Double Asteroid Redirection Test – DART
What would happen if we woke up some morning to the news that a massive asteroid had just been discovered and is on a collision course with Earth? This terrifying scenario is not very likely to happen anytime soon but the thing is, we can never be sure when it will happen and someday itContinue reading “Double Asteroid Redirection Test – DART”
What Can I See in the Sky in November 2021?
Now that the clocks have gone back it is dark early and you don’t have to stay up late to go out and observe the sky. Given that it is November, it will be cold and you will need to wrap up warm or your night outside will quickly become very unpleasant. This month willContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in November 2021?”
What is a Star?
Look up on a clear night and you will see thousands of twinkling lights shining down on you. Each one of these is a star, many millions of kilometers away. Although we don’t see it very often from Ireland, the Sun is our closest star. The Sun is a star not dissimilar to others inContinue reading “What is a Star?”
What Can I See in the Sky in October 2021?
It’s autumn and the Sun is now setting before 7pm which means more time for observing. This is exaggerated even more at the end of the month, when, on the 31st of October summer time ends and the clocks go back 1 hour. October nights can get very chilly so it’s time to start takingContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in October 2021?”
What are the Equinoxes?
The Earth orbits the Sun. However, the angle it is orbiting at is tilted. Think of it like a spinning top that is leaning over slightly. The tilt is actually 23.5 degrees and this is what gives the Earth its seasons. The tilt always stays at 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of the solarContinue reading “What are the Equinoxes?”
What Can I See in the Sky in September 2021?
Now that September is here, the nights are getting noticeably longer again. On 1st September, sunset is 20:16 and by 22:25 it is completely dark. The weather in September is usually still mild enough so that you can go out and observe comfortably, although the nights can get chilly so it’s time to start takingContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in September 2021?”
Perseid Meteor Shower 2021
This week sees the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. A meteor is also know as a shooting star and look like a star shooting quickly across the sky. They are caused when particles of matter from space strike the Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth moves through space very fast (approximately 110,000 kph). As the EarthContinue reading “Perseid Meteor Shower 2021”
What Can I See in the Sky in August 2021?
August is the month that darkness returns. For the sky to be completely dark, the Sun must get at least 18 degrees below the horizon. On 1st August this happens at 00:46 and lasts until 02:24, giving 1 hour 42 mins of darkness. By the end of August this has stretched to 5 hours 48Continue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in August 2021?”
The Moon
The Moon is our closest neighbour and only natural satellite. It is probably one of the most obvious astronomical objects when it is in the sky. The Moon has been very important in human culture through the years but is also vital to life on Earth. It remains the only body outside of Earth, whichContinue reading “The Moon”
What Can I See in the Sky in July 2021?
For the second month in a row, it doesn’t truly get dark during July. For the sky to be completely dark, the Sun must get at least 18 degrees below the horizon and this only happens on the last 2 days of July from Ireland. Jupiter and Saturn are both prominent in the sky thisContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in July 2021?”
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