A Case of Cometosis
Every so often I get this affliction I’ve had several times in my life, and hope to have several more times in the future. It’s called “cometosis”.
Every so often I get this affliction I’ve had several times in my life, and hope to have several more times in the future. It’s called “cometosis”.
Discover how to locate the Pleiades star cluster, known as Matariki in New Zealand, during June’s pre-dawn skies. This guide offers step-by-step instructions to help you spot this celestial gem, marking the Māori New Year, and provides insights into its significance and visibility during this time of year.
Party Time – Astronomy Style!
So you want to invite some friends over and you need a theme for your party. Why not make it as big as the universe, and take your guests on a view of the cosmos? It’s fun, it’s easy, and you don’t need a degree in the finer points of astrophysics (although that could be a hoot as well). The goal is for everyone to have a good time and not necessarily to earn three college credits in astronomy when the night is done. So let’s get started.
(And we can do something about it.)
Life needs CHNOPS, the six essential elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur. Curiosity found them on ancient Mars, but a new study shows Earth was born without them. Only a lucky impact with Theia made our world habitable. In contrast, Venus never stood a chance. Meet the three planetary siblings and discover why only Earth became a cradle for life.
Mars’s mantle contains ancient fragments up to 4km wide from its formation—preserved like geological fossils from the planet’s violent early history.
Cosmic rays are hitting the atmosphere constantly. One of the products of the collisions is muons, and we can detect muons on the surface of the Earth to learn about the cosmic rays.
NGC6025 is an beautiful open cluster close to Beta Trianguli Australis in Triangulum Australe. Visible with binoculars and great in a telescope, well worth a look.
From ancient climate changes caused by our solar system’s galactic road trip to NASA’s dishwasher-sized Moon explorer and Australia launching Vegemite into space, this month’s space roundup has it all. Plus, if you ever need to call ET, the 21 cm hydrogen signal might be your best bet! And did you know rogue planets aren’t necessarily kicked-out exiles? They might actually form on their own. 🚀🌍✨
NASA’s Europa Clipper is using Mars as a cosmic slingshot to get a speed boost on its journey to Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. While zipping past at 884 km, scientists will test its instruments before it heads off on its 2.9-billion-kilometr trek. But Europa isn’t the only icy world making waves—new data suggests Jupiter’s Callisto also has a hidden ocean, and Saturn’s Enceladus has a mushy zone under its ice shell that might be hiding alien microbes. Beyond the frost line, the search for life is heating up! 🚀❄️👽
Mars isn’t just a rusty desert—it’s a rusty, once-beachy desert! 🌊🔴 Scientists have discovered that Mars’ red color might come from wet rust, not dry oxidation, hinting at a past with more water than we thought. Meanwhile, China’s Zhurong rover has uncovered ancient Martian shorelines, suggesting liquid water stuck around for longer—which means more time for potential alien microbes to evolve. And where did all that water go? New research shows Mars’ soil can trap and hold water, preserving ice beneath the surface. Could this hidden water still support life? 🚀🔬
Star cluster and nebulae survey lists and astronomy observation catalogues are essential for finding cool things to look at or photograph. Imagine seeing a neat
Binoculars are ideal in February for observing the night sky, especially Orion’s Sword and clusters such as M44 and the Vela Carina Crux region and some fantastic deep sky features.
Matariki is visible to the unaided eye in the pre-dawn sky from mid to late June each year. Its heliacal rising—occurring around the winter solstice—combined with a specific lunar phase signals the Māori New Year. However, much like Ramadan, Easter, and the Chinese and Indian New Years, the date varies annually based on astronomical and lunar cycles.
The interpretation of Matariki and the number of stars traditionally associated with it varies across different iwi (tribes) and regions. However, the actual number of stars in the cluster is far greater than these cultural interpretations suggest.
The Seven Sisters, known as Matariki in Aotearoa and the Pleiades in Greek mythology, have been a source of fascination for thousands of years. While many cultures describe seven stars, today, most people can only see six with the naked eye.
A groundbreaking study suggests that the myth of the Seven Sisters may be one of the oldest stories in human history, dating back 100,000 years. This shared legend appears in Greek, Indigenous Australian, and other global traditions, possibly carried by early humans as they migrated from Africa. The study proposes that Pleione, once brighter, may have faded over time, explaining why one of the seven stars is now missing.
Could this ancient myth be an early form of scientific observation? Explore the celestial mystery of Matariki and the lost sister of the Pleiades.
In mid-April 2024, the Pleiades disappeared behind the blaze of the Sun. We watched them every night from Star Safari until we could see them
This comet was visible in 2024, first in the northern hemisphere and then in the southern hemisphere. We observed it and in our 16″ telescope it looked like a tribble.
(And we can do something about it.)
Life needs CHNOPS, the six essential elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulphur. Curiosity found them on ancient Mars, but a new study shows Earth was born without them. Only a lucky impact with Theia made our world habitable. In contrast, Venus never stood a chance. Meet the three planetary siblings and discover why only Earth became a cradle for life.
Mars’s mantle contains ancient fragments up to 4km wide from its formation—preserved like geological fossils from the planet’s violent early history.
Cosmic rays are hitting the atmosphere constantly. One of the products of the collisions is muons, and we can detect muons on the surface of the Earth to learn about the cosmic rays.
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