Tonight is the first full moon of the year. The moon phase was what many relied on to keep time. Unfortunately, a calendar based on the cycle of moon phases comes up 11 days short of the 365.24-day year we currently observe. This type of year is solar based, and it tracks the cycle of… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 27, 2021
In 1967 on this date, the crewmembers of Apollo 1 — Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee — were killed in a fire during equipment testing inside their capsule. The original mission was still weeks away from launch. A very concise page about the event, along with links to extensive… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 26, 2021
A day on Mercury is complicated. One full rotation of Mercury on its axis takes 58.6 Earth days. This is a sidereal day, or one rotation with respect to the stars. To go from one sunrise to the next takes 176 Earth days; officially, a day on Mercury is twice as long as its year.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 25, 2021
On this date in 1964, NASA launched Echo 2, a passive communications satellite. Effectively a simple aluminum-mylar balloon, Echo 2, like its predecessor Echo 1, acted as a simple reflector, allowing other weather and communications satellites to bounce their signals to various points on the globe. A concise summary of the Echo program may be… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 24, 2021
A year on Mercury lasts 88 Earth days. For every Earth year, Mercury will complete just over four orbits of the Sun.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 23, 2021
In 1965 on this date, the Department of Defense requested proposals for the design and development of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). The MOL program was intended as a manned reconnaissance satellite, supporting national defense. However, the MOL program was canceled in June, 1969 without any crewed missions being flown. A good overview article about… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: January 22 – January 30, 2020
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, January 22, 2020. 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: January 22, 2021
Mercury will reach greatest eastern elongation tomorrow. The 23rd will be the best day to see Mercury in is current evening apparition. Look for Mercury in the east about 30 minutes after sunset.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 21, 2021
On this date in 1960, a rhesus monkey, ‘Miss Sam,’ was launched aboard a Mercury spacecraft, Mercury Little Joe-1B. Thirty minutes after launch, ‘Miss Sam’ returned to Earth, and all test objectives were successfully fulfilled. A highly detailed summary of the Little Joe test launches may be found here.
Astronomy Fact of the Day: January 20, 2021
Today the Moon reaches first quarter phase. The terminator is the line that separates night and day on the on the Moon. The best details are always seen along this line due to shadows adding contrast. Grab some binoculars and scan the terminator for some amazing lunar features. The Moon and Mars will also be… Continue reading