Stargazing Calendar for November 2022
November will be slightly less eventful than the last month in terms of stargazing events, but there will still be some highlights such as a total lunar eclipse, the perigee of Mars, the Leonids and a few smaller meteor showers. A new addition to these calendars will also include the best times to observe major asteroids and comets.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for October 2022
Like last month, this will be an eventful one, including several meteor showers and a partial solar eclipse. Take a look at all of these astronomical events that await us this month in this stargazing calendar for October 2022.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for September 2022
After a long hiatus, we at CosmoBC decided to bring back the monthly stargazing calendar. We hope to help you keep track of the best astronomical events you may wish to observe in the night sky this coming month of September.
Why Your Kids Will Live on Mars
Mars has a daytime temperature of 73 ºF, but a nighttime temperature of -100 ºF. Nearly 95% of the martian atmosphere is carbon dioxide, and the planet is constantly exposed to intense radiation. So why are humans so eager to go to Mars, and how would we ever make it habitable? In short, establishing a human settlement on Mars and making humans a multi-planetary species would be an astronomical (pun intended) step for humankind, and there are innovators making this dream a reality. The Spirit of Human Curiosity First of all, humans want (and need) to go to Mars for the spirit of adventure and exploration. Throughout all of history,…
Inside the Monster Rocket to Mars: How Did NASA Build and Fund the SLS?
Want to go to Mars? You’ll have to fly there on a monster. Fortunately, this monster is being designed to carry and care for humans, not eat them! A Space Launch System, or SLS, is actually not a new idea, nor is sending humans to Mars. But the potential for it to be a reality, well, that’s pretty new! An SLS is a giant rocket that is capable of hauling an enormous amount of material through space. Operational Specs for a Beast 70-ton initial payload capability 130-ton final payload capability 4 RS-25 engines per rocket 211-foot core stage 730,000-gallon (2.76 million liters) fuel storage NASA’s SLS has all of this,…
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for June 2016
On June 3 Saturn will be at opposition, which means it will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons because it will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for May 2016
Early this month on the night of May 5 and 6 the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak. It is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak, however most of the activity will be seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach only about 30 meteors per hour.
NASA Called College Students to Develop an Inflatable Heat Shield
Who is NASA going to hire to create a vital component for an upcoming Mars mission? None other than the bright minds of our future – college and university students. That’s right! NASA’s Game Changing Development Program gave college students the chance to come up with unique ideas to generate lift. Sure, that’s a fairly simple request, but your ideas will be used on cutting-edge, amazing spacecraft. NASA is currently testing inflatable heat shields and HIAD (hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator) technology, but it needs your help to develop it. A Weighty Issue NASA is still in the testing phase of the new HIAD technology. Recently, it packed a 9-foot inflatable…
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for April 2016
On the night of April 22 and 23 the Lyrids meteor shower will peak. It is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak, although some meteors may be seen any time from April 16 to 25. It originates from dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.
Monthly Stargazing Calendar for March 2016
This month will have a lot of astronomical events starting on March 8, when Jupiter will be at opposition. The gas giant will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This means that it will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long.
