May 28, 2022 A conjunction of Mars and Jupiter occurs at 7:03 pm today but won’t be visible to us since the sun will still be above the horizon. At the conjunction the two planets would appear just less than 0.5° apart. However, tomorrow morning around 5 am they will still appear very close together.… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 27, 2022
May 27, 2022 Tonight at 10 pm it is possible to see the constellation of Hydra lying along the southeastern horizon. Hydra is one of the official 88 constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. It is the largest constellation in the entire night sky – either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, as it covers… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 26, 2022
May 26, 2022 This evening there is a conjunction of the Moon and Venus, where they will pass within 0.2° of each other in our sky. However, from St. Louis they are below the horizon when this conjunction occurs. It is possible to see the Moon and Venus close together tomorrow morning between approximately 4… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 25, 2022
May 25, 2022 On this date in 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced his intention that the United States “… land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth” by the end of the 1960s. This speech is generally seen as the start of the Apollo program and the Space Race between… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 24, 2022
May 24, 2022 This morning at 5 am, it was possible to see the Moon just 6° N of Mars above the eastern horizon. The official conjunction doesn’t occur until approximately 2 pm today and will not be visible. If you missed the close pairing of the Moon and Mars this morning, tomorrow morning at… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 23, 2022
May 23, 2022 On this date in 1965, the Life Sciences Committee of the National Academy of Sciences’ Space Science Board recommended that NASA quarantine all astronauts returning from the moon for at least three weeks. This was suggested to prevent possible contamination of the Earth by extraterrestrial organisms. Although astronauts no longer quarantine upon… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 22, 2022
May 22, 2022 Tonight at 9:30 am, the bright constellation Cassiopeia appears low on the northern horizon. This evening Cassiopeia appears as a “W” in the sky. However, depending on the time of night and season, this group of stars more closely resemble an “M” as it circles around the North Star. The sky as… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 21, 2022
May 21, 2022 Tomorrow morning at 5 am it is possible to see a conjunction of the Moon and Saturn above the eastern horizon. A conjunction occurs when two planetary bodies appear close together in the sky. The moon will appear approximately 5° South of Saturn. To measure 5° in the sky, hold your three… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022 On this day in 1978, NASA’s orbiter-probe Pioneer Venus launched. Planned primary mission 8 months. The primary goals of the mission were to investigate the solar wind in the Venusian environment, map Venus’ surface, and study the characteristics of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The spacecraft remained in operation until October 8,… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: May 19, 2022
May 19, 2022 Tonight at 8:30 pm, it is possible to see the bright star Sirius about to set above the western horizon. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and seen at its highest during the winter months. As we approach summer, Sirius will appear too close to the Sun and will… Continue reading