At 8:00pm, you will find the Moon overhead in the constellation Gemini. Tonight, the Moon will exhibit a waxing gibbous phase with 57% of the lunar disk illuminated.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 21, 2021
On this date in 1965, Ranger 9, an unmanned lunar probe, was intentionally crashed into the moon, broadcasting its descent back to earth. Millions of Americans followed the spacecraft’s descent and impact via real time television coverage; later, when the images were shown to the press as a continuous-motion movie, astronaut Wally Schirra yelled ‘bail… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: March 19 – March 26, 2021
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, March 19, 2021. 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
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 20, 2021
Today marks the start of spring or the day called the Vernal Equinox. On this day, each year the Sun’s apparent path in the sky reaches its ascending node. This is the point in which the Sun’s apparent path crosses the celestial equator heading northward. After today, day will be longer than night as we… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 19, 2021
In 1965 on this date, the Soviet spacecraft Voskhod 2 returned from orbit. Carrying two cosmonauts, Pavel Belyayev and Alexei Leonov, the craft ‘went long,’ landing far beyond its original planned location. Due to this, the crew spent two nightmarish nights in deep woods, surrounded by wolves. Read their harrowing story, written by Alexei Leonov… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 18, 2021
The Moon reaches apogee today. This is when it is at its greatest distance from Earth. When the moon passes in front of the Sun near apogee, an annular solar eclipse occurs. The next annular eclipse visible from the US occurs on October 14, 2023. Unfortunately, St. Louis will only see a partial eclipse that… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 17, 2021
On this date in 1958, Vanguard 1 became the second artificial satellite successfully placed in Earth orbit by the United States. It was the first solar-powered satellite; although now non-functional, it continues to orbit the Earth today. Read an article about Vanguard 1 at Astronomy Magazine’s website here.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 16, 2021
Earth is the largest rocky planet in our solar system. It is 11 times smaller than Jupiter, and 109 times smaller than our Sun.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 15, 2021
In 1932 on this date, Alan LaVerne ‘Al’ Bean was born. As a test pilot from 1963 to 1981, he flew two spaceflights for a total of 69.7 days in space and was the fourth person to walk on the moon. Read his official NASA biography here.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 14, 2021
Daylight Saving Time begins today. This means we are now 5 hours behind universal time (UT). When calculating times for astronomical events subtract 5 hours from times posted in UT. Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada, became the first town to implement the use of Daylight Saving Time in 1908.