Tonight at 10 pm, you will find the constellation Scorpius in the south. The bright orangish red star in the constellation is called Antares. This is an example of a red super giant star.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: July 1, 2021
On this date in 1955, two successful ‘Rockoon’ launches were conducted. Two ‘Loki’ rockets, supplied by US Army Ordnance, were lifted on balloons from shipboard off the coast of Greenland; at altitude, they were remotely fired and launched into space. The rockets were a part of cosmic ray studies by a State University of Iowa… Continue reading
Artifact of the Week: Smithsonite
Smithsonite is a mineral ore of zinc which typically forms as a globular mass instead of as crystals. This particular specimen has a bluish-green appearance due to copper impurities. The mineral smithsonite was named in honor of English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Institution, who first identified the mineral in… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 30, 2021
Today is the 181st day of the year. Our year is 365.2421 days long. Compare that to Pluto, which takes 248 years to orbit the Sun.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 29, 2021
On this date in 1971, the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 11 returned from orbit. When the hatch was opened, however, it was found that the crew had perished due to a loss of cabin atmosphere. A pressure equalization valve had opened prematurely during re-entry, causing the loss of all three cosmonauts: Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 27, 2021
In 1960 on this date, a decision was made to choose one Mercury production spacecraft for extensive ground testing as a complement to the Mercury reliability program. The test environment would involve vacuum, heat, and vibration conditions. This test series was later designated ‘Project Orbit.’
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 26, 2021
Tonight you can find the Big Dipper high in the Norwest by 9:30 pm. The Big Dipper is an asterism that is part of the constellation known as Ursa Major.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 25, 2021
On this date in 1894, Hermann Julius Oberth, the “Father of German Spaceflight,” was born. His seminal 1923 book, outlining the mathematic principles of rocketry and space travel, provided the basis for the space craze in Germany, leading to the V-2 and Wernher von Braun’s rocket team. You can read NASA’s official biography of Oberth… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: June 24, 2021
Full moon occurs today at 1:40 pm. The full moon for June is often called the Strawberry Moon. Tomorrow the Moon reaches perigee which is when it is nearest the Earth and will appear about 14% larger than it appears at apogee.
Artifact of the Week: Carriage Lamp
This solid brass lamp is called the “Neverout Insulated Kerosene Safety Lamp.” Patented by Rose Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, it was made for a horse or horseless carriage, bicycle, or early automobile. It has a large clear magnifying front lens and two jeweled ruby red lenses that could be seen from behind and from the… Continue reading