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Key Highlights
K2-315b is an Earth-sized exoplanet with an orbital period of 3.14 days, matching the mathematical constant Pi. 1 post
The planet orbits a cool, red M dwarf star and is likely very warm due to its proximity to the star. 1 post
Discovered in 2020 using data from the Kepler Space Telescope's K2 mission, it is located over 185 light-years away. 1 post
Main Topics (2)
Latest posts
Andromeda Through Gas and Dust
Andromeda Through Gas and Dust Image Credit & Copyright: Nick Fritz Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II) Explanation: Over 1000 years ago, Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi published humanity’s oldest known record of the Andromeda Galaxy in "The
The Vela Supernova Remnant
The Vela Supernova Remnant Image Credit & Copyright: José Mtanous Explanation: The explosion is over, but the consequences continue. About twelve thousand years ago, a relatively normal star in the constellation Vela suddenly exploded, creating a strange point of light briefly v
Saturn at Night
Saturn at Night Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute, Mindaugas Macijauskas Explanation: Telescopic views of Saturn and its beautiful rings often make it the star of star parties. But this stunning view of the outer gas gaint planet's rings and night side just
Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble
Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, HLA; Processing: Luis Romero Ventura Explanation: Newborn stars are forming in the Eagle Nebula. They are gravitationally contracting in pillars of dense gas and dust. The intense radiation of th
Supermoon Versus Micromoon
Supermoon Versus Micromoon Image Credit: Soumyadeep Mukherjee Explanation: What is so micro about tonight's blue micromoon? Just after sunset, a full moon will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual. The reason is that the Moon's fully illuminated phase occurs within
Messier 104
Messier 104 Image Credit: CTIO, NOIRLab, DOE, NSF, AURA; Image Processing: T. A. Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage), D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) & M. Zamani (NSF, NOIRLab) Explanation: A gorgeous spiral galaxy, Messier 104 is famous for its nearly edge-on profile featuring
NGC 1514: The Crystal Ball Nebula
NGC 1514: The Crystal Ball Nebula Image Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) Text: C
PK 164 +31.1: The Headphone Nebula
PK 164 +31.1: The Headphone Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Bernard Miller Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II) Explanation: What is a pair of headphones doing in the sky? Today’s image features the Headphone Nebula, also known as PK 164 +31.1 or Jone
NGC 3660 and Burcins Galaxy
NGC 3660 and Burçin's Galaxy Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block, El Sauce Obs. Explanation: The upper galaxy might be more photogenic, but the lower galaxy is more unusual. The galaxy up top is NGC 3660, a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy in that it has sever
Thackerays Globules
Thackeray's Globules Image Credit & Copyright: John Hayes Explanation: What are these strange space globs? Situated in rich star fields and glowing hydrogen gas, these opaque clouds of interstellar dust and gas are so large they might be able to form stars. Their home is known
A Martian Eclipse: Phobos Crosses the Sun
A Martian Eclipse: Phobos Crosses the Sun Video Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, ASU MSSS, SSI Explanation: What's that passing in front of the Sun? It looks like a moon, but it can't be Earth's Moon, because it isn't round. It's the Martian moon Phobos. The featured video was taken
Messier 2
Messier 2 Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, G. Piotto et al. Explanation: After the Crab Nebula, this giant star cluster is the second entry in 18th century astronomer Charles Messier's famous list of things that are not comets. M2 is one of the largest globular star clusters now kn
The Nebulous Realm of WR 134
The Nebulous Realm of WR 134 Image Credit & Copyright: Luigi Morrone and Telescope Live Explanation: This cosmic snapshot covers a field of view over twice as wide as the full Moon within the boundaries of the high-flying constellation Cygnus. Made using astronomical narrowband fil
A Collision of Galaxy Clusters
A Collision of Galaxy Clusters Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/C. Watson et al.; Optical: PanSTARRS; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk and P. Edmonds Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II) Explanation: This big beautiful spiral shines in X-ray light. I
The Dark Wolf Nebula
The Dark Wolf Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: William Vrbasso Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II) Explanation: A dark wolf lies in gum. No, this isn’t a riddle! Today's image features the Dark Wolf Nebula (Sandqvist–Lindroos 17), a spooky dust clo
NGC 2170: The Angel Nebula
NGC 2170: The Angel Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Jason Marriott Explanation: Is this a painting or a photograph? In this celestial abstract art composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula NGC 2170, also known as the Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center. Reflecting
Unraveling NGC 3169
Unraveling NGC 3169 Image Credit & Copyright: Simone Curzi and the ShaRA Team Explanation: Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 looks to be unraveling like a ball of cosmic yarn. It lies some 70 million light-years away, south of bright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans. Wound
NGC 1300: Barred Spiral Galaxy
NGC 1300: Barred Spiral Galaxy Image Credit: NASA ESA, Hubble Heritage Explanation: Across the center of this spiral galaxy is a bar. And at the center of this bar is smaller spiral. And at the center of that spiral is a supermassive black hole. This all happens in the big,
Aurora Slathers Up the Sky
Aurora Slathers Up the Sky Image Credit: Jack Fischer, Expedition 52, NASA Explanation: Like salsa verde on your favorite burrito, a green aurora slathers up the sky in this 2017 June 25 snapshot from the International Space Station. About 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth,
R3 PanSTARRS: An Orion Comet
R3 PanSTARRS: An Orion Comet Image Credit & Copyright: Chester Hall-Fernandez Explanation: Comet R3 PanSTARRS might be best remembered as an Orion comet. A key reason is because Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) was near its most spectacular -- in terms of tail visibility -- when pass
Messier Catalog at Uniform Scale
Messier Catalog at Uniform Scale Image Credit: Sylvain Villet Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II) Explanation: What are some of the most interesting astronomical objects you can see in the night sky? Armed with a good pair of binoculars or a small tel
NGC 188: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog
NGC 188: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog Image Credit & Copyright: Neven Krcmarek Explanation: The New General Catalog of star clusters and nebulae really isn't so new. In fact, it was published in 1888 - an effort by J. L. E. Dreyer to consolidate the work of astronomers W
The Conjunction of Comet R3 PanSTARRS and the Orion Nebula
The Conjunction of Comet R3 PanSTARRS and the Orion Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Julien De Winter, Sascha Ebeler Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II) Explanation: Today’s composite image features something old, something new, something borrowed,
Moon Setting Behind Teide Volcano
Moon Setting Behind Teide Volcano Video Credit & Copyright: Daniel López (El Cielo de Canarias); Music: Piano della Moon (Dan Silva) Explanation: These people are not in danger. What is coming down from the left is just the Moon, far in the distance. Luna appears so large here be
Comet R3 PanSTARRS and Orion
Comet R3 PanSTARRS and Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Luc Perrot (TWAN) Explanation: Orion never had a sword like this. As Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) heads out of the inner Solar System, it is putting on quite a show for long exposure cameras. Currently seen toward the cons