These next several evenings – October 21, 22 and 23, 2020 – watch for the waxing moon to sweep by the gas giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-sweeps-by-jupiter-and-saturn…
Tag: uranus
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…
Wow! Jupiter might have 600 moons
Astronomers in Canada say they have found evidence for 45 new tiny moons orbiting Jupiter, and that the planet may have a staggering 600 such moons in total. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jupiter-might-have-600-moons…
Uranian moons in new light
More than 230 years ago astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus and two of its moons. Using the Herschel Space Observatory, a group of astronomers led by Örs H. Detre of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy now has succeeded in determining physical properties of the five main moons of Uranus. The measured infrared radiation, which is generated by the…
Moon passes Mars around September 4-6
These next several nights – September 4, 5 and 6, 2020 – let the moon introduce you to the red planet Mars. Next month, in October 2020, Mars will supplant Jupiter as the sky’s 4th-brightest heavenly body. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/see-moon-mars-from-september-4-6…
Scientists probe the weird, alien water inside of Uranus and Neptune
Researchers are investigating an alien version of water inside the strange, icy interiors of Uranus and Neptune. Source: https://www.livescience.com/uranus-neptune-alien-water-interior.html
Inside the ice giants of space
A new theoretical method paves the way to modeling the interior of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, thanks to computer simulations on the water contained within them. The tool, developed by scientists from SISSA in Trieste and the University of California at Los Angeles and recently published in Nature Communications, allows one to analyze thermal and electric processes occurring at…
See 4 bright planets in August
August 2020 presents a fine time to view four of the five bright planets: Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/see-4-bright-planets-in-august…
The moons of Uranus are fascinating enough on their own that we should send a flagship mission out there
What’s the most interesting fact you know about Uranus? The fact that its rotational axis is completely out of line with every other planet in the solar system? Or that Uranus’ magnetosphere is asymmetrical, notably tilted relative to its rotational axis, and significantly offset from the center of the planet? Or that its moons are all named after characters from Shakespeare…
Planetary alignment? Increase in volcanoes?
The book called “The Jupiter Effect” suggested an alignment of planets in 1982 would cause earthly catastrophes, including a great earthquake on California’s San Andreas Fault. There’s another planetary alignment, of sorts, going on now. Will it cause volcanic eruptions? Charts, and info, from Guy Ottewell. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/planetary-alignment-increase-in-volcanoes-july-2020…