Astronomers witness first moments of planet formation as rock grains crystallize around distant star HOPS-315.

The best time to view the Perseids is between midnight and dawn, according to the society. A good day to view them is Thursday, July 24. That's when the new moon is, according to the Farmers' Almanac.

Our own planet represents a tiny fraction of the peculiar phenomena that can be found lurking throughout the cosmos, and every day astronomers turn up new surprises. In this gallery, we take a look at ...