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This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: the Geminid meteor shower

David J. Eicher — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:20:21 +0000

In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the Geminid meteor shower, which will peak during the early morning hours of December 14. The best time to view them is after midnight, but you may see some in the evening hours as well. Get comfortable and look straight overhead for fast moving (and quicklyContinue reading "This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: the Geminid meteor shower"

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Jupiter reaches opposition this weekend: How to see it

Michael E. Bakich — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:43:42 +0000

If you have a telescope, or access to one, now’s the time to point it at Jupiter. The largest planet in our solar system reaches opposition December 7. That means it’s directly opposite the Sun from our viewpoint here on Earth. It rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night. During theContinue reading "Jupiter reaches opposition this weekend: How to see it"

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The Leonid meteor shower: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

David J. Eicher — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:22:01 +0000

In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the what happens when our planet, during its journey around the Sun, runs into a stream of particles in its orbit. Such an event is called a meteor shower, and because the streaks of light from these meteors seem to all come from a point in theContinue reading "The Leonid meteor shower: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is rising higher in the evening sky

Michael E. Bakich — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 21:00:00 +0000

After putting on a show in the predawn sky earlier this month, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) was eventually lost in the glare of the Sun. But now that it has crossed behind the Sun from our point of view, it is emerging in the early evening sky and becoming more visible every night as itContinue reading "Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is rising higher in the evening sky"

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Earth sees strong aurorae Oct. 10 as solar storm hits ‘severe’ G4 level

Korey Haynes — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:25:17 +0000

On Oct. 8, an X-class solar flare gave rise to a coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the surface of the Sun, racing toward Earth at 1.5 million mph (2.4 million km/h). It arrived at Earth at 11:15 a.m. EDT today, Oct. 10. At 12:57 p.m. EDT, the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)Continue reading "Earth sees strong aurorae Oct. 10 as solar storm hits ‘severe’ G4 level"

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Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will soon move into the evening sky

Michael E. Bakich — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:23:42 +0000

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also known by its catalog designation C/2023 A3, is now magnitude 2.2 in the morning sky. But if you’re not an early riser, you can soon rejoice — it will become visible in the evening sky starting Oct. 14. On that date, the comet will be in the far eastern part of theContinue reading "Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will soon move into the evening sky"

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Will a new solar flare produce great northern lights?

Michael E. Bakich — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:01:48 +0000

Solar flares, powerful bursts of energy from our Sun, can have serious effects here on Earth. Flares and other solar eruptions can affect radio communications, disrupt electric power grids, mess up navigation signals like GPS, and pose risks to spacecraft and any astronauts in them. These effects happen because the ionosphere (Earth’s upper atmosphere, fromContinue reading "Will a new solar flare produce great northern lights?"

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An annular solar eclipse: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

David J. Eicher — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:00:31 +0000

In this episode, Dave Eicher invites you to observe the annular eclipse that will occur Oct. 2. Annular eclipses occur when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, in that order. But in this case, the Moon is either too far from Earth (so it appears smaller) or Earth is too close to theContinue reading "An annular solar eclipse: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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Get set for an eclipse on Easter Island

David J. Eicher — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:00:53 +0000

You may not know it, but we’re on the cusp of another solar eclipse. Next Wednesday, October 2, an annular eclipse will take place. Of course, 71 percent of our planet’s surface consists of oceans, and this eclipse will be one that barely touches land. It will be visible entirely from the Pacific Ocean withContinue reading "Get set for an eclipse on Easter Island"

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The Moon meets Venus: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher

David J. Eicher — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 14:45:20 +0000

In this episode, Dave Eicher describes the upcoming conjunction of two bright objects in the evening sky. On October 5th, you’ll see a great pairing of the crescent Moon and Venus very close together in the west. Make sure to get out there right after sunset and look from a location with a clear westernContinue reading "The Moon meets Venus: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher"

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