Mar 20 Venus will pass between the Earth and sun this weekend, but don’t try to look for it By Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press Venus will pass between the Earth and sun during what’s called an inferior conjunction. But don’t plan on seeing the linkup. Continue reading
Feb 08 Watch 2:45 How NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission may help us understand the origins of life on Earth By Ali Rogin, Harry Zahn The origins of life on our planet remains one of science’s great mysteries. Now, a NASA mission that brought a piece of an ancient asteroid back to Earth has revealed that the building blocks of life may have been scattered… Continue watching
Dec 22 Characters in Disney’s ‘Moana’ use the stars just like real Polynesian explorers. An astronomer explains how By Christopher Palma, The Conversation Polynesian navigators used the stars to sail across the ocean, Disney’s ‘Moana’ movies help those of us who have never sailed at night to understand the methods of celestial navigation. Continue reading
Dec 16 Study suggests Saturn’s rings could be 4.5 billion years old just like the planet By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press New research suggests that Saturn's rings may be older than they look — possibly as old as the planet. Continue reading
Dec 13 The Geminids are one of the strongest meteor showers of the year. Here’s how to watch By Christina Larson, Associated Press The Geminids — among the few major meteor showers to come from asteroids — peak on Friday. It’s one of the year’s last chances to see fireballs in the sky. Continue reading
Nov 14 The supermoon will make it harder to see the Leonid meteor shower. Here’s your best chance to watch By Christina Larson, Associated Press This year’s peak activity on Sunday will happen when the moon is 98 percent full. Continue reading
Nov 11 The last supermoon of the year is coming. Here’s when to see it By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press It will be a while until the next one. Continue reading
Oct 16 Surprise, it’s twins! A brown dwarf discovered 30 years ago is actually two circling each other By Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press Scientists have puzzled over the object known as Gliese 229B, the first known brown dwarf discovered 30 years ago, but which appeared too dim for its mass. Continue reading
Oct 12 Two comets from the spooky Oort Cloud are passing by our planet as Halloween approaches By James Wray, The Conversation The Oort Cloud’s residents may be a reason why life ignited on Earth; crashing on our planet eons ago, these ice bodies may have supplied at least some of the water that all life requires. At the same time, these… Continue reading
Aug 24 A nova explosion may soon be visible in the night sky. Here’s where and when to look By Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation Keep an eye on the sky for the second half of 2024 and you might be able to witness a rare astronomical event. A space scientist explains how nova events work and where to look. Continue reading