• Powerful M6.9 earthquake hits Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan

    A powerful earthquake registered by Pakistan's National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) as M6.9 at a depth of 197 km (122 miles) hit Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region at 19:14 UTC on December 25, 2015. USGS is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 203 km (126 miles)….

  • Asteroid 2003 SD220 to flyby Earth on Christmas Eve

    The year 2015 seems to have another festive surprise in store for astronomy lovers across the globe. After the Halloween asteroid's close flyby in October, another object will pass by our planet on Christmas Eve. Asteroid 2003 SD220 will fly by Earth at a safe…

  • Strong M4.7 solar flare erupts from Region 2473

    A moderately strong solar flare measuring M4.7 at its peak erupted from Region 2473 at 00:40 UTC on December 23, 2015. The event started at 00:23 and ended at 00:52 UTC. A Type II radio sweep with estimated velocity of 1318 km/s as well as a Type IV radio sweep…

  • Massive earth crack swallows 6 km of road, Paraguay

    A massive earth crack swallowed approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) of the road along the Route III connecting the districts Yby Yaú and Azotey in Paraguay on December 10, 2015. Video credit: Concepción al Día Video credit: Diario HOY According to…

  • Giant comets pose a much greater hazard to life than asteroids

    The discovery of hundreds of giant comets in the outer planetary system over the last two decades means that these objects pose a much greater hazard to life than asteroids, a team of astronomers from Armagh Observatory and the University of Buckingham report. The…

  • Shiveluch erupts sending ash up to 5 km into the air, Russia

    Shiveluch volcano in the east of Russia erupted on December 21, 2015, raising ash columns up to 5 km (16 404 feet) above the sea level, the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) reported. Orange alert level remained in effect. Hot avalanches from the…