Type: Astronomy Fact of the Day

December 6, 2022 On this date in 2020, the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 returned samples from the asteroid Ryugu. Following landing and sample collection at the asteroid, Hayabusa2 flew back by Earth, where a capsule containing the sample fell and then parachuted to the Earth’s surface. The spacecraft is now on an extended mission to the… Continue reading →

December 5, 2022 Tonight at 9 pm, the bright winter star Sirius is just starting to rise over the east-southeastern horizon. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and is often referred to as the ‘dog star’. The star is in the constellation of Canis Major which means the ‘great dog’. The sky… Continue reading →

December 4, 2022 The visible surface of the sun is called the photosphere. Its temperature is about 10,000 °F, which is what determines the yellowish appearance for us on Earth. The core of the sun has a temperature of roughly 27 million °F.  The high pressure and heat of the core allows nuclear fusion to… Continue reading →

December 3, 2022 Of the eight planets in our solar system, we can see five without the help of a telescope – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Tonight after sunset, it is possible to see Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Mars will be found in the east and Jupiter and Saturn can both be found… Continue reading →

December 2, 2022 On this date in 1990, Toyohiro Akiyama became the first person from Japan to fly in space, the first civilian aboard a commercially funded spaceflight, and the first journalist to report from space. Akiyama was a TV journalist with the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) at the time. It was TBS that sponsored… Continue reading →

December 1, 2022 On this date in 2013, China launched the robotic lunar exploration lander Chang’e 3, with China’s first lunar rover, Yutu-hao (‘jade rabbit’).  Rover Yutu explored its landing area in Mare Imbrium and sent back pictures of the surface of the Moon for several weeks. An image of the Chang’e lander taken by… Continue reading →

November 30, 2022 Astronomical conjunctions occur when two or more celestial bodies share the same right ascension. Tomorrow night at 6:56 pm, the Moon and Jupiter will exhibit a conjunction. At the same time, the two will appear close together in the sky. At their closest, the Moon will pass approximately 2.5° S of Jupiter.… Continue reading →

November 29, 2022 The Earth is on average 93 million miles from the Sun. This distance is often referred to as an astronomical unit (AU). By measuring distances in AUs, it allows scientists to understand the large scale of our solar system more easily. For example, Pluto is approximately 39 AU from the Sun. This… Continue reading →

November 28, 2022 Beginning around sunset this evening at 4:41 pm, it is possible to find the Moon very near Saturn in the southern sky. The Moon will exhibit a waxing crescent phase. At their closest Saturn will appear 4° N of the Moon; however, this will not occur until after they have set below… Continue reading →

November 27, 2022 On this date in 2005, the Japanese probe Hayabusa grazed the surface of the asteroid Itokawa, retrieving material to return to Earth for study. Tiny grains of asteroidal material were returned to Earth aboard the spacecraft in June of 2010. An artist’s interpretation of the Hayabusa probe interacting with the surface of… Continue reading →