February 23, 2023 Tonight at 10 pm the Big Dipper will be found high in the northeastern sky. Contrary to popular thought, this famous pattern is not a constellation but rather is an asterism. It is known by many other names such as, The Drinking Gourd, The Great Plough, Buruj Biduk, and Náhookòs Bi’kà’. The… Continue reading
Postage Stamp
Postage Stamp – First Day of Issue, 1993 This week in honor of Black History Month, we are celebrating research chemist Percy Lavon Julian. Part of the Black Heritage series, the US Postal Service issued this stamp to honor his pioneering work synthesizing medical compounds from plants. He developed cortisone for arthritis, a drug to… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 22, 2023
February 22, 2023 Today at 4 pm, the Moon will pass 1.2° south of Jupiter. While it will be possible to see a thin crescent Moon at this time, the closest pass occurs during the day, and Jupiter will not be visible. It is however possible to see the Moon and Jupiter near each other… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 21, 2023
February 21, 2023 Today at noon, Neptune appears 2° north of the Moon. Tomorrow morning at 2 am, Venus will appear 2° north of the Moon. Unfortunately, the lunar appulse with Neptune occurs during the day, and the lunar appulse with Venus occurs when both bodies are below the horizon. However, it is possible to… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 20, 2023
February 20, 2023 Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a massive, hurricane-like storm. This particular storm most likely formed in the 1870s. Transformations of this storm have been observed throughout its existence. The Great Red Spot changes size over time and grows and shrinks as it interacts with other storms in Jupiter’s atmosphere. The color of… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: February 17 – 25, 2023
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, February 17, 2023. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Standard Time (CST). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 19, 2023
February 19, 2023 A new moon occurs tomorrow morning at 1 am. The Moon also reached perigee – it’s closest point to Earth – at 3 am this morning. During the full and new moon phases, the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun align to create larger “spring” tides on Earth. When perigee and… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 18, 2023
February 18, 2023 On this date in 1930, Clyde Tombaugh, a young astronomer from Kansas, discovered Pluto. Although Tombaugh had no formal education, he was hired by Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona to photograph the sky and hunt for the ninth planet. Less than 1 year into his search he succeeded in discovering Pluto. When… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023 Tomorrow afternoon the Moon and Mercury will pass within 4° of each other. As the Moon is almost at new phase and Mercury is very close to the Sun, this pass will not be visible. However, it may be possible to see both the Moon and Mercury in the southeastern sky tomorrow… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 17, 2023
February 17, 2023 Tomorrow afternoon the Moon and Mercury will pass within 4° of each other. As the Moon is almost at new phase and Mercury is very close to the Sun, this pass will not be visible. However, it may be possible to see both the Moon and Mercury in the southeastern sky tomorrow… Continue reading