Astronomy News for the Month of August 2024

Excerpts from JPL mission updates are provided as a public service as part of the JPL Solar System Ambassador/NASA Outreach program. For special JPL programs and presentations in your area visit the JPL Solar System Ambassador website. (Click on the logo to link to the JPL SSA homepage.)

"The late-summer stars wheel in the sky above Jumbo Rocks Campground at Joshua Tree National Park" Astronomy Magazine, August 2024, p. 28. - NPS/Alessandra Purg-Santana

The Month At-A-Glance
A calendar displaying the daily astronomical events.

• Venus passes 1.1° north of Regulus on the 4th.
• Mars passes 5° north of Aldebaran on the 5th.
• The Moon passes 1.7° north of Venus on the 5th.
• The Moon passes 7° north of Mercury on the 5th.
• Mercury passes 6° south of Venus on the 6th.
• The Moon passes 0.7° north of Spica on the 10th.
• Mercury passes 6° south of Regulus on the 11th.
• The Moon passes 0.004° south of Antares on the 14th.
• Mars passes 0.3° north of Jupiter on the 14th.
• The Moon passes 0.5° north of Saturn on the 20th.
• The Moon passes 0.7° north of Neptune on the 21st.
• The Moon passes 4° north of Uranus on the 25th.
• The Moon passes 6° north of Jupiter on the 27th.
• The Moon passes 5° north of Mars on the 27th.

  For reference: The Full Moon subtends an angle of ~0.5°.

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  Experts Pick the Top Stargazing Events for 2024

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  The Planets & Dwarf Planets

  Planetary Reports generated by "TheSkyX" software. These reports provide predicted data for the planets for the first of each month for the current year. The rise and set times for the Sun and the Moon for each day of the month as well as meteor shower radiants are also included in the reports. These reports have been optimized for the Denver, Colorado location, however, the times will be approximate for other locations on Earth.

  (Times are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) unless otherwise noted. Times will vary slightly depending on your location.)

  Planetary Highlights for August "Venus is a bright evening star for a short period after sunset, beckoning skywatchers to view the oncoming string of planets. Saturn puts on a great show when it rises in the late evening. You can also grab a pair of binoculars to spy Uranus and Neptune... The real spectacle of the month is the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars in Taurus on the 14th, visible in the early-morning hours. It's one sight you won't want to miss." Astronomy Magazine, August 2024, p. 28.
  	Mercury Is stationary on the 4th. Mercury is in inferior conjunction on the 18th. Mercury is again stationary on the 27th. Mercury sets at 9:00 p.m. on the 1st. After conjunction, Mercury returns to the morning sky, rising about 5:05 a.m. by month's end. Look for Mercury low on the western horizon about 30 minutes after sunset during the first week of the month, and then to the east about 30 minutes before sunrise during the last week of the month. Mercury is in the constellation of Leo shining at magnitude 0.7 on the 31st.
  	Venus Sets about 9:03 p.m. on the 1st and about 8:31 p.m. by month's end. Look for Venus low to the west about 30 minutes after sunset. Venus moves from the constellation of Leo into Virgo shining at magnitude -3.9 on the 15th.
  	Earth N/A.
  	Mars Rises at 1:25 a.m. on the 1st and about 12:39 a.m. by month's end. Look for Mars to the southeast before sunrise. Mars in is conjunction with Jupiter on the 14th. Mars is in the constellation of Taurus shining at magnitude 0.8.
  	Jupiter Rises at 1:50 a.m. on the 1st and about 12:06 a.m. by month's end. Look for Jupiter to the southeast before sunrise. Jupiter is in the constellation of Taurus shining at magnitude -2.2.
  	Saturn Rises at 9:55 p.m. on the 1st and about 7:48 p.m. by month's end. Look to the south-southwest to spot Saturn late evening/early morning before sunrise. Saturn is in the constellation of Aquarius shining at magnitude 0.7.
  	Uranus Rises at 12:46 a.m. on the 1st and about 10:42 p.m. by month's end. Look to the south to spot Uranus preceding Jupiter by about an hour or so. Uranus is in the constellation of Taurus shining at magnitude 5.8.
  	Neptune Rises at 10:17 p.m. on the 1st and about 8:14 p.m. by the month's end. Look for Neptune before sunrise to the south. Neptune trails Saturn by about a half hour. Neptune is in the constellation of Pisces shining at magnitude 7.7.
  	Dwarf Planets
  	Ceres Is stationary on the 26th. Ceres rises at 6:52 p.m. on the 1st and about 4:44 p.m. by month's end. Ceres is visible in the evening sky to the south and southwest. Ceres is in the constellation of Sagittarius shining at magnitude 8.2.
  	Pluto Rises at 7:49 p.m. on the 1st and about 5:45 p.m. by month's end. Pluto is visible to the south and southwest late evening and early morning sky. Pluto is in the constellation of Capricornus shining at magnitude 15.1. As always, good luck at spotting Neptune, Ceres and Pluto, a large telescope and dark skies will be needed. Constellation information provided by Go Astronomy.

