solar eclipse

A waning crescent moon, pictured here, occurs right before a new moon. The second new moon in a single calendar month is often called a black moon.

View a Rare Black Moon This Weekend

The phenomenon will also be marked by a partial solar eclipse

A satellite positioned nearly a million miles away from Earth captured the eclipse over Antarctica.

Watch a Total Solar Eclipse Cloak Antarctica in Complete Darkness

The astronomical event occurred during the continent's summer, when the sun never sets and the whole region is illuminated 24 hours a day

2020 is shaping up to be a great year for sky watching.

Ten Celestial Events You Don't Want to Miss in 2020

Whether you are a telescope enthusiast or just want to step outside to enjoy the night sky, these are the phenomena to look out for this year

The moon moves in front of the sun in a rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse as seen from Tanjung Piai, Malaysia on December 26, 2019.

A 'Ring of Fire' Eclipse Dazzled Viewers in Asia and the Middle East

This celestial event occurs when the moon is near its farthest point from Earth, allowing the blazing edges of the sun to shine around the edges

Photos Capture the Great South American Eclipse

On July 2, residents of Chile and Argentina witnessed the first total solar eclipse since August 2017

Cool Finds

The Oldest Film of a Solar Eclipse Has Been Restored and Released Online

In 1900, magician, astronomer and filmmaker Nevil Maskelyne used a special adapter to film the astronomical event in North Carolina

As the 2017 North American total solar eclipse comes to an end, the famous "diamond ring" becomes visible. The sun's corona is also visible, with the star Regulus to the left.

A Total Solar Eclipse 100 Years Ago Proved Einstein’s General Relativity

Two teams of astronomers voyaged to Africa and Brazil to observe the most famous eclipse in science

Gutenberg Castle in Balzers, Liechtenstein.

Twelve Anniversaries and Events Worth Traveling For in 2019

2019 will mark Singapore's bicentennial, the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death and a total solar eclipse in South America

Ring in the New Year With Dazzling Total Lunar Eclipse of a Supermoon

The celestial show will be visible on the East Coast around 12:12 a.m. on January 21, 2019

A study conducted during the 2017 total solar eclipse in North America found that bees remained active during the partial-eclipse phases both before and after the period of totality, but they essentially ceased flying during totality.

Busy Bees Take a Break During Total Solar Eclipses

The 2017 North American eclipse gave researchers an inside look at how bees respond to light—with the help of a few hundred elementary-schoolers

Benjamin Banneker as portrayed on a stamp released in 1980 as part of a Black Heritage series.

Three Things to Know About Benjamin Banneker's Pioneering Career

Banneker was a successful almanac-maker and self-taught student of mathematics and astronomy

Did a well-known Biblical eclipse really occur? Two physicists set out to investigate.

New Research

How Scientists Identified the Oldest Known Solar Eclipse ... Using the Bible

The new research by two physicists adds to astronomical knowledge—and overturns previous Biblical interpretations

Glenn Kaino's "Hollow Earth" installation uses a trick of light to show an lit tunnel delving into the ground

Relive the Great American Eclipse With Art That's Out of This World

The site-specific Wyoming exhibit uses the occasion of the Sun going dark over a small resort town to reckon with commercial tourism and history

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What Should You Do With Your Used Eclipse Glasses?

There are several options, including recycling, upcycling and donating them to children in the path of the next eclipse

This series was captured over the course of three hours from St. Louis Missouri. Look closely at the right edge of the fully eclipsed sun and you can see a large solar flare.

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Stunning Photos Capture the Solar Eclipse Across America

This stellar phenomenon delighted millions today as it transited across the United States

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The Best Ways to Watch the Eclipse Online (No Viewing Glasses Required)

Don't worry if you can't make it to the path of totality. These unique livestreams have you covered

NASA's Earth-orbiting satellite Hinode observes the 2011 annual solar eclipse from space.

Eclipse 2017: In Pursuit of Totality

You’ve made plans, packed bags, obtained glasses. Here's what to read to fully appreciate this event in all its glory

This Pueblo rock carving in New Mexico might represent a remarkable solar eclipse dating back to 1097.

This New Mexico Petroglyph Might Reveal an Ancient Solar Eclipse

In 1097, a Pueblo artist may have etched a rare celestial event into the rock for all of posterity

Approaching a total eclipse in Queensland, Australia, November 2012

What Folklore Tells Us About Eclipses

Across multiple cultures, says a Smithsonian folklorist, a darkening of daytime skies provokes a foreboding of evil

Franklin’s lifelong quest was spreading scientific knowledge to regular people.

Benjamin Franklin Mocked Eclipse Astrology to Elevate Science

The founding father used his almanacs to promote a scientific understanding of celestial events—often with withering humor

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