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2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases

Jake Parks — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:31:57 +0000

The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

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How we might look for life in the universe — even if we can’t recognize it

Alison Klesman — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:00:00 +0000

We have only one example of biology forming in the universe – life on Earth. But what if life can form in other ways? How do you look for alien life when you don’t know what alien life might look like? These questions are preoccupying astrobiologists, who are scientists who look for life beyond Earth. Astrobiologists haveContinue reading "How we might look for life in the universe — even if we can’t recognize it"

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The largest space merch retailer in the world opens its first brick-and-mortar retail store in downtown Chattanooga

Astronomy Staff — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:25:15 +0000

PRESS RELEASEFor immediate release Contact:Erik Spangenberg(203)-550-3196erik@firecrown.com CHATTANOOGA, TN — The Space Store, an e-commerce retailer specializing in space-themed merchandise, has opened its first physical retail space in downtown Chattanooga. The Space Store got its start in 1996, as one of the first e-commerce businesses on the internet. For the past 28 years, The Space StoreContinue reading "The largest space merch retailer in the world opens its first brick-and-mortar retail store in downtown Chattanooga"

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A look ahead to the sky next year: Sky Guide 2025

Astronomy Staff — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:30:00 +0000

It’s back: Astronomy magazine’s free downloadable Sky Guide, your preview of everything happening in the sky next year. Mars opens 2025 by reaching opposition the night of Jan. 15/16, when it shines brighter and appears larger through a telescope than at any time since December 2022. You’ll find it in Gemini, near the heads ofContinue reading "A look ahead to the sky next year: Sky Guide 2025"

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The Moon as it never was

Klaus R. Brasch — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

In 1874, James Nasmyth and James Carpenter published a remarkable book: The Moon: Considered as a Planet, a World, and a Satellite. Lavishly illustrated with spectacular images of lunar features based on their own observations and exquisite plaster models, it served as a platform for the authors to advance their views on the nature andContinue reading "The Moon as it never was"

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A look back at NEOWISE, the NASA mission that cataloged objects around Earth for over a decade

Alison Klesman — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

The NASA project NEOWISE, which has given astronomers a detailed view of near-Earth objects – some of which could strike the Earth – ended its mission and burned on re-entering the atmosphere after over a decade. On a clear night, the sky is full of bright objects – from stars, large planets and galaxies toContinue reading "A look back at NEOWISE, the NASA mission that cataloged objects around Earth for over a decade"

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NASA releases new infrared images from retired NEOWISE mission

Samantha Hill — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Although it completed its mission in July, NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) still has interesting archival data covering the solar system thanks to the team at the Infrared Processing & Analysis Center (IPAC) at Caltech. After the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere in November, IPAC completed a final data release ofContinue reading "NASA releases new infrared images from retired NEOWISE mission"

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NASA pushes first Moon landing since Apollo era to 2027

Mark Zastrow — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:57:20 +0000

For the second time this year, NASA has pushed back its timeline to land the first Americans on the Moon since the Apollo era. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on Thursday revealed that due to an issue with the heat shield on NASA’s Orion capsule discovered during the 2022 Artemis 1 test mission, the Artemis 3Continue reading "NASA pushes first Moon landing since Apollo era to 2027"

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Jupiter reaches opposition this weekend: How to see it

Michael E. Bakich — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:43:42 +0000

If you have a telescope, or access to one, now’s the time to point it at Jupiter. The largest planet in our solar system reaches opposition December 7. That means it’s directly opposite the Sun from our viewpoint here on Earth. It rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night. During theContinue reading "Jupiter reaches opposition this weekend: How to see it"

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Trump chooses first private spacewalker Jared Isaacman as NASA head

Mark Zastrow — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 23:11:06 +0000

President-elect Donald Trump has picked private astronaut and billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as the administrator of NASA. Trump confirmed the nomination on Wednesday in a post on X. “Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,” Trump wrote in the post. “OverContinue reading "Trump chooses first private spacewalker Jared Isaacman as NASA head"

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