November 13 – Total Solar Eclipse

Posted on October 29, 2012 by

There are moments and events that remain forever etched in our minds. The way to determine if an event qualifies for this category is that the person can accurately recall the date and time that the event occurred many years later. One such event is a total solar eclipse.
People who have witnessed a total solar eclipse use many superlatives in describing this occurrence. On November 13, people living in Northern Australia and New Zealand will have the opportunity to witness this spectacle firsthand. Continue reading →

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December 3 – Jupiter At Opposition

Posted on October 28, 2012 by

Astronomy lovers will enjoy the spectacle that will unfold on December 3. This is the time that Jupiter comes in opposition to the sun. When a planet reaches opposition, it means that it is not only the brightest that it will be throughout the entire year, but this is also the time that it will be the closest to earth. On this day, Jupiter will have a distance of 4.0688 AU (Astronomical Unit) from earth and 5.0544 AU from the sun. One AU is equal to 149,598,000 kilometers. Continue reading →

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November 27- Conjunction Of Venus And Saturn

Posted on October 28, 2012 by

For those who have a fascination with either Venus or Saturn, you will have a treat when both are seen together On November 27, 2012. Star gazers will want to pay particular attention on this day as Venus and Saturn appear to almost touch in the nighttime sky. Known as a conjunction, this means that the two planets will be within one degree of each other. This event is also known as an appulse. This conjunction will occur at 05:14:02 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time). Continue reading →

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November 28 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Posted on September 29, 2012 by

The penumbral lunar eclipse is scheduled to occur on November 28, 2012. This lunar eclipse will be the second one of its kind of 2012, with the other one being the partial lunar eclipse on June 4. This eclipse will be one among the four eclipses that will occur this year. Continue reading →

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October 21, 22 – Orionids Meteor Shower

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

The Orionids meteor shower is a prolific event that is best observed on October 21 and 22. This meteor shower is just one of the meteor showers associated with the Halley Comet. Another meteor shower associated with the comet is the Eta Aquarids, which peaks in May. Continue reading →

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November 17, 18 – Leonids Meteor Shower

Posted on September 23, 2012 by

The Leonids meteor shower, scheduled to take place on November 17 -18, is one of the most prolific meteor showers you will see in your lifetime. This shower originates from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle. To many meteors lovers, the month of November is of significant importance because it is associated with the return of the Leonids meteor shower. Continue reading →

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September 29 – Uranus At Opposition

Posted on August 29, 2012 by

On September 29, 2012, the planet Uranus will be considered to be “close” to the planet earth. The distance separating the two planets only will be 19.1 AU (1 AU equals approximately 150 million kilometers). This makes the planet Uranus well placed for observation as it lies in the constellation Pisces well above the horizon. Uranus will be at exact opposition with the sun at 7.01 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time). Continue reading →

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Time lapse video from the ISS

Posted on August 19, 2012 by

The name of this website is look at stars – but the opposite direction is very beautiful, too:
A look from the ISS in a stunning time lapse video makes Galileo Galileis quote true:

If you could see the earth illuminated when you were in a place as dark as night, it would look to you more splendid than the moon

The video has a completely different view on auroras and lightnings as well as all the brightly illuminated cities (well this is probably something that Galileo did not anticipate…

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Color photo of Mars surface

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

If you are not afraid of very large image files (this one is over 9MB large), have a look at this high-resolution picture that the recently landed curiosity rover sent to earth:
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA16051.jpg
It is the first high resolution pic that Curiosity took, and shows the sourroundings of the rover’s landing site in Gale Crater on Mars.
Don’t ask me what is behind the black bars – maybe NASA had to censor the little green men 😉
No, seriously: The picture is a mosaic and is stitched from many single pictures that the rover took and has already sent to earth. The black spots are missing pictures that are yet to be sent to earth – the picture will then be completed…

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August 24 – Neptune At Opposition

Posted on July 28, 2012 by

The blue planet of Neptune will be considered at close proximity to earth on August 24, 2012. However, to view this planet during this time you will need a strong telescope. Even though the planet will be the largest and brightest object in the night sky, it will still only appear as a small blue dot unless commercial-grade equipment is utilized. Continue reading →

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