... Today the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south -- marking the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Autumn. ... The Plane of the Ecliptic is illustrated in this Clementine star tracker camera image which reveals (from right to left) the Moon lit by Earthshine, the Sun's corona rising over the Moon's dark limb, and the planets Saturn, Mars, and Mercury. ... Comet Hale-Bopp Fades . ... Comet Hale-Bopp has faded in the past few weeks. ... The Sun Erupts . ... Tycho Brahe Measures the Sky . ...