While most cameras were looking up at the 2012 peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, astronaut Don Pettit aboard the International Space Station trained his video camera on Earth below. Footage from that night is now revealing breathtaking images of Earth at night with meteors burning up in the atmosphere.The constellation Lyra, visible in...
This 146-gram (5.15-ounce) stone is on loan to the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies from Michael FarmerArizona State University/SETI InstituteOne of the most extensively studied space rocks has recently surprised scientists once again. The "mudball meteorite" Aguas Zarcas, which spent two million years in orbit without colliding with any other objects (or sustaining any...
Most of the Lafayette meteorite is kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. (NMNH)There is increasing evidence that Mars was once a wet and watery world, with lakes and oceans shaping its surface, leaving behind sediments that are now being carefully analyzed by rovers exploring the planet’s dry, dusty landscape. We know water...
Credit: M. WEISS, CXC/NASAThis summer, stargazers have a chance to witness a rare celestial event. By scanning the night sky for the constellation Corona Borealis, you might catch a glimpse of what appears to be a new star. "This brightening point of light is not actually a new star but a nova eruption occurring...
Capturing the mesmerizing beauty of a total solar eclipse requires careful planning and the right equipment. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of using a star tracker to enhance your solar eclipse photography experience.Why Use a Star Tracker?A star tracker, also known as a solar tracker in this context, offers significant...
Credit: DepositphotosWhen an uncommon total solar eclipse passes over North America next Monday, scientists will have the opportunity to collect invaluable information ranging from the Sun's atmosphere to peculiar animal behaviors, and even potential impacts on humans.During the Sun's near-peak activity in its 11-year solar cycle, an awe-inspiring sight awaits: the corona will illuminate...
This artist's impression shows the magnetic white dwarf WD 0816-310, where astronomers have found a scar imprinted on its surface as a result of having ingested planetary debris. Credit: ESO/L. CalçadaAs a star resembling our sun nears the conclusion of its lifecycle, it may devour neighboring planets and asteroids that originated alongside it. Recently,...
Celestial bodies comprising the Winter Circle, visible on January 1, 2024, as observed through Sky Safari.In our notes about the night sky in December, we talked about how the Orion constellation looks like an hourglass and is easy to see. But guess what? It turns out that what we see as Orion is not...
Credit: Universe TodayNASA's Webb offers stunning view of exploded star. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope presents a fresh image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A), resembling a gleaming, spherical ornament poised for the perfect holiday tree placement. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, during the 2023 Holidays at the White House, unveiled the...
This picture shows three types of stars in our galaxy: G stars, which are like our Sun; K dwarfs, which are smaller and cooler; and M dwarfs, which are even fainter and cooler. It compares them in terms of important things. Hotter stars have wider habitable zones where life might exist. Red dwarf M...
