All you need to know about major meteor showers in 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide…
Tag: observer
Bank Employee Steals Cash, Then Posts Pics of It On Facebook and Instagram
“If you’re systematically stealing money from a bank vault, it may not be a good idea to post the evidence on your social media pages,” reports CNN: A bank employee in Charlotte, North Carolina, allegedly stole $88,000 from the bank’s vault, according to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of North Carolina. And he wasn’t bashful about…
A neutron star with an unusual magnetic field structure
Scientists from Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI), and Pulkovo Observatory discovered a unique neutron star, the magnetic field of which is apparent only when the star is seen under a certain angle relative to the observer. Previously, all neutron stars could be grouped into two large families: the first one…
Why is Mars sometimes bright and sometimes faint?
In 2018, Mars was brighter in our sky than it had been since 2003. In 2019, Mars was mostly faint and inconspicuous. But 2020, here we come! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/why-is-mars-sometimes-bright-and-sometimes-faint…
See this week’s Venus-Saturn pairing
On December 10 and 11, 2019, look in the sunset direction – close to the sunset point on the horizon, not long after the sun goes down – for the the conjunction of 2 bright planets, Venus and Saturn. Some will also spot Jupiter nearby. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/see-venus-saturn-pairing-on-december-10…
Anisotropic radio-wave scattering in the solar corona
Solar radio emission is produced in the turbulent medium of the solar atmosphere, and its observed properties (source position, size, time profile, polarization, etc.) are significantly affected by the propagation of the radio waves from the emitter to the observer. Scattering of radio waves on random density irregularities has long been recognized as an important process for the interpretation of radio…
If you think the moon is an impediment to meteor-watching
The moon is big and bright nearly all night now. It’ll turn full on Tuesday, just as the North Taurid meteor shower reaches a peak. The moon is a problem for meteor-watching, but this owl … a bigger problem. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photo-owl-perched-on-meteor-camera-taurids-2019…
Image: Suitcase-sized asteroid explorer
This replica model of ESA’s ‘Miniaturised Asteroid Remote Geophysical Observer’, or M-Argo, was on display at the Agency’s recent Antennas workshop. It is the one of numerous small missions planned as part of ESA’s Technology Strategy, being presented at this month’s Space19+ Council at Ministerial Level. Source: https://phys.org/news/2019-11-image-suitcase-sized-asteroid-explorer.html…
Orionid meteors late night until dawn
A bright moon interferes for much of the night for 2018’s Orionid meteor shower. Watch shortly before dawn, after moonset. Try watching on the mornings of October 20, 21 and 22. A dark sky is always best. Have fun! Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/radiant-point-for-orionid-meteor-shower…
South Taurid meteors to peak in October?
The South Taurid meteor shower rarely produces more than 5 meteors per hour, but it’s been known to produce fireballs. The shower is long-running. Watch for these meteors in October and November. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/south-taurid-meteors-to-peak-in-october…