorway, India, and New Zealand target launches as Starlink continues
Rocket launches this week On Monday, Aug. 31, Chinese commercial launch company Galactic Energy is targeting 10:00 p.m. EDT for the debut test flight of its Pallas-1 rocket from Jiuquan Satellite L…
ReadHow do lava-world exoplanets keep their atmospheres?
A new study from researchers at Stanford University helps explain how hot lava-world exoplanets orbiting close to their stars can maintain their atmospheres.
ReadManganese's emission lines shine a light on galactic evolution
In a new study, a team of astronomers has identified wavelengths of light that could be useful for tracing the chemical evolution of the universe. Using computational modeling to simulate how elect…
ReadSolar orbiter detects ion sorting at the solar wind's magnetic boundary
A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) study of data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter gives the most detailed view of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) to date. The HCS is a s…
ReadWhy do astronauts get constipated?
Try and try and try as they may, scientists have yet to explain one of spaceflight’s most painfully enduring mysteries: Why do astronauts get constipated? After examining blood samples from 52 as…
ReadGiant trees break a decades-old science theory
Giant trees have evolved remarkable adaptations that allow them to reach extreme heights while maintaining efficient water transport.
ReadLake Powell hits record low, continues to drop
Lake Powell has hit its lowest level ever. Despite the monsoons, like the flash floods that hit Grand Canyon over the weekend, water levels continue to drop.
Read