March 3, 2022 On this date in 1972, the American probe Pioneer 10 launched using a three-stage version of the Atlas-Centaur which included a TE-M-364-4 solid propellant engine modified from the Surveyor lander. The probe reached a maximum escape velocity of 32,110 miles per hour (51,682 kilometers per hour), which made it the fastest human-made… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 2, 2022
March 2, 2022 Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It is approximately 87,000 mi (140,000 km) in diameter, while Earth is only 8,000 miles (12,800 km) across. The giant storm on Jupiter, commonly known as the Great Red Spot, could easily fit the entire Earth inside of it. Over 1,300 Earths could… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022 On this date in 1980, the Soviet spacecraft Venera 13 landed on the surface of Venus and transmitted the first color images from the surface of another planet. Additionally, the spacecraft was equipped with a microphone to record atmospheric noises, and the recordings sent back were the first audio recordings from another… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 28, 2022
February 28, 2022 The constellation Triangulum is visible tonight in the southwest at 8:30 pm CST. Although small and not particularly bright, this group of stars has been grouped together by many cultures throughout history. It has been said to represent several different things, including the Nile Delta, the holy trinity, and the island of… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 27, 2022
February 27, 2022 On this date in 2007, the Cassini spacecraft completed a flyby of Saturn’s moon Titan. Christiaan Huygens discovered this moon in 1655 and named it Saturni Luna – Latin for “moon of Saturn”. Titan was only the 6th moon ever discovered after our own and the four Galilean moons of Jupiter. It… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 26, 2022
February 26, 2022 The moon is moving farther away from Earth, at a rate of about 1 in (2.54 cm) every year. The gravitational force the moon exerts on the Earth is pulling energy from the Earth’s motion, which slowly pushes the moon further from us. This transfer of energy is also causing both the… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: February 26 – March 5, 2022
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, February 25, 2022. 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
Night Sky Update: February 18 – February 26, 2022
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, February 18, 2022. 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 25, 2022
February 25, 2022 On this date in 1969, NASA’s Mars mission Mariner 6 launched. It reached its closest approach to Mars five months later, on July 31. Both Mariner 6 and its twin mission Mariner 7 flew by the equator and south polar region to analyze the atmosphere and send back images of the surface.… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: February 24, 2022
February 24, 2022 Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun at approximately 30.4 million miles (48.9 million km) which causes the planet to heat up to extreme temperatures. However, because Mercury has little to no atmosphere, it is not able to hold the heat. This means that as day turns to night, temperatures drop… Continue reading