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  Astronomical Events

  	Meteor Showers The Northern Delta Aquarids [meteor shower] extends from July 16 to September 10. Maximum occurs on August 13. The hourly rates reach a high of 10. The Perseids meteor shower is generally visible between July 23 and August 22. Maximum occurs during August 12/13. The hourly rate typically reaches 80, although some years have been as low as 4 and as high as 200. The meteors tend to be very fast, possess an average magnitude of 2.3 and leave persistent trains. "The Perseid Meteor Shower is favorable this year. The First Quarter Moon sets around midnight, offering hours of viewing in a dark sky when we are on the leading hemisphere of Earth as we orbit the Sun. As we plow into the stream, we'll see higher-velocity - and therefore brighter - meteors. The shower, a result of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, is active from July 17 to Aug. 24 and peaks Aug. 12. Both the mornings of Aug. 11 and 12 should provide good rates; if poor weather is around, try Aug. 10 and 13 as well." Astronomy Magazine, August 2024, p. 29. Meteor Shower Radiant Report For more information about Meteor Showers, visit Gary Kronk's Meteor Showers Online web page. Meteor Scatter (or Meteor burst communications) - "is a radio propagation mode that exploits the ionized trails of meteors during atmospheric entry to establish brief communications paths between radio stations up to 2,250 kilometres (1,400 mi) apart." Tune your shortwave or your HF amateur radio to 54.310 MHz SSB and see if you can hear any pings. Try other frequencies as well... 6m FT8 digital - 50.313 Mhz & 50.276 Mhz, JP-65 digital mode and the carrier frequencies of the lower VHF bands for TV channels 2, 3 & 4. Meteor Rx How-To by Terry Bullett (WØASP)
  	Comets Comet 13P/Olbers passes through the constellation of Ursa Major and Coma Berenices, shining around 8th to 9th magnitude this month. For information, orbital elements and ephemerides on observable comets, visit Observable Comets. For more information about Comets, visit Gary Kronk's Cometography.com webpage.
  	Eclipses Solar Eclipses No solar eclipse activity this month. Lunar Eclipses No lunar eclipse activity this month.
  	Observational Opportunities Look for Mercury (first week of August), Venus, Comet Olbers in the evening to the west. Look for Ceres and Pluto in the late evening and early morning to the south and west. Look for Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury (last week of August) in the morning to the south and east.
  	Asteroids (From west to east) Pallas is in the constellation of Serpens Caput. Harmonia is in the constellation of Sagittarius. Iris is at opposition on the 6th in the constellation of Aquarius. Psyche is at opposition on the 5/6th in the constellation of Capricornus. Laeticia is in the constellation of Pisces. Eunomia moves from the constellation of Perseus into Auriga. Information about the Minor Planets can be found at the Minor Planet Observer website.
  	Ocultations Information on various occultations can be found by clicking the IOTA logo.

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  Member Meteor Sightings

  In this section I will post meteor, fireball, etc sightings that have been published on the American Meteor Society's web site. I want to make this an active section of the web pages and newsletter and would like to publish the links to member sightings. If you have any published sightings, please provide me with the links and I will post them here for all to enjoy.

