Frosty Drew Clear Sky Chart

Current seeing conditions at Frosty Drew Observatory

The Sun and Moon Today

  • The Sun as seen today from NASA SDO.
  • Waxing Crescent 31% phase

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Satellite Events for Tonight

New Eruption in the Bismarck Sea

Reported by NASA

Satellite imagery shows a surge of new volcanic activity in the ocean near Papua New Guinea....
  • By: NASA
  • On: Thu, 21 May 2026 04:01 +0000

Future Mars Rovers Could Mimic a Swimming Motion to Traverse the Planet's Surface

Reported by Universe Today

Some animals can move efficiently beneath granular surfaces. These include the sandfish (Scincus scincus), a lizard native to the Sahara. It can burrow into the sand and then literally "swim" through the desert sand to hunt or escape predators. German rese...
  • By: Evan Gough (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/ion23drive)
  • On: Wed, 20 May 2026 22:33 +0000

Resolving the Kardashev's Conundrum Using a Bitcoin-Inspired Metric

Reported by Universe Today

A new study reevaluates the Kardashev Scale using a new framework that includes the Bitcoin network as a means of measuring the trajectory of human development....
  • By: Matthew Williams (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/houseofwilliams)
  • On: Wed, 20 May 2026 22:31 +0000

Hellish Venus-Like Planets May Be More Prevalent Than True ExoEarths

Reported by Universe Today

Exoplanet hunters are keen to find the next extrasolar earthlike planet, one that may harbor life as we know it. But preliminary results from a new study indicate that our galaxy may be filled with a plethora of exo-Venuses. Yet as one exoplanetary resea...
  • By: Bruce Dorminey (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/bruce)
  • On: Wed, 20 May 2026 22:08 +0000

NASA Announces Winners in University Aeronautics Competition

Reported by NASA

The South Dakota State University team took first place at NASA’s fifth annual Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, which challenged student teams to address a critical element of U.S. aviation: aircraft maintenance. This year’s competition, RepAir: Adv...
  • By: NASA
  • On: Wed, 20 May 2026 20:48 +0000

NASA's Psyche Mission Says Goodbye to Mars and Heads for its Metal-Rich Target

Reported by Universe Today

Spacecraft often use planets for gravity-assist or "slingshot" maneuvers. NASA's Psyche mission used Mars for that purpose during a May 15th flyby. The flyby accelerated the spacecraft and aimed it at its eventual destination, the asteroid 16 Psyche. The f...
  • By: Evan Gough (https://www.universetoday.com/authors/ion23drive)
  • On: Wed, 20 May 2026 20:42 +0000