Moon and Mars rendezvous in early October

The moon and Mars are near each other on the sky’s dome on the night of October 2, 2020. From South America, the moon will appear to occult (cover over) Mars. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-mars-rendezvous-in-early-october…

Did this mass extinction event trigger dawn of the dinosaurs?

New research suggests that a series of huge volcanic eruptions, 233 million years ago, led to a mass extinction event that heralded the dawn of the dinosaurs. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/mass-extinction-event-trigger-dawn-of-dinosaurs…

Watch for Mars and the full Harvest Moon

The Northern Hemisphere’s Harvest Moon is always the full moon falling the closest to the autumnal equinox. It’s coming up in 2020 on October 1 or 2. What’s more, this Harvest Moon will be near Mars! Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/full-harvest-moon-on-october-1-2020…

Venus-Regulus conjunction in early October

Brilliant Venus, in and of itself, is worth getting up for, but the tantalizingly close encounter of Venus with the star Regulus won’t happen again for another 8 years. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/venus-regulus-conjunction-in-early-october…

The detection of phosphine in Venus’ clouds is a big deal

Here’s how we can find out if it’s a sign of life. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/detection-phosphine-venus-clouds-sign-of-life…

CIA’s New Tech Recruiting Pitch: More Patents, More Profits

America’s most famous spy agency has a major competitor it can’t quite seem to beat: Silicon Valley. From a report: The CIA has long been a place cutting-edge technology is researched, developed, and realized — and it wants to lead in fields like artificial intelligence and biotechnology. However, recruiting and retaining the talent capable of building these tools is a challenge…

Small asteroid will sweep close this week

Asteroid 2020 SW will sweep closest – closer than weather satellites – on September 24. It will not hit us. It’ll brighten as it draws near, but never enough to see with the eye alone. Charts here for telescope users. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2020-sw-very-close-pass-sept-24-2020…

What are comets?

Comets are loosely packed balls of ice and dust orbiting our sun, that sometimes become visible in Earth’s skies. A comet’s tail may stretch across millions of miles of space. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-are-comets…

Moon and Venus adorn the morning September 13 to 15

On the mornings of September 13, 14 and 15, 2020, look for the waning crescent moon and the dazzling planet Venus in the eastern sky before sunrise. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-adorn-morning-sky…

Sony Ponders Potential PS To PC Ports

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Horizon: Zero Dawn probably won’t be the last former PlayStation exclusive to make the jump to PC. In its 2020 corporate report published late last week, Sony says that it “will explore expanding our 1st party titles to the PC platform, in order to promote further growth in our profitability.” The “explore”…