Jan 27, 2010 9:00 AM Venus and Jupiter are often in the spotlight in the night sky because they are always bright and beautiful when they are out. However, for the next few days, take a look at what Mars has to offer! A beautiful sight, one that may not be this fabulous for many years! The Red Planet is an easy target to find…it's that bright, orangey spot. It's been rising in the east soon after sunset, highest in the sky around midnight. The reason why it is such an especially wonderful sight now is that Earth is having a close encounter...at its closest to Mars as it will be for the next several years. In fact, the night of the 27th, Mars will be about 61 million miles away. Mars has been as close as 35 million miles (in 2003), so this close encounter won't be THE closest, but still great. Mars will also be at its brightest for the year over the next few days, so take it all in! Enjoy! Maria LaRosa CBS3 Jan 22, 2010 8:57 AM As expected, the comet on a crash-course did not survive its close-encounter with the Sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) caught its final moments in this video clip: http://spaceweather.com/images2010/21jan10/stereoa_comet_anim2.gif?PHPSESSID=v2ulbj24f8n2d5nci9g284fru2
Maria LaRosa CBS3 Jan 21, 2010 7:34 AM
The only thing that stays the same is that things are always changing, right? We see that all the time in space, too. Stars that seem like permanent fixtures in the sky will, someday, explode…including our Sun (lovely thought, right?). Even whole galaxies can smash into each other! Well, we're going to get the chance to witness such a change, though less dramatic and cataclysmic (for us, at least!).
A comet is on a crash-course with the Sun and will soon be eaten up by our favorite fireball. This is not all that uncommon, but we will be able to get a rare glimpse of its date with destiny. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has its sights set on the comet and the Sun, and cameras are rolling!
Take a look at the latest view of this comet before it disappears with this really cool movie clip from SOHO (that bright spot on the movie is Venus, the small, slow-moving bright spot approaching the sun is the comet).
http://spaceweather.com/images2010/20jan10/cometstereo_c3_anim.gif?PHPSESSID=vdg4fvfpgrmfm15lr2tusdmcq0
Stay tuned for updates from SOHO.
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Dec 30, 2009 10:37 AM If you can handle the winter chill, this time of year offers up many sky-watching joys. Aside from good visibility (when the air is dry, as it is very often in the winter, the lack of moisture means a nice, crisp view without humidity getting in the way), there are some wonderful constellations dominating the sky and easily found with a telescope or binoculars. One of my favorites, and one that has fascinated me since I was little, is Orion, The Hunter. Easily identified by its three stars neatly lined up in a row (his belt), it hides even more interesting targets. For example, to the lower-left of his belt, you will find a 'fuzzy star.' This is actually the famous Orion Nebula, an area of intense star formation. This part of space is one of the most photographed and studied parts of the sky. Although it seems constellations have been and will always be around forever, they won't. Although Orion is one of the more 'stable' constellations, stars are drifting, galaxies are moving, so Orion eventually won't look exactly like Orion does today. How long? Well, much longer than it matters to us, but if you're counting, some scientists say that in about 12,000 years, Orion won't be visible to us in the Northern Hemisphere. It could also lose a few stars…supernovas! Scientists say Orion's right shoulder star, Betelgeuse, is large enough that it could explode in the next few thousand years. Better hurry up and check him out, then! Maria LaRosa CBS3 Dec 21, 2009 10:38 AM
Just in case the weather this weekend didn't clue you in, winter has arrived, at least according to the calendar.
Officially known as the winter solstice, this day marks the moment when the Earth's tilt is farthest away from the Sun. This instant happens today, December 21, at 12:47 eastern time. After this instant, you can count on our days gradually lengthening again. By the end of December, the sun will set 4 minutes later…and we're now that much closer to summer!
Speaking of summer, this solstice marks the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Lucky Ausies!
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Nov 30, 2009 12:20 PM
A 'blue moon' is the name given to the second full moon when 2 full moons happen in the span of 1 month. It doesn't occur often, you could say it happens 'once in a blue moon,' but lucky us, we will get one this year!
The first full moon is on December 2nd. The second, 'blue moon,' happens on the 31st…doubly special since it is New Year's Eve! Perhaps this bodes well for 2010?
In case you are wondering when this might happen again…not until August of 2012 (blue moons occur about once every 2 to 3 years). After that, you will have to wait until July of 2015.
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Nov 24, 2009 11:17 AM
The closest I have ever been to flying into Space (or will be, I suspect) was when I rode the "Mission to Mars" ride at Disney World (I stayed an unnatural shade of gray for most of the day after that ride…I apparently do not have the stomach to be an astronaut, unfortunately). However, thanks to NASA TV, you can get an INCREDIBLE view of what it must be like to launch into space.
NASA has several cameras hooked up to the shuttle, and the most recent launch (space shuttle Atlantis) is no different. From take-off to when the boosters hit the ocean (it really is incredible video…you see the ocean rush towards the rocket and you see it splash down…so cool!), you get several different perspectives of the whole process. I am so amazed at how quickly yet gradually the shuttle goes from the blue skies of Earth to the dark blackness of space, and you see that transition happen. Check it out for yourself: click on the link, scroll down a bit, and click on "STS-129 Booster Camera Video."
Visit: http://www.nasa.gov/#
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Nov 18, 2009 6:41 AM
Space Shuttle Atlantis will be docking with the International Space Station today. Talk about a sight to behold! You could catch a glimpse of this bright duo soaring over your neighborhood! Click on the link and enter your zip and find out when you can see a stunning flyby:
http://spaceweather.com/flybys/?PHPSESSID=tubfegm2kraom3q71dlu3ur3h2
A few years back, I caught an ISS flyby and it was awesome! Imagine a Jupiter or Venus-type bright spot smoothly sailing across the sky. No blinking lights, so you know it's not a plane. Really cool! Definitely appointment-worthy. Good luck and let me know if you catch a glimpse of it!
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Nov 4, 2009 8:44 AM
It's time for the Taurid meteor shower!
This long-lasting shower (November 5-12) is not known for producing a ton of meteors per hour, but is known for tons of space drama…a few big, bright fireballs! Nothing like seeing a slow-moving, sparkling ball of fire streak across the sky!
It is this time of year when the Earth passes through the dust cloud left behind during Comet 2P/Encke's trip around the Sun. The resulting meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus (hence, the meteor shower's name). The viewing conditions will not be ideal the next 2 days, but by Friday, if you brave the chilly November air, you might be rewarded with a spectacular light show. Tonight, towards midnight, the constellation Taurus will be near the Moon, close to the constellation Orion (an easier find due to its signature belt of 3 bright stars in a line).
Maria LaRosa
CBS3 Nov 2, 2009 7:49 AM
We are about 7 weeks away from Winter (I hear the collective booos out there!), but one planet is entering its Spring season…Mars. And now is the best time to see what a Martian winter has to offer through a telescope---a blue ice cap!!
Mars' seasonal ice caps are made up mostly of frozen CO-2. This gives the northern polar ice cap a nice blue hue. It quickly fade with the warmer Spring sunshine, so if you have the opportunity to check it out, do it! And let me know if you see anything.
By the way, Mars will be up above the eastern horizon late, but it's also very bright right now. By the end of the month, it will be in the top 5 brightest spots of light in the sky.
In other space news: there's a full moon tonight. November's name? The Frosty Moon! Enjoy!
Maria LaRosa
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