Exploration

Jupiter and Saturn to appear closest in night sky in hundreds of years

Keep a close look at the night sky in December and you may see a rare occurrence between the two biggest planets in our solar system. From now until Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will continue to get closer until they are just 0.1 degrees apart and form a "double planet," according to NASA. And there's a chance you'll be able to see it for yourself.

Close Encounters Between Planets Will Make September Great for Stargazing. See It All.

As long as you have clear skies, there’s never a bad time to go stargazing. This month, you’ll have great views of the planets, with conjunctions and close encounters making for beautiful interactions between celestial objects.

Best US road trips for epic drives

Plan your next pedal-to-the-metal getaway by perusing Time Out's list of the very best US road trips, which boast incredible views, whether they're of one of the country's top national parks, those amazing attractions you’ve been meaning to check out or America's prettiest sandy beaches. Consider this your primer for hitting the road like a pro. As always, stay safe out there.

You can see 5 planets in the sky this month, NASA reveals

If you're looking to watch something out of this world while quarantined at home, turn off the TV and look up at the sky. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible to the naked eye across the continental United States for the next two weeks, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed in a statement to ABC News.

How to road trip safely during a pandemic: Tips for navigating rest stops, gas stations and hotels

Plan ahead and bring gloves for handling gas pumps and a mask in case they're required where you're going. Find resources for checking what's open.

The Wonder Explorers Club is for the Intrepid Adventurers in All of Us

Join if you want to ensure that your child's curiosity, open-mindedness, and imagination stay strong and vibrant!

You Can See Saturn, Jupiter & Mars in Morning Sky All Month

An easy way to enjoy a view of the universe beyond the pull of Earth's gravity is to look for Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars any night this month. Jupiter and Saturn will be sticking close together, and Mars will be hanging out off to the left of the gassy duo.

NASA's SpaceX launch: live updates

History will be made on Saturday, May 30, at 3:22 p.m. as NASA and SpaceX launch Americans into space from American soil and on American equipment for the first time in nearly a decade. The Crew Dragon spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley to the International Space Station.

Hubble Telescope Captures 'Deepest Image of the Universe' and It's Incredible

HST delivered countless mesmerizing and now-iconic images of the universe, allowing us to better understand and visualize the great beyond. Now, it has provided perhaps the most enlightening view to date, with the release of what's being described as "the deepest image of the universe ever taken from space."

Coronavirus Quarantine: A Look at Empty Streets, Highways and Bridges from Paris to Florida

To give you a glimpse of what a world practicing social distancing looks like, CN Traveler has rounded up photos of streets, highways, and bridges around the world—sites that usually include bumper-to-bumper traffic and tourists crammed together like sardines—sitting empty.

How You Can Still Take Your Kids on That Camping Trip

With a number of national parks and campgrounds closed due to the pandemic, many family camping trips are canceled for the time being. But parents, there are still ways to take your kid on that camping excursion by crafting the perfect indoor adventure.

May Will Bring Gorgeous Stargazing Events. Here’s When & How to See Them

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is coming this month, there are opportunities to glimpse the planets even in heavily populated cities, and you'll have a chance to have your shadow cast under the last supermoon of 2020.

Take A Calming Stroll Through NYBG’s Stunning Tulip Garden Virtually

Beautiful tulips are blooming all over NYC, but even if you can’t get out to see them, you can now take a virtual tour of the New York Botanical Garden’s dazzling tulip display.

Take a virtual tour of Frida Kahlo’s dazzling Mexico City home

The Casa Azul – or Blue House – at 247 Calle de Londres has opened its doors for all to roam on a 360-degree virtual tour that lets you explore both her preserved living quarters and the galleries that make up the Frida Kahlo Museum.

Earth Day’s Gone Digital. Here’s Where to Find It.

New York offers many ways to celebrate online. You can hike, play environmental games, conduct experiments, meet scientists and blast into space — all without leaving home.

12 Frank Lloyd Wright buildings are now hosting virtual tours

Ever wanted to go inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater? The waterside home in Pennsylvania is among a dozen of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic designs available to explore as part of the #WrightVirtualVisits initiative.

Take a Free Virtual Tour of Five Egyptian Heritage Sites

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the release of five new virtual tours of historic sites, adding to the range of online adventures that you can now embark on from home. Each virtual experience features detailed 3-D imagery through which users can “walk” by clicking hotspots along the structures’ floors.

see the northern lights Live!

Located at the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Manitoba, this live cam is located directly underneath the aurora oval--one of the best places on earth to watch the aurora borealis, better known as the Northern Lights.

Explore Nasa's augmented reality

Browse through Nasa's virtual and augmented reality tours, which include the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station, as well as an app that puts you in the pilot’s seat of a NASA aircraft.

digitally trek through national parks from your couch

Use Google Earth to travel across the country to explore 31 national parks, and see why the parks truly are "America's best idea."

Virtually Explore 30 world heritage sites

Find it shockingly easy to go on an adventure, albeit virtually, by taking digital tours of 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites via Google Earth.

Get an insider's tour of the national aquarium

Walk through tropical waters to the icy tundra in this floor-by-floor tour of the famous, Baltimore-based aquarium.

Watch live

Watch the GRACE Gorillas Live!

They've launched a new livestream at GRACE. Every day, you can watch the gorillas play, eat, and rest together in their forest habitat at GRACE.

Explore.org

Explore.org is the world's leading philanthropic live nature cam network.

The Smithsonian Zoo's cams

The Smithsonian Zoo's animal webcams are some of the most famous on the internet. Tune in to watch the Zoo's giant pandas, elephants, lions and naked mole-rats — live!

Live views from the georgia aquarium

Check out the many live-streaming webcams at the Georgia Aquarium. Each webcam gives you a peak of the experience as if you were visiting!

watching wildlife

Did you know that you can see what’s happening live at parks without leaving your home? Webcams allow you to get up close to wildlife without disturbing them. Watch the famous brown bears of Brooks River, go on a live dive in Channel Islands, or take a peek in a Bald Eagle’s Nest.

LIVE ON CAMERA AT THE HOUSTON ZOO

Tune in to the Houston Zoo Webcams and enjoy a live look at animals that call the Houston Zoo home! See the herd of Asian elephants, watch as giraffes nibble lettuce, see the rhinos roll in their mud puddle or the flamingos float next to a waterfall.

Live cams at monterey bay

Watch penguins, sea otters, sharks, birds, sea turtles and many more ocean animals on exhibit, as well as marine life in Monterey Bay.

Hang out with pandas, giraffes, and other adorable animals

With what may be the most live cam options, the San Diego Zoo lets you switch between koalas, polar bears, and tigers in one sitting.