Posts by 

Shireen Gonzaga

How a Venus flytrap knows when to shut

A fly, attracted to nectar on a strange leaf shaped like an open clam, is about to have a really bad day. Fly, meet the Venus flytrap.
Brightest Stars

Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to our sun

Our closest stellar neighbors are the 3 stars that are the Alpha Centauri system. They lie just over 4 light-years away (25 trillion miles or 38 trillion km).

Meet the Crab Nebula, remnant of an exploding star

The Crab Nebula, the scattered fragments of a supernova, or exploding star, was observed by earthly skywatchers in the year 1054.

Audubon Christmas Bird Count starts December 14

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count, held each winter, is one of the longest-running community science projects. You can help collect important data about birds.

Mirach is guide star to 3 galaxies

Mirach in the constellation Andromeda helps stargazers locate the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and "Mirach's Ghost" (NGC 404).

See Mira the Wonderful at its brightest

Catch elusive wonderful Mira, a famous variable star in the constellation Cetus, at its maximum brightness in July 2022. Now you see it ... now you don't!

Ruby red Antares is the Scorpion’s Heart

Red Antares, Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation Scorpius, is a mighty star, a red supergiant in the last stages of its life span.

Emperor penguins are good dads

Emperor penguins are some of the most exceptional dads in nature. They endure the harshest winter conditions on Earth for their offspring.

Surtsey, volcanic island, emerged in 1963

On November 14, 1963, volcanic island Surtsey rose from the sea. Scientists have since studied the natural colonization of plants and animals on it.

Delta Cephei helps measure cosmic distances

Delta Cephei is an inconspicuous variable star in the northern constellation Cepheus the King. This star helps establish the cosmic distance scale.