Pluto’s orbit is very elongated. Right now, it’s in a part of its orbit where its distance from the sun is steadily increasing. That fact is devastating its atmosphere. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/pluto-losing-atmosphere-winter…
Tag: The Sun
Researchers find water in samples from asteroid
Researchers have discovered water in tiny dust particles from asteroid Itokawa. Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft brought the asteroid dust to Earth in 2010. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/researchers-find-water-samples-asteroid-itokawa…
North Carolina Man Accidentally Films UFO on Facebook Live Video
After they’ve exhausted all other available means—abduction, engaging military aircraft, shutting off our nuclear missiles—maybe the aliens finally figured out how to get our attention: Facebook live. Everyone and their uncle seems bent on broadcasting themselves into the uncaring void that is the internet, so it’s about time the aliens jumped on board as well…. Read more » Source: https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/05/north-carolina-man-accidentally-films-ufo-on-facebook-live-video/…
Young moon and Mars after sunset May 6, 7, 8
On May 6, 7 and 8, 2019, watch for the young crescent moon to pass by the planet Mars. Just don’t mistake the star Elnath for Mars. Elnath is the 2nd-brightest star in Taurus the Bull. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/young-moon-mars-after-sunset-may-6-8…
NASA to fund research on advanced solar sails
Solar sails use faint pressure from sunlight to propel a spacecraft forward. A next-generation solar sail – called a diffractive solar sail – might be made of metamaterials, or smart materials. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/nasa-to-fund-research-on-advanced-solar-sails…
Insight lander captures sunrises, sunsets on Mars
Sunrises and sunsets on Mars, captured by the camera on NASA’s InSight lander. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/mars-insight-lander-sunset-sunrise-photos…
Comet Halley’s 2 meteor showers
The famous Comet Halley spawns the Eta Aquariids – going on now – and the Orionids in October. Plus where the comet is now, parent bodies of other meteor showers … and Isaac Newton’s Vis-viva equation, his poetic rendition of instantaneous motion. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/comet-halley-parent-of-2-meteor-showers…
When does Ramadan begin in 2019?
Earliest sightings of a young crescent in the west after sunset mark the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. When will the UAE’s moon-sighting committee see this month’s young moon? If they’re using binoculars and telescopes (and have clear skies), they might see it May 5. For the eye alone, the date is probably May 6. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/when-does-ramadan-start-crescent-moon…
New moon is May 4
You can’t see a new moon; it’s between the Earth and sun and crosses the sky with the sun throughout the day. Will you see the returning young crescent moon in the west after sunset May 5? Maybe, with effort. The young moon will sweep past Mars around May 6 to 8. Source: https://earthsky.org/moon-phases/new-moon…
Space rock hit moon at 38,000 mph
It was a flash of light seen on the edge of moon during the total lunar eclipse of January 20-21, 2019. Now astronomers have analyzed this meteor strike, the first ever filmed during an eclipse. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jan2019-eclipse-space-rock-hit-moon-video-photos…