Martian Green Nightglow Seen for the First Time
The ESA’s ExoMars mission just observed nightglow in Mars’ atmosphere, a phenomenon that also happens on Earth.
An Asteroid Will Occult Betelgeuse on December 12th
I cannot for the life of me remember when it was or what it was but a fair few years ago I remember positioning a telescope to observe an asteroid as it silently and perhaps slightly eerily drifted between us and the Moon. I say eerily as this asteroid had the ability to cause widespread …
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Lucy Completes its First Flyby… and Discovers a Bonus Asteroid
NASA’s Lucy mission hits the jackpot on its very first asteroid flyby this week.
Dr. Tracy Becker Honored with 2023 Carl Sagan Medal for Science Communication
This year’s prestigious Carl Sagan Medal, also known as the “Sagan Medal” and named after the late astronomer, Dr. Carl Sagan, has been awarded to Dr. Tracy Becker, who is a planetary scientist in the Space Science Division of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas. The Sagan Medal recipient is chosen by …
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James Webb is a GO for Cycle 2 Observations!
The observation programs for Cycle 2 of the James Webb Space Telescope have just been announced, and they are a lovely mix!
The Moon Occults Jupiter Wednesday Morning for North America
Be sure to set your alarm for early Wednesday morning, for one of the best occultations of 2023.
May 5th’s ‘Teaser’ Lunar Eclipse
A ‘barely there’ lunar eclipse will flirt with the shadow of the Earth Friday evening.
Cosmic Conjunction: Jupiter Meets Venus on March 1st
The two brightest planets pass less than half a degree apart at dusk on the night of March 1st.
Dwarf Planet Quaoar has a Ring
Quaoar is one of about 3,000 dwarf planets in our Solar System’s Kuiper Belt. Astronomers discovered it in 2002. It’s only half as large as Pluto, about 1,121 km (697 mi) in diameter. Quaoar has a tiny moon named Weywot, and the planet and its moon are very difficult to observe in detail. Astronomers took advantage of …
Nuclear Rocket In 2027, JWST Problems, Starship WDR
Starship completes its wet-dress rehearsal, another problem for Webb, a nuclear rocket test is coming, and more cool NIAC grants.