How Tides Move Heaven and Earth
The ocean’s twice-daily rise and fall is only the most obvious effect of tides—they slow Earth’s spin and shape stars and galaxies, too
How Tides Move Heaven and Earth
The ocean’s twice-daily rise and fall is only the most obvious effect of tides—they slow Earth’s spin and shape stars and galaxies, too
An Eclipse Is a Moment of Solitude, Even When You’re in a Crowd
Even among hundreds of people, experiencing an eclipse is a joyous solitude
What Were the Red Dots around the Total Solar Eclipse?
During the total solar eclipse, skywatchers saw ruby-colored prominences sticking out of the moon's shadow. Here's the science of those red dots
See Stunning Images Captured by Scientific American Staff during the Solar Eclipse
Scientific American staffers headed to locations ranging from Texas to Vermont to try to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse
The Solar Eclipse Is Almost Here! Everything You Need to Know
Here’s how to pick a viewing spot, stay on top of the weather and pack the right gear to see the total solar eclipse on April 8
A Solar Eclipse Is Too Special to See Through Your Smartphone
To make the most of any total solar eclipse, put down your gadgets and bask in one of our solar system’s most glorious spectacles
Solar Eclipse Will Reveal Stunning Corona, Scientists Predict
Predicting what the sun will look like during a total solar eclipse is a helpful exercise for scientists in the long quest to understand how our star works
Eclipses Reveal a Comforting Clockwork in Our Chaotic Universe
Eclipses bring the future—or at least a tiny sliver of it—into sharp focus
Watch the Total Solar Eclipse Live Online with Scientific American
Celebrate the April 8 total solar eclipse with these livestreams from NASA, the NSF, Scientific American, and more
See Where Future U.S. Eclipses Will be Visible
Just how rare are total solar eclipses, which require a perfect alignment of the sun and moon?
Do Stars Outnumber the Sands of Earth’s Beaches?
Figuring out whether there are more stars in the universe than sand grains on Earth’s seashores requires math—and imagination
NASA’s New Asteroid Sample Is Already Rewriting Solar System History
Scientists have scarcely begun studying pristine material from asteroid Bennu brought back to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission, but have already found several surprises