EarthSky News - March 26 - Top Stories This Week

March 26 Top Stories This Week by:

Star's death spiral into black hole What happens when a star with about our sun's mass spirals into a black hole? Record low sea ice at both poles Earth essentially lost the equivalent of a chunk of sea ice larger than Mexico. 7 Earth-sized worlds? What we really see Reality check on the recently-discovered planets orbiting star TRAPPIST-1. Does Mars sometimes have rings? Mars' moon Phobos might alternate between becoming a planetary ring and clumping together to form a moon. A Chinese perspective on spring In Chinese thought, spring is associated with the direction east, the sunrise direction. Come to know the Big and Little Dippers The Big Dipper is easy. And, once you find it, you can find the Little Dipper, too. Tonight ... Planets Mercury and Uranus at dusk Innermost Mercury - and distant Uranus - are low in the western sky after sunset. Start looking for them as soon as your sky begins to darken.

Order your EarthSky Planisphere today! A planisphere is virtually indispensable for beginning stargazers. Your support means the world to us.

Lenticular clouds look like UFOs Glorious photos of rare lenticular clouds, sometimes called UFO clouds. This one's by Alba Evangelista Ramos.

Planets Mercury and Uranus at dusk Uranus in twilight is a tough observation! But experienced observers and astrophotographers might give it a go. The rest of us will have to be happy with Mercury itself, Mars, and - if you turn eastward when true darkness falls - Jupiter.  Look here for more charts. Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

by: