What happens during the total lunar eclipse this week? | A simple plan for Einstein's 'spooky action at a distance'? | Space Quiz! What happened in 1504 that explorers used to scare indigenous tribes?
Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version
Hey, Space Fans! And welcome to a new week in space as we all fly through the cosmos on this island Earth. This week, we're starting off with a preview of sorts. A total lunar eclipse is coming on March 13, and our columnist Joe Rao breaks it down on just what to expect. Check it out!
Blood moon lunar eclipses may be creepy, but quantum mechancis is can be "spookier." Now, scientists say there maybe an easier way to recreate the so-called "spooky action at a distance" between subatomic particules by using AI to generate quantum entanglement? Sound like magic? We assure you, it's real science.
While we're still talking a bit about the moon, we finally know what happened to the private Intuitive Machines moon lander during its landing last week. New images from the probe show that it fell over during landing. It tipped on its side inside a moon crater. Unable to generate power, it was declared dead shortly after.
I get, we all need an escape now and then. ANd if you're looking for a streaming deal to help you get your sci-fi fix, then you'll want to consider Disney's current offer. You can get four months of Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for just $2.99. It may not last long.
If you can't tell, we're excited for the 1st total lunar eclispe of 2025 and why not. It turns out, it's an exact duplicate of ANOTHER blood moon eclipse from 1504. You'll never guess how Columbus used it.
After months of waiting, two NASA astronauts finally know when they're coming home this month. NASA's Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched in June, only to see 10 days morph ito 9 months when issues cropped up on their Boeing spacecraft.
We've looked at quantum entanglement today, but now we're turning toward something perhaps a bit weirder with "quantum gravity," which scientists now think may arise from entropy, possibly solving puzzles put forth by the elusive dark universe.
Perhaps last week's biggest launch last week (literally) was SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 test flight, which ended in some surprise fireworks when its Ship explode. But did you know it affected commercial airline flights with its space debris? Well, the FAA sure does.
Like an ink-black squadron of Imperial TIE fighters screaming out of the Alkenzi Air Base on Aldhani, "Andor" is fast approaching its Season 2 launch date of April 22. Check out Luna and the acclaimed cast of "Andor" Season 2 in this new behind-the-scenes featurette and please help us count the days before the show's spring debut!
On March 10, 2006, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter entered orbit around the Red Planet. The spacecraft launched on August 12, 2005, travelling to Mars to study the geology and climate of the Red Planet. The main aim of the MRO mission was to probe the atmosphere to a depth of around 0.6 miles (1 kilometer), hunting for traces of water. To reduce the amount of fuel consumed by the MRO as it looped around Mars, over the next six months, the spacecraft lowered its operating orbit.
This week's night sky is packed with celestial treats, from a dazzling Blood Moon total lunar eclipse to a stunning planetary dance between Venus and Mercury. The bright moon will also cozy up to Regulus and Spica, making for some lovely pairings in the sky. Plus, if you're in a dark-sky spot, you might catch a glimpse of the elusive Zodiacal Light! Get ready for an unforgettable week of skywatching — here's everything you need to know.
As night falls, the bright waxing gibbous moon will shine near Regulus, the heart of Leo. The pair will be close enough to share a view in binoculars. By early Wednesday morning, the moon will appear even closer to the star. Regulus, a white B-class star 79 light-years away, lies just north of the ecliptic, occasionally getting occulted by the moon or planets.
After sunset, Venus and Mercury will appear close together in the western sky. Venus, the brighter of the two, will form a striking pair with Mercury, which will be smaller and 26% illuminated. The two planets will be just 5.5 degrees apart, making for a great binocular sight. A telescope will reveal Venus as a thin crescent, only 5% illuminated.
The full moon — also known as the Worm, Crow, or Sugar Moon — will pass through Earth's shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse visible across the Americas. The eclipse begins late Thursday night, reaching totality from 2:26 to 3:32 a.m. EDT (06:26 to 07:32 GMT) on March 14. The moon will appear red, earning the nickname "Blood Moon." The event is completely safe to view and photograph.
Look southeast in the mid-evening to see the bright, waning gibbous moon near Spica, Virgo’s brightest star. As the night progresses, the moon will drift closer. Before sunrise on Sunday, Spica will appear above the moon. Skywatchers in eastern Africa, the Indian Ocean, and parts of Australia can witness the moon occulting Spica. Use an astronomy app to check local viewing times.
Starting tonight, skywatchers in dark-sky locations can spot the Zodiacal Light after dusk. This faint, cone-shaped glow rises from the western horizon, created by sunlight scattering off interplanetary dust. Look for it below Jupiter, but don’t mistake it for the brighter Milky Way, which is visible to the northwest. The best viewing window lasts about 30 minutes after twilight.
By far, the most spectacular moon phase to look out for this week will be the full moon, also known as the Worm Moon, which will reach peak illumination at 2:55 a.m. EDT on March 14 (0655 UTC); local moonrise and moonset times will depend on your location.
This year, March's full moon will undergo a total lunar eclipse, whereby Earth's shadow engulfs the moon, turning it a deep red — "Blood Moon".
The eclipse will be visible across the Americas, with totality lasting from 2:26 to 3:32 a.m. EDT. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to view with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. Don't miss this dramatic display!
T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), popularly known as the "Blaze Star," is on the verge of a rare and dramatic outburst.
This recurrent nova, located approximately 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis, was predicted to erupt in a thermonuclear explosion between April and September 2024. For sky-watchers, the fact that it hasn't yet flared into naked-eye visibility is actually good news — especially since, since September, it has only been visible in the early morning hours.
Get ready, aurora chasers! A burst of fast solar wind is expected to enhance the northern lights midweek, with the best chances for activity on Wednesday night into Thursday (March 12-13). In the Northern Hemisphere, auroras could dip as far south as Scotland and similar latitudes, while in the Southern Hemisphere, skywatchers in southern New Zealand may catch the glow.
Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to reach G1 minor storm levels, with a chance for G2 moderate storm intervals, meaning auroras could be brighter and more active than usual.
As always, dark skies away from city lights will give you the best chance to see the aurora. Fingers crossed for clear weather—happy aurora hunting!
If you're interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras, download a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well. I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings.
Photographer Lisa Shislowski shared this stunning lunar image showing both "lunar X" and "lunar V" during the waxing crescent moon last week.
"On a clear evening from my back patio in Plantation, Florida, the Waxing Crescent moon was almost half lit up in the evening sky,"Shislowski told Space.com in an email. "As I zoomed in with my Canon straight above, I first saw the "Lunar X" and then above it a bit, along the line between light and dark was the "Lunar V."
Lunar X and V are interesting optical features on the moon visible for only about four hours during the First Quarter Moon phase, when the moon's terminator — the line between light and dark on the moon — is positioned just right to highlight the features. The letter X is created by sunlight illuminating the ridges between craters La Caille, Blanchini, and Purbach. The letter V is created by sunlight illuminating crater Ukert, along with several other smaller craters.