  Event ID	Date/Time	Location	Observer	Link
  3871-2015	2015-11-13 01:55 MST	CO	Charles N	3871a
  3587-2015	2015-11-22 17:38 MST	CO	Kevin S	3587aw
  3829-2015	2015-12-05 18:06 MST	CO	Burness A	3829a
  986-2020	2020-02-21 22:20 MST	CO	Lukas S	986
  3716-2020	2020-07-24 23:22 MDT	CO	Lukas S	3716
  4774-2021	2021-08-13 21:57 MDT	UT	Lukas S	4774
  7044-2021	2021-10-28 20:37 MDT	CO	Burness A	249058
  6763-2022	2022-10-06 05:56 CDT	OK	Mike C	6763
  5300-2023	2023-09-11 22:04 MDT	CO	Lukas S	5300
  578-2024	2024-01-28 23:05 MST	CO	Lukas S	578

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  Subscriber Gallery

  I have created a web page containing images taken and submitted by subscribers (or special images) to the email newsletter, check-ins to the Colorado Astronomy Net and readers of the online newsletter. Any one wishing to submit their own images to the gallery, please let me know. The images must be taken by the submitter and be astronomy related. Please include a description and your information so that I can give proper credit to your work.

  Featured Images

  M17 - Omega/Horseshoe Nebula
  Courtesy of Roy Murray (KI7PKL)
  M17, aka The Horseshoe Nebula, aka The Omega Nebula is located in the southern sky, in the constellation of Sagittarius. That constellation is so far south that one may have to catch it as it passes between the treetops. But that part of the sky is full of treasures, and well worth the effort. This was taken in early July 2024, with approximately five hours of data in 1 minute exposures, using my new SkyWatcher HEQ-5 mount and an ASI294MC Pro cooled astronomy camera.

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  Attention!! I will be eliminating the JPL and Mars stories from this section in the future. I will still provide the links to the missions but not the articles themselves. I do appreciate everyone's support after 25+ years of publishing this newsletter. Thank you!

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  Planetary/Lunar Exploration Missions

  (Excerpts from recent JPL mission updates)

  	JPL Latest News The Latest from Space The Origin of JPL (a Youtube video-1 Hour 29 minutes). JPL Latest News July 25, 2024 How NASA's Roman Space Telescope Will Illuminate Cosmic Dawn Full Article & Images "Today, enormous stretches of space are crystal clear, but that wasn't always the case. During its infancy, the universe was filled with a "fog" that made it opaque, cloaking the first stars and galaxies. NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will probe the universe's subsequent transition to the brilliant starscape we see today — an era known as cosmic dawn. "Something very fundamental about the nature of the universe changed during this time," said Michelle Thaller, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Thanks to Roman's large, sharp infrared view, we may finally figure out what happened during a critical cosmic turning point." " Read the latest news and discoveries from JPL's dozens of active space missions exploring Earth, the solar system and worlds beyond. Past, Present, Future and Proposed JPL Missions. For special JPL programs and presentations in your area visit the JPL Solar System Ambassador web site.
  	James Webb Space Telescope July 24, 2024 NASA's Webb Images Cold Exoplanet 12 Light-Years Away Full Article & Images "An international team of astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged an exoplanet roughly 12 light-years from Earth. The planet, Epsilon Indi Ab, is one of the coldest exoplanets observed to date. Article & Images The planet is several times the mass of Jupiter and orbits the K-type star Epsilon Indi A (Eps Ind A), which is around the age of our Sun, but slightly cooler. The team observed Epsilon Indi Ab using the coronagraph on Webb's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument). Only a few tens of exoplanets have been directly imaged previously by space- and ground-based observatories." More information on the James Webb Space Telescope mission is available at The James Webb Space Telescope website. The public can follow the mission on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
  	Juno July 19, 2024 NASA's Juno Mission Captures the Colorful and Chaotic Clouds of Jupiter Full Article & Images "During its 61st close flyby of Jupiter on May 12, 2024, NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this color-enhanced view of the giant planet's northern hemisphere. It provides a detailed view of chaotic clouds and cyclonic storms in an area known to scientists as a folded filamentary region. In these regions, the zonal jets that create the familiar banded patterns in Jupiter's clouds break down, leading to turbulent patterns and cloud structures that rapidly evolve over the course of only a few days." Images from NASA's JunoCam. More information on the Juno mission is available at: Juno and Mission Juno. The public can follow the Juno mission on Facebook and Twitter.
  	TESS May 23, 2024 NASA's TESS Finds Intriguing World Sized Between Earth, Venus Full Article & Images "Using observations by NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and many other facilities, two international teams of astronomers have discovered a planet between the sizes of Earth and Venus only 40 light-years away. Multiple factors make it a candidate well-suited for further study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. TESS stares at a large swath of the sky for about a month at a time, tracking the brightness changes of tens of thousands of stars at intervals ranging from 20 seconds to 30 minutes. Capturing transits — brief, regular dimmings of stars caused by the passage of orbiting worlds — is one of the mission's primary goals." For more information on the TESS mission, visit the Latest Tess Stories page.
  	Past, Present, Future and Proposed JPL Missions Visit JPL's mission pages for current status.

