April 2, 2022 Today Mercury is in superior conjunction. Superior conjunction occurs when a planet is on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth. This means that the planet, in this case Mercury, will not be visible because it is behind the Sun. The major orbital points of the inferior planets. Tonight, Mercury… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022 On this day in 1899, American engineer James S. McDonnell was born. McDonnell was the president of the St. Louis based McDonnell Aircraft Corporation from 1939 to 1972. In addition to being one of the primary aircraft providers for the U.S. Military, McDonnell Aircraft was contracted to build the Mercury and Gemini… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 31, 2022
March 31, 2022 On this date in 1966, the unmanned Soviet lunar probe Luna 10, was launched toward the Moon from an Earth-orbiting platform. It later entered lunar orbit for 460 lunar orbits and 219 active data transmissions before radio signals were discontinued on May 30, 1966. A diagram showing the stages of the Luna… Continue reading
Star Trek Voyager Comic Book
Capitalizing on the immediate popularity of the television series in 1995, Marvel released a comic book series for Star Trek Voyager in 1996. The comics continue the adventures of the U.S.S. Voyager, and in the tenth issue the crew unexpectedly encounters the Borg! The comic series was short-lived; only fifteen issues were released because of… Continue reading
Hydroponic Transplant
Watch our quick video highlighting how to transplant into a hydroponic system.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 30, 2022
March 30, 2022 Tonight at 9:30, the bright spring star Arcturus is rising above the eastern horizon. This star is the brightest in the constellation of Bootes the Herdsman, and it is red in color. To find Arcturus, follow the arc of the handle of the big dipper to the brightest red star above the… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 29, 2022
March 29, 2022 On this date in 1807, German astronomer Wilhelm Olbers discovered the asteroid Vesta. Vesta is in the asteroid belt and is thought to be the second largest asteroid in this region following Ceres. It was originally considered a planet, but as more asteroids were being discovered it was demoted. Vesta is currently… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 28, 2022
March 28, 2022 This morning the moon, Venus, Saturn, and Mars appeared together in the early morning sky. At sunset on September 8, 2040, the moon and all five of the naked eye planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, will appear together within a 9° patch of sky. A gathering like this will… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 27, 2022
March 27, 2022 Tomorrow morning at 5:45 am it is possible to see the moon, Venus, Saturn, and Mars grouped in a 6° patch of the southeastern sky. These objects will only be visible just before sunrise, which will occur at 6:52 am. These planets and the moon can be found in the constellation of… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: March 25 – April 2, 2022
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, March 25, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading