General Order No. 3 by Union troops on June 19, 1865, marked the official end of slavery in Texas and the U.S. via NASA https://ift.tt/slDzQI0

On June 15, innermost planet Mercury had wandered about as far from the Sun as it ever gets in planet Earth’s sky. Near the eastern horizon just before sunrise it stands over distant Andes mountain peaks in this predawn snapshot from the valley of Rio Hurtado in Chile. June’s other morning planets are arrayed above […]

The Progress Pride flag is seen flying at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building. via NASA https://ift.tt/6jLckN5

There are four Full Supermoons in 2022. Using the definition of a supermoon as a Full Moon near perigee, that is within at least 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit, the year’s Full Supermoon dates are May 16, June 14, July 13, and August 12. Full Moons near perigee really […]

The brilliant cascade of stars through the middle of this image is the galaxy ESO 318-13. via NASA https://ift.tt/Dh42iCJ

The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies is the closest cluster of galaxies to our Milky Way Galaxy. The Virgo Cluster is so close that it spans more than 5 degrees on the sky – about 10 times the angle made by a full Moon. With its heart lying about 70 million light years distant, the Virgo […]

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 each year and commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. via NASA https://ift.tt/ZQkrIbl

What are all those streaks across the background? Satellite trails. First, the foreground features picturesque rock mounds known as Pinnacles. Found in the Nambung National Park in Western Australia, these human-sized spires are made by unknown processes from ancient sea shells (limestone). Perhaps more eye-catching, though, is the sky behind. Created by low-Earth orbit satellites […]

JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide speaks with students during a visit to Arlington Science Focus Elementary School via NASA https://ift.tt/QJwAt5f

The Whirlpool Galaxy is a classic spiral galaxy. At only 30 million light years distant and fully 60 thousand light years across, M51, also known as NGC 5194, is one of the brightest and most picturesque galaxies on the sky. The featured image is a digital combination of images taken in different colors by the […]