April 22, 2022 The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight into tomorrow morning. The radiant for this moderate meteor shower is in the constellation Lyra the Harp which rises around 10 pm. Your best views will be after midnight as Lyra climbs higher in the sky. Tomorrow morning the Lyrid meteor shower peaks. The radiant… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 21, 2022
April 21, 2022 Tomorrow kicks off the start of International Dark Sky Week, which aims to bring awareness to the growing problem of light pollution. Not only does light pollution cause problems for observing the night sky, but it also has serious impacts on the natural world around us. Studies have shown negative health impacts… Continue reading
Ammonite Fossil
This is an extinct genus of ammonite called Discoscaphites conradi that lived during the Upper Cretaceous period approximately 72.1 to 66 million years ago. This type of ammonite is commonly found in the Fox Hills geological formation in South Dakota and Wyoming. The colorful iridescent shell is a result of proteins secreted by the ammonite… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 20, 2022
April 20, 2022 Tonight is one of your last chances to catch the winter constellation Orion the Hunter before he is lost in the glare of the sun. This constellation is visible tonight at 9 pm just above the western horizon. Orion will not be visible again in our skies until mid-autumn. The constellation Orion… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 19, 2022
April 19, 2022 On this date in 2006, American naval officer and test pilot Albert Scott Crossfield passed away. While piloting the Skyrocket, an experimental aircraft, Crossfield reached speeds of 1,291 mph (2,078 km/h). As such, he was the first to reach Mach-2, or twice the speed of sound. Crossfield continued flying until his death… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 18, 2022
April 18, 2022 Tomorrow morning at about 5:15 am, just before sunrise, several planets are visible above the eastern horizon. Moving south away from the horizon, it is possible to find Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. These planets will appear approximately 10° from each other in the sky along the path of the ecliptic. Tomorrow… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 17, 2022
April 17, 2022 On this date in 1970, the Apollo 13 command module safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Only 2 days into the mission, an oxygen tank failed, and the mission was cancelled midflight. Instead of landing on the lunar surface as originally planned, the spacecraft looped around the moon and returned to… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 16, 2022
April 16, 2022 Tonight there is a full moon. Many cultures around the world have tracked the movements and phases of the Moon. Often ancient calendars were based off the timing and position of the full moon. We still see some evidence of this in various celebrations today, such as Easter, which is traditionally celebrated… Continue reading
Night Sky Update: April 15 – April 23, 2022
This is the Saint Louis Science Center’s NIGHT SKY UPDATE for the week of Friday, April 15, 2022. Information updated weekly or as needed. Times given as local St. Louis time which is Central Daylight Time (CDT). For definitions of terminology used in the night sky update, click the highlighted text. If relying on times… Continue reading
Astronomy Fact of the Day: April 15, 2022
April 15, 2022 Although Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, it is not the hottest. The daytime side of Mercury can reach temperatures of up to 800°F (426°C). Venus however, rests consistently at temperatures of approximately 900°F (482°C). Venus maintains this hot temperature due to the thick layer of clouds that covers the… Continue reading