Top 100 Space and Astronomy Blogs

Posted by Site Administrator in Learning Dec 29th, 2008

From new discoveries about black holes to exploration of our nearest planetary neighbors, astronomy can be a intriguing and even awe-inspiring field. Whether you’re an amateur astronomer yourself looking for some advice, student, or just someone who loves learning about the outer limits of our galaxy, you’ll find tons of facts, photos and news on these 100 blogs dedicated to everything in the cosmos.

News

Check out these blogs to stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the world of astronomy.

1. CosmicLog: Science journalist Alan Boyle writes this blog for MSNBC that’s full of great news, interviews and commentary on space.
2. Free Space: While blogging for Discovery News, Irene Klotz provides the latest news on space exploration from her home near Kennedy Space Center.
3. Universe Today: Want to learn all about the cutting edge developments in space travel and exploration? You’ll find loads of stories to keep you interested on this blog as well as a fun "Where in the Universe" game.
4. NASA Watch: With posts on both the good and the bad, this blog details all the goings on at NASA.
5. Cosmic Variance: Check out this Discover blog written by physicist Sean Carroll for fun and informative stories about news and technology.
6. The Space Place: Check out Bill Harwood’s space news at this CBS blog.
7. Skymania News: You can not only buy sky gazing equipment from this site, but find out about the latest in space news as well.
8. Astronomy.com Blog: Here you’ll find a great range of articles dealing with everything from Mars exploration to the theory of relativity.
9. MarsBlog: Check out this site for a great collection of space-related news.
10. Space Cynics: Get your space news spiked with a heavy dose of cynicism in this blog.
11. OrbitalHub: This blog is home to news on engineering, space exploration and other scientific issues.
12. The Daily Galaxy: Here you’ll find news about our own planet, galaxy and maybe even beyond.
13. The Space Fellowship: Stay up to date with news, research and updates on space missions through the regularly updates posts on this site.
14. SPACE.com News: This site is home to more space information that you can shake a stick at, including news, research and even some photos.
15. The Great Beyond: While more general in focus, this Nature blog provides plenty of reading material on space news.
16. The Cosmic Mirror: This blog is a great resource for amateurs and professionals alike and has tons of news and information.

General

These blogs are a great place to find a wide range of astronomy-related topics.

17. Astronomy Blog: This UK-based blog answers all kinds of astronomy and astrophysics related questions.
18. Slacker Astronomy: Written by three bloggers and home to a great podcast, this blog posts everything from photos to interviews with astronomers.
19. The Spacewriter’s Ramblings: This science writer and editor shares her thoughts on the latest science news, predominantly astronomy related, in this well-written blog.
20. Tom’s Astronomy Blog: Blogger Tom is all about astronomy and posts his personal reflections as well as cool news items on this blog.
21. Astronomy Cast: On this blog you’ll find the latest updates about the podcast of the same name, providing fun and informative news about everything astronomy.
22. The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe: Get all those far-fetched ideas debunked on this highly skeptical space news blog.
23. Twisted Physics: Jennifer Ouellette, a journalist and author of several popular titles on physics, maintains this blog on the Discovery Channel site that details all kinds of astrophysics issues in a highly accessible manner.
24. Space Disco: Written by the producer for Discovery Space, this blog posts news, contests, and generally fun information about space.
25. The Speculist: Here you’ll find optimistic news about technology and the future.
26. Out of the Cradle: Find links, news and more on this general space information blog.
27. Music of the Spheres: Here you’ll find posts on space flight, simulators, science, astronomy and more.
28. Altair VI: Take a look back at space history in this informative blog.
29. Crowlspace: From theoretical plans of what we could do when the sun dies to posts of news from across the web, this blog is an interesting read.

University and Teaching

With bloggers that are professors, students and educators, these sites can give you an academic perspective on the subject.

