astrobob

Every time we think we're in a class by ourselves, it's only a matter of time. Used to be our solar system had the most planets around a single...

If you can't wrap your head around every aspect of Einstein's Theory of Relativity, that's understandable. Neither can I. But when it comes to...

We rarely use our sense of smell in astronomy except for the occasional run-in with a skunk during late night sky sweeping. We can't smell the...

Each summer, I look forward to seeing Orion return to the morning sky. Hidden by daylight from May through early August, we share nights instead...

DULUTH — You'd think by now we'd know exactly how long a day is on Saturn, but Cassini's still working on it.

The crackle of firecrackers and thump of cannons echoed through the neighborhood on July 4. But a whole different kind of fireworks was happening...

I worry every spring about whether the fireflies will return. Habitat loss from urban sprawl and light pollution are thought to be behind the...

Who would ever have thought we'd see a massive star become a black hole just like that? And yet that's the best explanation for the sudden disappearance...

DULUTH — Astronauts conducted an emergency spacewalk earlier this week to replace a failed computer that controlled the solar power system,...

Spring can be a comfortable time of year to get outside at night and watch the stars. When you do, don't be surprised if you have some company....

Man, it can get cold on the moon. With virtually no air to speak of and a night that lasts just shy of two weeks, the surface temperature drops...

In March, we dipped into the deep past, hungering to know more about the first generation of suns that formed after the Big Bang. Now, we look...

I really shouldn't be surprised anymore. But I always am when I see the fiery bright star Arcturus appear in the east on midwinter evenings....

Have you ever seen a super-bright meteor and at the same time heard hissing or rustling sounds? Some people claim to hear the sizzle of a bright...