Type: Astronomy Fact of the Day

On this date in 1965, NASA launched Ranger 8, one in a series of unmanned lunar probes. Ranger probes were intended to take close-up photos of the lunar surface before intentionally crashing into the Moon. Ranger 8 successfully returned 7,137 photos before lunar impact. For a highly detailed description of the flight, its goals and… Continue reading →

On February 18, NASA’s newest Mars rover Perseverance is expected to land in a crater called Jezero. This crater is believed to have once been flooded with water. You can watch a live broadcast from NASA right here, starting at 1:15 pm CST.

In 1935 on this date, Dr. Roger Bruce Chaffee was born. He became an American pilot astronaut from 1963 to 1967. In July of 1967, he died in the Apollo 1 launchpad fire, alongside Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and Edward H. White II.

In December 2020, the radio astronomy world lost one of its great observatories. Due to complications, the Arecibo Radio Telescope collapsed on December 1, 2020, ending its operation. Construction on this giant 305-meter dish was completed in 1963 and for 53 years it was the world’s largest single aperture telescope. Learn more about this great… Continue reading →

On this date in 1961, NASA and McDonnell Aircraft began discussions for development of an advanced Mercury spacecraft. Work on several versions of the spacecraft, ranging from minor modifications to radical redesign, got under way immediately; this spacecraft would be named Mercury Mark II, and later, Gemini.

Tonight at 9 pm, look east to find the zodiac constellation Leo the Lion. Easily identified by its sickle-shaped head, Leo is an indicator that spring will soon be upon us.

In 1952 on this date, Collier’s magazine published papers from the First Symposium on Space Flight, under the title “Man Will Conquer Space Soon.”. This was an important step in the popularization of the idea of manned space flight.

Just like observational astronomy, anyone with an interest can get started in radio astronomy. A great place to begin is at the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA). Radio astronomy opens up a new way to explore the universe and the world around you.

On this date in 1971, Apollo 14 safely returned from the Moon. The Command Module Kitty Hawk splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, about 7 kilometers from the recovery ship USS New Orleans.

Today Mercury reaches a point in its orbit called inferior conjunction. This is when Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun. A few weeks after Inferior conjunction, Mercury will slowly become visible before sunrise as it heads towards greatest elongation.