Tonight (August 11 – 12) is the peak of one of the largest and perhaps one of the most famous meteor showers of the year, the Perseids meteor shower. It can produce as many as 90 meteors per hour at its peak but some meteors can be seen from July 17 to August 24. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Continue reading
An artist’s conception of HD 189733 b following the 2013 confirmation of the planet’s blue color by the Hubble Space Telescope. Image by NASA, ESA, M. Kornmesser. Scientists have determined the color of an alien planet for the first time. Even though … Continue reading
This month there will be only one major astronomical event. On July 27, 28 we will witness the Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower. It is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak on the night of July 27 and morning of July 28, but some meteors can be visible from July 12 to August 23. Continue reading
Unlike last month, this won’t be a such an eventful month when it comes to astronomical events. Mercury will be at its greatest eastern elongation and then we will have the June solstice. We will also have the largest full moon of the year. Continue reading
In the 1970s, Mariner 10 photographed less than half of Mercury’s surface. MESSENGER’s mission is to enter orbit around the planet, complete the detailed mapping of Mercury and return data about magnetic fields and particles in the planet’s vicinity. Continue reading
Just like last month, this will be another very eventful month when it comes to astronomical events. There will be a meteor shower, two eclipses and a conjunction. First of all, on the night of May 4 and 5 the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak. The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Continue reading
This month will be quite eventful and will have many interesting astronomical events. First of all, on April 14 we will witness the conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter. The Moon will appear to pass about two degrees of the giant planet Jupiter in the … Continue reading
This month will be the best time to see Mercury. Usually the planet is very hard to observe because it orbits very close to the sun and it can only be seen at dawn and dusk. However on the evening of February … Continue reading
On the night of January 3 and 4 the Quadrantids meteor shower will peak. It is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at the peak. Some meteors can be visible from January 1 – 5. Unfortunately the near last quarter moon will hide many of the fainter meteors with its glare. Continue reading
The Hubble Telescope provides a humbling reminder of our cosmic insignificance, while the advanced satellite imagery of our own planet oddly scales back our own perceived discovery and settlement of lands. With that, the latest release of imagery from NASA provides one of the most detailed and stunning visuals of Earth – all of Earth – at night. Continue reading