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Posts by
Deborah Byrd
The sun is between us and Mars now
So we can't see Mars in our night sky. But, more importantly for NASA, beginning this week, space engineers won't be able to risk sending commands to our fleet of spacecraft at Mars. What happens instead? Watch this video.
August 24, 2019
Scientists detect a black hole swallowing a neutron star
On August 14, gravitational wave detectors in the US and Italy sensed ripples in space-time. Data analysis suggests they came from a black hole engulfing a neutron star, 900 million light-years from Earth. If so ... it's a first-ever detection by earthly scientists.
August 19, 2019
Nieves penitentes and Earth’s shadow
"Nieves penitentes" is Spanish for "penitent-shaped snows." These ice structures form in extreme conditions of high elevation, high solar radiation, low humidity, and dry winds.
August 19, 2019
Arecibo Observatory gets $12.3 million grant
Arecibo in Puerto Rico was completed in 1963. In recent years, it has weathered multiple hurricanes. The emergency supplemental funds - supported by the U.S. Congress - represent an investment in the future of this large, famous and much-loved radio dish.
August 18, 2019
It was cold in Australia last weekend
The August 9-12 weather event in Australia was one of the longest cold stretches and greatest snowfall totals so far in this century, according to climate and atmospheric scientists.
August 16, 2019
Full moon over Carnarvon, Australia
From 1963 until its closure in 1975, the Carnarvon Space Tracking Station supported a range of scientific and exploratory missions as the United States raced to put a man on the moon.
August 15, 2019
Photos from 2019’s Perseid meteor shower
It's a very special group of images of this year's Perseid meteor shower, many taken in bright moonlight. Thanks to all who contributed photos!
August 14, 2019
Astronomers see a new type of pulsating star
At Palomar Observatory near San Diego, a dedicated telescope spends its nights surveying the heavens. A recent analysis of its data revealed 4 stars that change in brightness, over just minutes.
August 13, 2019
Moon halo over Magellan telescope
This sort of halo is called a 22 degree halo by skywatchers. You can see them around both the sun and moon. They're caused by ice crystals in the air. They bear that name because the radius of the ring is always approximately 22 degrees.
August 12, 2019
