An account of the 2017 "Great American Eclipse" as viewed from Oregon — with my dogs.
Space News & Blog Articles
Tune into the SpaceZE News Network to stay updated on industry news from around the world.
The First Atmospheric Rainbow on an Exoplanet?
When light strikes the atmosphere all sorts of interesting things can happen. Water vapor can split sunlight into a rainbow arc of colors, corpuscular rays can stream through gaps in clouds like the light from heaven, and halos and sundogs can appear due to sunlight reflecting off ice crystals. And then there is the glory effect, which can create a colorful almost saint-like halo around objects.
Roman Will Learn the Ages of Hundreds of Thousands of Stars
Astronomers routinely provide the ages of the stars they study. But the methods of measuring ages aren’t 100% accurate. Measuring the ages of distant stars is a difficult task.
SpaceX begins commercial Direct to Cell Starlink constellation with Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at sunset from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Starlink 8-1 mission on April 6, 2024. Image: SpaceX
For a second time this year, SpaceX is preparing to launch another batch of Starlink satellites that support its Direct to Cell capability. The six spacecraft are among the 21 total satellites which launched on Saturday, April 6, from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Webb Sees a Galaxy Awash in Star Formation
Since it began operations in July 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has fulfilled many scientific objectives. In addition to probing the depths of the Universe in search of galaxies that formed shortly after the Big Bang, it has also provided the clearest and most detailed images of nearby galaxies. In the process, Webb has provided new insight into the processes through which galaxies form and evolve over billions of years. This includes galaxies like Messier 82 (M82), a “starburst galaxy” located about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
The Stellar Demolition Derby in the Centre of the Galaxy
The region near the Milky Way’s centre is dominated by the supermassive black hole that resides there. Sagittarius A*’s overwhelming gravity creates a chaotic region where tightly packed, high-speed stars crash into one another like cars in a demolition derby.
A New Map Shows the Universe’s Dark Energy May Be Evolving
At the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, an instrument with 5,000 tiny robotic eyes scans the night sky. Every 20 minutes, the instrument and the telescope it’s attached to observe a new set of 5,000 galaxies. The instrument is called DESI—Dark Energy Survey Instrument—and once it’s completed its five-year mission, it’ll create the largest 3D map of the Universe ever created.
11 Things to Take With You the Day of the Solar Eclipse
You might have your eclipse-viewing plans all worked out, but have you thought about all the other things you might need?
A stellar role for ESA
Launched on 21 February 2024 on Apple TV+, new original series Constellation has gripped viewers with its mix of sci-fi and mind-bending mystery.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 5 – 14
Venus and Jupiter may shine through the blue sky during the April 8th solar eclipse even if the eclipse for you is only deep partial. After dark, Orion walks down in the southwest.
Earth from Space: Victoria, Australia
Image: This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image features part of Victoria, a state in southeast Australia.
Astro Chat with Pablo Álvarez Fernández | ESA Explores podcast
Video: 00:29:37
Pablo Álvarez Fernández, one of ESA's five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, shares his experiences in astronaut training, his favourite lessons, and his view on the future of space exploration. Also, stay tuned to hear his favourite space-related quote and movie!
SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the Starlink 6-47 mission on Friday, April 5, 2024. Image: Spaceflight Now
Update 5:12 a.m. EDT: SpaceX launched the Starlink 6-47 mission.
3D-bioprinted blood vessel
Image: 3D-bioprinted blood vessel
NASA unveils three teams to compete for crewed lunar rover demonstration mission
NASA awarded contracts for three companies and their teams to move into the feasibility phase of developing options for a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). Renderings: Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, Astrolab
NASA selected three companies to move forward with developing crewed, unpressurized rovers capable of operating on the Moon’s South Pole on Wednesday.
Where to Watch the Total Solar Eclipse Online
Watch the total solar eclipse — alongside interviews with scientists and astronauts — with these livestreams.
What Will the Sun's Corona Look Like During Totality?
The eclipse is coming up, and already scientists have predicted the appearance of the solar corona on the big day.
Awe in the Shadow of a Partial Eclipse
A partial eclipse — Eclipse Lite, if you will — can also offer a sense of wonder, albeit on a smaller scale than totality.
