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Jennifer M. captured this photo of a fireball in Earth's skies from Phelan, California on April 2, 2024 and forwarded it to the American Meteor Society. The fireball was caused by the reentry of China's Shenzhou 15 orbital module, experts say.

Chinese space junk falls to Earth over Southern California, creating spectacular fireball (photos, video)

By Mike Wall published

A big piece of Chinese space junk fell to Earth over Southern California early Tuesday morning (April 2), putting on quite a show for observers in the Golden State.

Earth
A comet with a swirl of light around its head

A 'horned' comet may be visible during the 2024 total solar eclipse

By Samantha Mathewson published

An unusual "horned" comet is now visible in the night sky and may even make a rare appearance during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Comets
A grey scale rectangle moves around a black screen following the motion of a camera in space as particles fly by.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes 1st-of-its-kind observation within a coronal mass ejection

By Rahul Rao published

NASA's Parker Solar Probe looked into a coronal mass ejection coming from the sun for the first time, detecting some turbulence that has intrigued scientists.

The Sun
a train parked in front of a long overhang. the train says VIA on the side and a person is walking in front

I'm taking the train to see the 2024 solar eclipse in Canada. Here's why I'm riding the rails

By Elizabeth Howell published

The April 8 solar eclipse doesn't quite reach totality in my home Canadian city, so I'm hopping on a train to find it. I had good reason to stay off the road, or away from the air.

The Sun
a black circle dead center emits dazzling arrays of white light

There's an April Fools' Day prank about the 2024 solar eclipse — don't fall for it

By Stefanie Waldek published

No, the date and path of the total solar eclipse have not been miscalculated.

The Sun
A total solar eclipse is seen on Aug. 21, 2017 above Madras, Oregon.

Warby Parker will give you free solar eclipse glasses for the big day on April 8

By Monisha Ravisetti last updated

Warby Parker will be handing out solar eclipse viewing glasses for free ahead of the total solar eclipse happening on April 8, 2024.

The Sun
A view of Pluto with its Big Planet Energy campaign for Pluto TV.

Pluto TV will rally to make Pluto a planet again on April 1 (it's no joke)

By Tariq Malik published

Pluto may have lost its status as a full-fledged planet in 2006, but that doesn't mean it's a joke of a world this April Fools' Day and the folks behind Pluto TV want to make that clear.

Pluto
An image of a solar flare captured by a telescope.

Powerful X-class solar flare slams Earth, triggering radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

On March 28, Earth was hit by an X-class solar flare that was strong enough to ionize part of the planet's atmosphere.

The Sun
a satellite image of Earth taken from above the arctic, with green swirls moving counterclockwise representing the movement of cold air patterns

Polar vortex is 'spinning backwards' above Arctic after major reversal event

By Harry Baker published

Earlier this month, a sudden atmospheric warming event caused the Arctic's polar vortex to reverse its trajectory. The swirling ring of cold air is now spinning in the wrong direction, which has triggered a record-breaking "ozone spike" and could impact global weather patterns.

Earth
A bright orange circle covers almost the whole image, with a smaller disc in the middle. Out of the smaller disc protrude wisps of the Sun's atmosphere. To the upper right of the inner circle, an inset zooms in on a small square, with vertical lines surrounding a faint smudge.

Solar spacecraft 'SOHO' discovers its 5,000th comet

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory just hit a milestone with its 5,000th comet detection.

Comets
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