To put an object into orbit around the Earth takes an impressive amount of power. You have to punch your way through the lower and thicker parts of the atmosphere, gradually change your direction from vertical to horizontal, and accelerate…
Author: nealsumerlin
Where Does Space Begin?
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic flew its first commercial passengers to space today (June 29, 2023), joining Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. There are significant differences in the achievements of these three billionaire-funded ventures, however. SpaceX is by…
Tagged with: Space Tourism
Four for the Solstice
Four short takes for the 2023 June solstice. 1. Solstice At 10:58 a.m. EDT (14:58 UTC) on June 21st, the Sun will have reached its highest point in the sky as seen from the northern hemisphere, and the lowest point…
Venus
I have often joked that when I am asked a question that begins with “I saw this really bright thing in the sky…” my answer has a 90% chance of being right if I just say “Venus.” It is the…
Tagged with: Venus
The Demotion of Pluto
Poor Pluto! It used to be a planet, and now it’s not. The underdog of the solar system is championed by fourth graders and Boomer traditionalists alike. When I give talks on astronomy, one of the most common questions I…
Meteors and the Earth
Meteor showers both are—and are not—among the most predictable of astronomical events. The Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak at 9:06 p.m. EDT on the night of April 22nd. Why are they predictable? Meteor showers occur when the Earth…
All Types of Solar Eclipses
In August of 2017, many of us in North America witnessed a total solar eclipse, as the path of the moon’s shadow crossed the contiguous United States from coast to coast. In the coming twelve months, there will be three…
Equinox!
On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 5:24 p.m. EDT (21:24 UTC), the sun will cross the equator heading north, signaling the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and fall in the southern hemisphere. Really? The sun only APPEARS to…
Clocks and Calendars on Other Worlds
What time is it on the moon? You may have read that the European Space Agency is proposing that an international organization be responsible for setting and maintaining lunar time. Why might that be necessary? And what’s wrong with good…
Tagged with: timekeeping
Moon Phases and Earth’s Shadow
Quick! Why does the moon go through phases every month? If you answered that it’s because the Earth’s shadow falls on the moon, be sure the volume on your device is turned on before you click below. Back you…
Tagged with: Lunar phases
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