Earth passes between Mars and the sun, at opposition, on October 13, 2020, yet the Earth and Mars actually come closest together on October 6, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/mars-to-reach-opposition-october-13…
Tag: Illustration
What is interstellar space?
You might be surprised to learn that interstellar space isn’t just vacuum. It’s full of gases, elements, and dust – very thinly spread, to be sure – but the building blocks of stars and planets. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-is-interstellar-space…
NASA’s Planet Patrol wants you to join the search for exoplanets
Do you want to be a planet-hunter? NASA has launched a new citizen science website called Planet Patrol where volunteers can help search for exoplanets in data from the TESS space telescope. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/exoplanets-nasas-planet-patrol-citizen-science…
Large asteroid will pass safely November 29, closer in subsequent flybys
A large asteroid will pass Earth at more than 11 times the moon’s distance on November 29, 2020, and will approach more closely in later flybys. Charts here for telescope users. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2000-wo107-nov-2020-flyby-then-closer…
The cycle of close and far Martian oppositions
Like so much in the sky, very close approaches of Mars happen in cycles. Become a Mars guru, here. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/close-and-far-martian-oppositions…
Meet the Pi planet. It orbits its star every 3.14 days
In a fun cosmic coincidence, researchers used old Kepler spacecraft data to discover an Earth-sized exoplanet with an orbital period of 3.14 days, a number that matches the mathematical constant pi. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/pi-exoplanet-k2-315b-has-3-14-day-orbit…
X-ray data reveal 1st-ever planet orbiting stars in another galaxy
While extragalactic “rogue” planets – not orbiting any star – have been reported before, the new exoplanet is the first to be detected orbiting stars in another galaxy. And not just any galaxy … but M51, the beautiful Whirlpool, 23 million light-years away. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/1st-exoplanet-in-another-galaxy-whirlpool-m51-uls-1b…
What is a galaxy?
We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way. But there is so much more to know about these grand and glorious star islands in space! Click in here, and prepare to have your mind expanded. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-is-a-galaxy…
Earth in the balance today
Guy Ottewell’s insights on today’s autumnal equinox. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/insights-equinoxes-solstices-guy-ottewell…
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…