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  Mars Missions

  Be A Martian

  

  Mars website mobile version is here!

  	Mars on the Go! NASA Be A Martian Mobile App If you want the latest news as it happens, try out the "Be A Martian" app. Download on Mobile Devices Android | iPhone | Windows Phone
  	JMARS JMARS is an acronym that stands for Java Mission-planning and Analysis for Remote Sensing. It is a geospatial information system (GIS) developed by ASU's Mars Space Flight Facility to provide mission planning and data-analysis tools to NASA's orbiters, instrument team members, students of all ages, and the general public.
  	Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics "The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) began in 1948, a decade before NASA. We are the world's only research institute to have sent instruments to all eight planets and Pluto.
  	LASP July 22, 2024 LASP team awarded NASA technology grant to develop dust analyzer Full Article & Images "The lofting and transport of dust particles, which can be electrically charged and thus mobilized, pose a potential hazard to future lunar exploration. Dust particles can cover the surfaces of optical instruments, damage space suits, and degrade solar panels, as well as pose health risks if inhaled by astronauts. While there is strong evidence that the lofting and transport of charged dust may occur on all airless bodies across our solar system and can dramatically reshape their surfaces, no missions have yet explored this phenomenon away from the lunar surface. On small bodies such as asteroids, Martian moons, and dormant comets, due to their low gravity, lofted dust particles are expected to be transported on a global scale or even escape from their parent bodies."
  	MAVEN April 29, 2024 NASA Scientists Gear Up for Solar Storms at Mars Full Article & Images "The Sun will be at peak activity this year, providing a rare opportunity to study how solar storms and radiation could affect future astronauts on the Red Planet. In the months ahead, two of NASA's Mars spacecraft will have an unprecedented opportunity to study how solar flares — giant explosions on the Sun's surface — could affect robots and future astronauts on the Red Planet. That's because the Sun is entering a period of peak activity called solar maximum, something that occurs roughly every 11 years. During solar maximum, the Sun is especially prone to throwing fiery tantrums in a variety of forms — including solar flares and coronal mass ejections — that launch radiation deep into space. When a series of these solar events erupts, it's called a solar storm." Visit LASP and MAVEN for more information.
  	Mars 2020 - Perseverance July 25, 2024 NASA's Perseverance Rover Scientists Find Intriguing Mars Rock Full Article & Images "The six-wheeled geologist found a fascinating rock that has some indications it may have hosted microbial life billions of years ago, but further research is needed. A vein-filled rock is catching the eye of the science team of NASA's Perseverance rover. Nicknamed "Cheyava Falls" by the team, the arrowhead-shaped rock contains fascinating traits that may bear on the question of whether Mars was home to microscopic life in the distant past. Analysis by instruments aboard the rover indicates the rock possesses qualities that fit the definition of a possible indicator of ancient life. The rock exhibits chemical signatures and structures that could possibly have been formed by life billions of years ago when the area being explored by the rover contained running water. Other explanations for the observed features are being considered by the science team, and future research steps will be required to determine whether ancient life is a valid explanation." Learn more about the Mars 2020 (Perseverance) mission.
  	Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity July 18, 2024 NASA's Curiosity Rover Discovers a Surprise in a Martian Rock Full Article & Images "Among several recent findings, the rover has found rocks made of pure sulfur — a first on the Red Planet. Scientists were stunned on May 30 when a rock that NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drove over cracked open to reveal something never seen before on the Red Planet: yellow sulfur crystals. Since October 2023, the rover has been exploring a region of Mars rich with sulfates, a kind of salt that contains sulfur and forms as water evaporates. But where past detections have been of sulfur-based minerals — in other words, a mix of sulfur and other materials — the rock Curiosity recently cracked open is made of elemental, or pure, sulfur. It isn't clear what relationship, if any, the elemental sulfur has to other sulfur-based minerals in the area." Visit the Mars Science Laboratory page.
  	Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission April 29, 2024 Major Martian Milestones Full Article & Image "There's good news from NASA's Cloudspotting on Mars project! That's the project that invites you to help identify exotic clouds high in the Martian atmosphere. Thanks to your help, the Cloudspotting on Mars project reached a huge milestone. Another full Mars year, Mars Year 30 (Oct 2009 — Sep 2011), has been completed! That's the second full Mars year of observations that has been analyzed since the project began. The team has uploaded another full year of data, Mars Year 31 (Sep 2011 — Aug 2013). You'll find right here, ready for you to investigate. A new project from the Cloudspotting on Mars team has started its beta testing phase! In this new project, you'll pick out cloud shapes in data from NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) Mission. If you're willing to help beta test this project and provide feedback before it launches, please send an email to the team. We'll let everyone know when this project officially launches, of course! Congratulations to the Cloudspotting on Mars team and all the volunteers who have helped spot Martian clouds!" MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER HIRISE IMAGES All of the HiRISE images are archived here. More information about the MRO mission is available online.
  	Mars Odyssey Orbiter June 27, 2024 NASA's Mars Odyssey Captures Huge Volcano, Nears 100,000 Orbits Full Article and Images "The 23-year-old orbiter is taking images that offer horizon-wide views of the Red Planet similar to what astronauts aboard the International Space Station see over Earth. NASA's longest-lived Mars robot is about to mark a new milestone on June 30: 100,000 trips around the Red Planet since launching 23 years ago. During that time, the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter has been mapping minerals and ice across the Martian surface, identifying landing sites for future missions, and relaying data to Earth from NASA's rovers and landers. Scientists recently used the orbiter's camera to take a stunning new image of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system. The image is part of a continuing effort by the Odyssey team to provide high-altitude views of the planet's horizon. (The first of these views was published in late 2023.) Similar to the perspective of Earth astronauts get aboard the International Space Station, the view enables scientists to learn more about clouds and airborne dust at Mars." Daily Mars Odyssey THEMIS Images Can be found at the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) website. Visit the Mars Odyssey Mission page.
  	Mars Missions Status New Mars missions are being planned to include several new rover and sample collection missions. Check out the Mars Exploration web page.

