Tag: To the Stars

Will SpaceX’s Starlink satellites ruin stargazing?

SpaceX’s satellites will populate the night sky, affecting how we observe the stars. And this is just the beginning of private satellite mega-constellations. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/will-spacex-starlink-satellites-ruin-stargazing…

What is the Common Era?

If you encounter a date in the CE (Common Era) or BCE (Before Common Era) format, don’t fret. They mean exactly the same thing as AD (anno Domini) and BC (before Christ). Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/definition-common-era-bce-ce-bc-ad…

Astronomers measure a change in orbit for infamous asteroid Apophis

Astronomers in Hawaii have detected the Yarkovsky effect – a minuscule push imparted by sunlight – for asteroid Apophis. The effect is particularly important for Apophis, because it relates to the possibility of an Earth impact in 2068. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-99942-apophis-encounters-2029-2036-2068…

Gamma Cephei: A future Pole Star

About two thousand years from now, Gamma Cephei, an inconspicuous star in the constellation Cepheus, will become our North Star. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/star-errai-future-north-star…

Where is Proxima Centauri?

You probably know the very nearest star to our sun is Proxima in the triple star system we call Alpha Centauri. Guy Ottewell shows you where in space Proxima is. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/where-is-proxima-centauri…

Wowzer! Pluto spacecraft sees parallax for Proxima

New images from the fringes of our solar system. The fast-moving New Horizons spacecraft sees a parallax shift – a different apparent position against the background stars – for Proxima Centauri. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/new-horizons-parallax-for-proxima-centauri…

Staying in? Look up together for International Dark Sky Week

Click here for links to activities for International Dark Sky Week, April 19 to 26, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/international-dark-sky-week-apr-19-26-2020…

Moon and Venus March 28 and 29

On March 28 and 29 – and even some evenings after that – see the waxing crescent moon and the planet Venus in the evening sky. They’re beautiful! And you can use them to find the constellation Taurus the Bull. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-and-taurus-march-28-and-29…

Last quarter moon and planets before sunrise March 16

Look outside before dawn on March 16, 2020 for the last quarter moon. Its illuminated side will be pointing at the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. Some people will catch Mercury, too, shortly before sunrise. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/last-quarter-moon-4-planets-before-sunrise…