Mimas and Iapetus, Two Odd Moons of Saturn
Saturn has a lot of moons. Two of them are really odd, and bear a striking resemblance to the Death Star from the Star Wars movies. Mimas has a crater of approximately the same scale as the one on the Death Star. Iapetus also has large craters, but the resemblance lies in its equatorial ridge.
Stargazing Calendar for February 2023
This month of February 2023 we will be able to witness two comets visiting us in the inner solar system, a meteor shower, as well as various conjunctions and close approaches of celestial bodies.
Stargazing Calendar for January 2023
In this first month of the new year, aside from the celebratory fireworks, we can also witness some beautiful astronomical events such as the Quadrantid meteor shower, two comets and two large asteroids at opposition.
Comet From the Depths of the Oort Cloud Will Be at Perihelion Tomorrow (December 19, 2022)
Tomorrow, December 19, 2022, a visitor from nearly a light-year away will come closest to the Sun (perihelion) after several million years of travel through the Oort Cloud. This visitor is recently discovered comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS).
Stargazing Calendar for December 2022
This month of December 2022, we will be visited by an interesting comet from the depths of the Oort cloud, we will be showered by up to 120 meteors per hour during the Geminid meteor shower peak, and we will be able to observe Mars and Mercury under great conditions.
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.
NASA Will Soon Decide If Changing Juno’s Course is Best
Jupiter is named after the king of the Roman gods, and with its massive size, it definitely holds the title of king of the Solar System. NASA's Juno spacecraft entered orbit around the gas giant in July of 2016. Due to a problem with the craft's propulsion system, NASA is currently debating whether changing Juno's course is the best option. What is Juno looking for out there among the stars?
Inside the Monster Rocket to Mars: How Did NASA Build and Fund the SLS?
Explore NASA's monumental Space Launch System, paving the way for Mars missions. Budget challenges, ambitious goals, and adaptability await!
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.