Type: Astronomy Fact of the Day

In 1970 on this date, Apollo 13 launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying James Lovell, Jim Swigert and Fred Haise. Although Apollo 13 was slated to be the United States’ third lunar landing mission, it was aborted mid-flight after the service module oxygen tank ruptured. Still, the mission was classified as a “successful failure” because of… Continue reading →

By 9:30pm tonight the constellation Orion the Hunter is getting low in the southwestern sky.  If you keep track of Orion through April, you will find he starts to set earlier each week.  Get your looks in now before we lose Orion to the Sun’s glare. Please practice responsible social distancing when you go outside… Continue reading →

On this date in 1959, NASA announced the seven pilots selected for the Mercury program.  This group, known as the “Mercury Seven,” included (front row, l to r): Wally Schirra, Deke Slayton, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, (back row, l to r): Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom and Gordon Cooper.

Today full moon for the month of April occurs.  This month full moon occurs about 8 hours after the moon reaches perigee.  Perigee is the point in which the moon is at its closest to the earth.  You can find the moon rising in the east as the sun sets. Please practice responsible social distancing… Continue reading →

In 1990 on this date, Asiasat I, the first Chinese satellite was launched. The satellite, put into geosynchronous orbit, supplied satellite telecommunication services and transmission of television signals. Learn more about AsiaSat 1

Tonight you can find the asteroid 4 Vesta in the constellation Taurus the Bull.  Vesta was one of two objects visited by the Dawn spacecraft.  The other was the dwarf planet Ceres. Please practice responsible social distancing when you go outside to observe.

On this date in 1894, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was born. He would become the leader of the Soviet Union from 1956 to 1964. During his time in office Sputnik 1 was launched an act that kick started the space race.

Tonight around 10 pm the constellation Virgo will be visible in the southeast. Virgo is one of the 12/13 zodiac constellations. The Sun, Moon and planets will all pass through this constellation. Please practice responsible social distancing when you go outside to observe.

A great way to keep up with what NASA is doing is to watch a free resource called NASA TV. You can find the channel streaming at https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv#public

In 1958 on this date, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a message to Congress, proposed the establishment of a National Aeronautics and Space Agency into which the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics would be absorbed. Learn more about NASA