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Why does the sun rise due east and set due west at the equinox?
At the equinox, the sun is on the celestial equator. And the celestial equator intersects all of our horizons at points due east and due west.
September 22, 2013
Typhoon Usagi batters Philippines and Taiwan
Categorized on Thursday as a "super typhoon" at its peak, Usagi is the strongest cyclone so far in 2013. It's expected to weaken before striking Hong Kong on Sunday.
September 21, 2013
View from space: Greeley, Colorado before and after the flood
On September 20, Colorado's Office of Emergency Management reported the floods had impacted 17 counties, leaving 7 dead with 104 missing and more than 16,000 damaged homes.
September 20, 2013
New rat genus discovered in the birthplace of the theory of evolution
A prominent tuft of spiny hair on the back, a white tail tip and three pairs of teats represent the unique set of characteristics describing a new genus of rat which has been discovered in the Moluccan province of Indonesia.
September 20, 2013
Best photos of past Harvest Moons
Gallery of favorite photos of the Harvest Moon from friends on Facebook and Google+. Thank you all for posting. Shine on, Harvest Moon!
September 20, 2013
As ocean warms, Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier thaws
“I think it is fair to say that the largest potential sea level rise signal in the next century is going to come from this area.” - Martin Truffer
September 19, 2013
Four facts: Arctic sea ice extent in 2013
There was more Arctic sea ice this summer than last. That is true. And yet 2013's summertime Arctic ice melt was still greater than the long-term average.
September 19, 2013
What is Earth’s habitable lifetime?
Habitable conditions on Earth will be possible for at least another 1.75 billion years, according to astrobiologists at the University of East Anglia.
September 19, 2013
How birds got their wings
Birds split from dinosaurs when their front limbs got longer and their back limbs got shorter, according to new research.
September 18, 2013
Today’s worst watershed stresses may become the new normal
“By midcentury, we expect to see less reliable surface water supplies in several regions of the United States,” said the study’s lead author, Kristen Averyt.
September 18, 2013