30. AstroENGINE: When blogger Ian O’Neill isn’t posting about the latest research he works as a solar physicist, making his blog a great an authoritative place to find information.
31. Professor Astronomy: Written at the University of Texas, by Kurtis Williams, this blog explores a range of news and commentary.
32. The e-Astronomer: This blog is home to a professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh who is currently working at Stanford. Visitors will find posts on links, news and his personal thoughts on astronomy issues.
33. Apparent Brightness: Check out this site for postings on the latest and most interesting astronomy research.
34. Sarah Askew: Sarah is a postdoc student of astronomy in the Netherlands and her blog is home to loads of science posts.
35. Astroprof: Written by a professor teaching physics and astronomy, this blog focuses on space exploration and astronomy news and views.
36. Chris Lintott’s Universe: This blogger is in the throes of his post-doctoral research at Oxford on finding newly forming stars based on sulfur compounds.
37. Strange Paths: Approach astronomy from an academic and mathematical point of view in this blog focused on physics and computation.
38. Real Science: Check out this site for an abundance of news and science teaching resources.
39. Kentucky Space: This blog is home to Kentucky Space, a "non-profit enterprise involving a consortium of universities and private organizations for the purpose of pursuing space-related education, R&D, small satellite design and launch operations."
40. Orbiting Frog: This site is written by Robert Simpson who is currently studying for his PhD in Star Formation at Cardiff University in the UK, and contains a variety of space-related posts.
41. Asymptotia: Clifford V. Johnson, a professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, at the University of Southern California maintains this blog and posts about science, politics and much more.
42. Richard Drumm, The Astronomy Bum: This amateur astronomer is all about teaching children in his area about the wonders of the night sky.
43. Chronicles of a Modern Muslim Astronomer: This Canadian astronomy student draws on both his love of science and his faith as he works to become a professional astronomer.

Space Professionals

From astronauts to astronomers, these bloggers have made space their life’s work.

44. Bad Astronomy: The author of this blog, Phil Plait, is a former NASA astronomer who worked on the Hubble telescope. Check out his blog for information and regular debunkings of questionable astronomy.
45. Astronaut Leroy Chiao’s Blog: Former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao maintains this blog, which discusses space exploration on a global scale and his personal experiences.
46. Will Gater: Astronomer and science writer Will Gater maintains this informative blog.
47. Starts with a Bang!: Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel posts all kinds of entertaining things on space, physics and science in this blog.
48. Cosmic Visions: This blog focuses on the research and work of Carl Sagan, a well-known astronomer and popular figure in science.
49. A Babe in the Universe: This female blogger is a researcher in cosmology and posts about her personal and academic experiences here.
50. Star Stryder: This astronomer, writer and podcaster posts on everything from the science of Heroes to papers on black holes.
51. Systemic: This blog focuses on the research done by NASA on planets in distant star systems.
52. Royal Observatory Greenwich Blog: Get the latest updates from this observatory from this site, as well as some tips to help your personal observations.

Photography

Find all kinds of beautiful images of space on these sites.

53. Astronomy Picture of the Day: Enjoy this NASA blog for daily photos of the beautiful formations that make up our own galaxy and beyond.
54. QUASAR9: Check out this blog to see some truly awe-inspiring photos of galaxies, nebulae and stars.
55. Flintstone Stargazing: For some great amateur shots, check out this photo blog. Or better yet, create your own by attending an online photography college.
56. Phil’s Astronomy Blog: Here you’ll find various posts on astronomy as well as regular images taken from amateur star gazing.
57. Space Photos: Find images here from a variety of space research organizations as well as information that explains what you’re seeing.

Space Exploration

For many, it isn’t enough just to look at space from earth. These blogs are all about voyaging into the final frontier.

