Highlights of the October Sky 2019
• OCT 1 – NASA began operations on this date back in 1958 • OCT 3 The waxing crescent moon and Jupiter form a lovely conjunction in the sky tonight. • OCT 4 – Sputnik became the first artificial satellite on this date back in 1957, ushering in the Space Race. • OCT … Highlights of the October Sky 2019
EARTHtalk! – Dr. René – Shroat-Lewis – Diving Deeper: Exploring the Changes in Reefs
Dr. René Shroat-Lewis is an Assistant Professor of Paleontology and Geo-Science Education at UA Little Rock. Her research focus on marine life, particularly echinoderms, which includes starfish, sea urchins and sand dollars. In this lecture, Dr. Shroat-Lewis explains how the changing climate is causing the decline of ocean organisms and the reefs they … EARTHtalk! – Dr. René – Shroat-Lewis – Diving Deeper: Exploring the Changes in Reefs
September 2019 Feature – Messier 27: The Dumbbell Nebula
As we bid farewell to summer this month, I thought it might be a good idea to pay a visit to one of the season’s best deep sky objects while we still can, Messier 27, a.k.a., “The Dumbbell Nebula”. FINDING M27 Locating this nebula can be a bit tricky, but once you find … September 2019 Feature – Messier 27: The Dumbbell Nebula
Highlights of the August Sky 2019
• AUG 1 – Maria Mitchell (1818-18890) was born on this day. Maria, the third child in a family of 10 children, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts and would go on to become America’s first paid woman astronomer after being hired on at Vassar College to both teach astronomy and to run the university’s observatory. … Highlights of the August Sky 2019
August 2019 Feature – Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
The universe is filled with a multitude of wonder and beauty, but, in my opinion, the most wondrous and beautiful of all celestial objects must surely be star forming nebulas. This month, I want to show you a photograph of one such place within the universe and it is known as the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud … August 2019 Feature – Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
Highlights of the June Sky 2019
• JUNE 1 – Just before dawn, look for a thin crescent moon just to the right of bright Venus low in the eastern sky. • JUNE 4 – Right at dusk, look low in the western sky for a thin, waxing crescent moon … Highlights of the June Sky 2019
June 2019 Feature – Jupiter and the Great Red Spot
On June 10th, Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system and the 5th world from the Sun, will be at opposition. Opposition simply means that, on this evening, the planet lies opposite the Sun in our sky. If you were in a spaceship looking “down” upon the solar system you would see an alignment … June 2019 Feature – Jupiter and the Great Red Spot
Highlights of the May Sky 2019
• May 2 –Look for a waning crescent moon right next to Venus in the eastern predawn sky. • MAY 4 – Moon is at New Phase Star Wars Day, a grassroots, fan-initiated holiday that celebrates the fictional universe created by George Lucas, was established on this … Highlights of the May Sky 2019
May 2019 Feature – Messier 87, An Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo
Unless you’ve been living in a cave (and, if you really do live in a cave, hey, no judgement here), you are no doubt aware of the amazing announcement last month (April 10th, 2019) that a team of astronomers had managed to capture the image of a one way door into eternity: the event horizon … May 2019 Feature – Messier 87, An Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo
Highlights of the April Sky 2019
• APRIL 1 – At around 6:30 AM CDT, look low along the eastern horizon to see a waning crescent moon just to the right (west) of the planet Venus. • APRIL 2 At around 6:30 AM CDT, look low along the eastern horizon to … Highlights of the April Sky 2019