By David Ward A sure sign of spring for stargazers is the Big Dipper rising in the northeast. Look for it standing on its handle as soon as the sky gets dark. Follow the curve of the handle down and to the right towards a bright orange-looking star low in the east. Arcturus is its […]
Astronomy
Looking for real star power? It’s out there
By David Ward Standing outside on a peaceful star-studded winter night, it is impossible for us to comprehend the tremendous raw power of the stars. In the daytime we get a feel for the power of the sun. It is too bright to look at and it will burn our skin if we are not […]
Keep your eye on the moon as January ends
By David Ward If you enjoy being out in the winter moonlight, then put the night of Jan. 30-31 on your calendar. First of all, the moon is full, which happens every 29 days or so. Also, it is a blue moon, meaning that it is the second full moon in a calendar month. That […]
Naked Eye: The clear, cold reality of winter nights: they are great for gazing
We do not have a lot of clear nights this time of year, so if the clouds have parted be sure to take a look up at all the bright stars of winter. Cold weather actually makes for great star gazing, as long as you are not freezing to death out there…
Iridium satellites have a flare for the dramatic
By David Ward Have you ever seen a bright flash in the night sky, brighter than any star and lasting just two or three seconds? If so, you may have witnessed a phenomenon known as an Iridium flare. There are an estimated 3,000 spacecraft orbiting the earth right now. Sixty-six of these belong to a […]
A long look into the night sky
By David Ward They say that on a clear day you can see forever, but on a clear night you can see even farther. Have you ever wondered how far you can see when you look up at the stars at night? It is almost impossible for us to comprehend the vast distances that […]
It’s getting darker, go outside!
By David Ward Does it seem like the days are getting shorter and shorter at an almost alarming rate? If so, you are not just imagining things. Right around the fall equinox, the length of daylight lessens faster that at any other time of year. On Sept. 22 the apparent motion of the sun in […]
The news about neutrinos
By David Ward The universe sounds like a pretty scary place. Galaxies are colliding, stars are exploding and black holes are sucking up stars and planets like giant cosmic vacuum cleaners. All that stuff is far, far away, light years away, right? Here on Earth you are safe. The cosmos cannot touch you here. All […]
Millions prepare for rare solar eclipse
Next Monday, a rare and significant astronomical event will draw millions of Americans to a long strip of geography that cuts a horizontal arc across the heart of the country, from Oregon to South Carolina. This is the range for ideal viewing of what is being billed as the…
Cruising along in a quiet corner of the galaxy
By David Ward It has been called the Backbone of the Night. The Cherokee Indians thought it was cornmeal strewn across the sky by a giant dog. The Greeks believed it to be spilled breast milk from a divine goddess. The philosopher Aristotle insisted it was “the ignition of the fiery exhalation of stars in […]
