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This Week's Amazing Sky
Earth’s magnificent Moon isn’t the only one in the solar system. Let’s take a tour through some of the other lunar landscapes that inhabit our space. Which is your favorite?Our System’s Many MoonsThere are at least 214 known natural satellites, or “moons,” that orbit planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids in our solar system. Most of the planets in our system have at least one moon,…
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Milky Way galaxy from Earth, late September through October is your window of opportunity! Right now, we’re aimed toward the most concentrated part of the Milky Way. Learn more to see the kind of inspirational, star-filled panorama usually experienced in planetariums!If you live—or can visit friends—in a rural location away from city lights, October can be…
Many of us are fascinated with the idea of traveling to other worlds, especially Mars. The truth is that the solar system is constructed to give us only Mars as a suitable planet. Let’s explore how long it would take to journey to Mars and other fun space travel facts.Traveling to MarsExploring is in our nature. Even in early childhood, we all had the itch to discover. We explored the…
Can you balance an egg on the autumnal equinox? Does the Sun rise due east and set due west for all of us on Earth? Why did the date of the equinox change? How is it related to the Harvest Moon? Bob separates autumnal equinox facts from fiction.Read all about the Autumnal Equinox!There are a number of questions and misperceptions commonly sent my way. Let’s clear this up and talk…
Take a look at the next Full Moon—it shines like a flawless, glowing coin in the sky. But here’s the cosmic secret: our Moon isn’t perfectly round at all! Like Earth (and even Saturn), the Moon is a little “squished,” making it an oblate spheroid. So why do big space objects like the Moon, Earth, and stars become round, while asteroids and comets stay lumpy? The answer lies in gravity’s quiet but…
Do you trust your instincts? Maybe you shouldn’t. It seems that ancient Greeks and the old church doctrines were correct because it sure feels as if we’re not moving. But we’re actually in wild, constant motion. How fast are we spinning—and why don’t we feel it?On Earth, we don’t notice that the Earth is spinning. In contrast, when we gaze into the sky, we see constant…
Space is famous for zippy activity, like streaking meteors that sail through the night sky. But space has another face—a slow-and-easy side. In reality, Venus, the Moon, and many of our most beloved sky objects are as slow as molasses. What’s the slowest-moving planet? Slowest-spinning star? Read on for some fun space facts.What is the Slowest Planet?Venus, which is floating…
Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up? The dark portion of the Moon (the area unlit by the Sun) seems to glow. This phenomenon is known as “Earthshine.” Historically, this was called “the new Moon in the old Moon’s arms.” Learn more about Earthshine.What is Earthshine?When you can see the dark, unlit portion of the crescent Moon (the area unlit…
Learn how the Moon affects planet Earth. From tides to weather, there are many ways that our one and only natural satellite works in tandem with our planet. Plus, let’s dispel some myths about powers that our Moon does NOT have!How the Moon Affects TidesOcean TidesOf course, high tides and low tides are caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull. People have always…
Statistically, the coldest week falls about now— in late January—for most places in Europe and North America.Some of us who live in rural areas heat with wood, which may sound romantic until you’ve done it for a while. You grab icy logs barehanded and lug them to the house, where any remaining wrist hairs are burned off as they’re tossed in the stove.En route, one sometimes…
There’s been a lot of hype in the news about a great planetary alignment in January 2025. Here are the facts, which are pretty cool anyway. It won’t be a magical lineup, but it WILL be an amazing planetary display you won’t want to miss. It’s truly the best overall planet view in years. Here’s more information.The 8 Planets First, here’s a quick review. Of the eight planets in our…
Sister planet. Nearest neighbor. Goddess of love. How appealing the planet Venus sounds! But the strange cloudy world is actually a land of paradox and horror. Discover 10 weird facts about planet Venus, the hottest planet in our solar system!10 Cool Facts About Hot VenusTake the time to learn some ten cool Venus facts about our very, very hot neighboring planet!Venus is…