Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 23, 2021

September 23, 2021 Today in 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter began a planned orbital insertion maneuver around Mars. The orbiter went out of radio contact when the spacecraft passed behind Mars and communication was never reestablished. It is believed the spacecraft encountered the planet at a lower than anticipated altitude and was either destroyed in… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 22, 2021

September 22, 2021 The 2021 fall equinox occurs today at 2:14 pm. This occurs when the Sun crosses Earth’s celestial equator at its descending node. After today, the Sun will appear lower in the sky each day until the winter solstice on December 21, 2021. Earth seen during the autumnal equinox by the GOES East… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 21, 2021

September 21, 2021 Today in 1974, the Mariner 10 probe made its second flyby of the planet Mercury. Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to study Mercury and the first mission to explore two planets (Mercury and Venus). More information about NASA’s Mariner 10 mission and its findings about Mercury may be found here.… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 20, 2021

September 20, 2021 Full moon for September occurs today at 6:55 pm. You can find the Moon rising in the east as the Sun sets in the west. September’s full moon is the nearest to the autumnal equinox, which means it is the Harvest Moon for 2021. Harvest Moons are the full moon nearest the… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 19, 2021

September 19, 2021 Today in 1961, NASA announced that location of the new ‘Manned Spacecraft Center’ would be in Houston, Texas. This was the conclusion of an intensive nationwide study by a site selection team. The Manned Spacecraft Center would be the command center for the Apollo lunar-landing missions and all future human spaceflight missions.… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 18, 2021

September 18, 2021 Tonight at 7:30 pm, three planets will be visible to the unaided eye. In the west, you will find Venus. In the southeast, you will find Jupiter and Saturn. By the end of the year, all three planets will be visible in the southwest after sunset. The Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 17, 2021

September 17, 2021 Today in 1976, NASA publicly unveiled the first Space Shuttle prototype during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. Originally to be named Space Shuttle Constitution, the orbiter took the namesake of the famed Star Trek starship USS Enterprise, after President Ford reportedly received thousands of petition signatures from avid Star Trek fans across… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 16, 2021

September 16, 2021 On this date in 1989, Space Shuttle Atlantis began it STS-79 mission docking with the Russian space station Mir. This was the 79th Space Shuttle mission and the 17th flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-79 and view of the Russian space station Mir as Atlantis was undocking.… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 15, 2021

September 15, 2021 Today in 1968, the Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 was launched and later became the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. Zond 5 carried a large biological payload, including two Steppe tortoises. The two tortoises survived their flight around the Moon and were alive upon their return to Earth… Continue reading

Astronomy Fact of the Day: September 14, 2021

September 14, 2021 Today, Neptune reached opposition. Opposition occurs when an astronomical body is nearest the point directly opposite the Sun. This is when they appear their brightest. Neptune can be found in the east rising as the Sun sets. You will need a telescope or large binoculars to see Neptune. Voyager 2 image of… Continue reading