58. The Planetary Society Weblog: Blogger Emily shares the latest information on the exploration of our own solar system’s planets and moons in this blog.
59. Live Science: Written by a veteran of space journalism, this blog is home to numerous posts on the latest space travel technologies.
60. The Space Elevator Blog: This blog chronicles the progress and research that has gone into creating the still-theoretical space elevator.
61. A Mars Odyssey: Here you can find information on the goal of sending a manned mission to Mars.
62. PlanetQuest: This NASA site is the best place to find out about the search for planets outside our own solar system.
63. Spaceports: Interested in the concept of spaceports? This site posts all kinds of information on how spaceports may become a reality as well as some other space news.
64. Exoplanetology: This blog is wholly devoted to the search for extra solar planets, from professionals and amateurs alike.
65. The Martian Chronicles: Written by three graduate students at Cornell who are interested in Mars exploration, this blog is a great place to look for all kinds of Mars-related information.
66. Riding with Robots: Here you’ll find loads of photos and information dealing with robotic exploration of our nearest neighbors.
67. Dispatches from the Final Frontier: Writer Michael Belifore speaks about potential space-related projects like commercial space flight and much more in this blog.
68. The Meridiani Journal: Here you’ll find a lengthy chronicle of planetary exploration.
69. Space Pragmatism: This blog follows the latest news in private and public space exploration programs.
70. The PI-Club: This club blog focuses on interstellar flight and the search for potentially intelligent life outside of our own planet.
71. The Space Review: Find highly informative and educational essays on space exploration on this site.
72. Colony Worlds: If you’re interested in the possibility that one day humans living on other planets and moons, then this blog is the place to find the latest information and insight.
73. Centauri Dreams: Blogger Paul Glister takes a look a peer-reviewed research on deep space exploration and interstellar probes.

Astronomy Enthusiasts

You don’t have to be a professional astronomer to enjoy looking at the sky. Amateurs provide helpful information and share their experiences on these sites.

74. The Way I See It: Jeff Burton records his observations of the night sky, as well as some astronomy news, in this blog.
75. Hobby Space: Even the amateur can take up hobbies related to space as this blog discusses, from collecting to at home astronomy.
76. Clear Skies on Demand: This blogger from the Netherlands shares his observations, and some pretty pictures to go along with them, on his site.
77. Black Holes and Astrostuff: This blog is home to a real estate developer that enjoys astronomy in his spare time.
78. Davep’s Astronomy: This amateur astronomy shares his observations and his thoughts on fun, sci-fi related things on his blog.
79. Above the Clouds: Check out this site for some shared nightly observations of the sky.
80. The Belt of Venus: This amateur observer doesn’t photograph what he sees, but sketches it instead and posts the images in his blog.
81. Vern’s Weblog: This software consultant and engineer shares his passion for backyard astronomy here.
82. Astroblog: Here you’ll find the thoughts and observations of a biologists and amateur astronomer in Australia.
83. Simonstronomy: This amateur astronomy blog written by Mike Simonsen, covers every kind of space-related topic that interests this self-proclaimed variable star junkie.
84. Fly Me to the Moon: This amateur spent time learning about astronomy thorough books and a space flight simulator.
85. Astronomy Down Under: Share the experiences of this amateur astronomer in this site, from personal observations to commentary on news.

Stargazing Tips

For beginners or experts, these sites provide loads of helpful tips on observing the night sky.

86. Nite Sky Girl: This site is a great place for beginners to get advice.
87. Observing Blog: Sky and Telescope Magazine can help the amateur astronomer know just what’s going on in the skies with information from this site.
88. Visual Astronomy: Get some great tips and trick on amateur astronomy from this blogger.
89. Observing the Sky: If you’re an amateur astronomer yourself, bookmark this blog. It’s a project started by NASA to help amateurs like yourself guide their nightly observations.
90. Homeboy’s Astronomy Blog: From home observation tips and tricks to news on science and space, this blog is full of helpful information.
91. The Urban Astronomer: Just because you don’t live out in the boondocks doesn’t mean you can appreciate the night sky. This blogger explains what you can see, even if it’s not pitch black.

Miscellaneous

From the weather in space to potential prizes for space technology innovations, these blogs cover a wide range of issues.

92. Space Politics: For those interested in law and legislation dealing with space, this blog is a great first stop to find out about the politics of NASA and other space exploration organizations.
93. Second Sight: Blogger Rob Knop covers issues ranging from Second Life to astronomy and where the two intersect in this blog.
94. CollectSPACE: This blog is a great place to learn about the history of space exploration and some of the artifacts and collectibles that you can own related to it.
95. Space Weather: Check out what the weather in space will be like today on this site.
96. Space Law Probe: Exploring space can come with a myriad of legal issues, as this blog discusses.
97. RocketForge: This blog touches on issues of space, politics and business.
98. Space Prizes: Find out what kind of prizes are out there to encourage space technology development.
99. ComSpaceWatch: Learn about the development of commercial space travel in this blog.
100. Astrobiology Magazine: Read this blog to learn about the search for other life forms outside of the earth.

 

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