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  Astronomy Links and Other Space News

  (If you have a link you would like to recommend to our readers, please feel free to submit it.)

  

  Colorado Astronomy Links

  • Brighton Astronomy Group - Astronomy in Brighton, Colorado (under construction).

  • Cloudbait Observatory, Guffey Colorado - Submit your fireball reports here. Interesting, knowledgeable site.

  • Colorado Springs Astronomical Society - The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society (CSAS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the nighttime sky.

  • Denver Astronomical Society - The Deep Space Exploration Society is a Colorado based nonprofit organization dedicated to practical astronomy and space science education for students, the general public, and society members.

  • Deep Space Exploration Society - Promotes the enjoyment and understanding of astronomical phenomena, history and lore by providing educational and observing opportunities for our members, general public, and outreach activities at the University of Denver's historic Chamberlin Observatory, schools, and nature centers.

  • Little Thompson Observatory - Begin or sustain your interest in astronomy at LTO! The night sky is wondrous, filled with countless swirling galaxies, the planets, the moon and so much more. Many of these sights are easily visible from Earth, but few people have witnessed them personally.

    The Little Thompson Observatory can change that for you. Our mission is to help people of all ages learn about the universe by offering a first-hand experience with astronomy...

  • National Space Science & Technology Institute - NSSTI runs the Star Light—Star Bright Observatory in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

  • Northern Colorado Astronomical Society - The Northern Colorado Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the science of astronomy and to encourage and coordinate activities of amateur astronomers.

  • Rocky Mountain Star Stare - The Premier Star Party in The Rocky Mountains

  • SkyWatchers - Coal Creek Canyon Sky Watchers - Coal Creek Canyon Sky Watchers is an astronomy and space exploration group that features expert presenters on topics such as the exploration of the Moon, Mars and other planets, international space exploration missions, as well as other astronomy topics. We established Sky Watchers in 2014 and usually have about 35 attendees at our meetings.

  • Southern Colorado Astronomical Society - The Southern Colorado Astronomical Society, CSU-P and the Pueblo Nature and Raptor Center welcomes everyone to participate in the discovery of our night sky.

  • Star Cruiser Bill's Astrophotography - Great astrophotography from Aurora Colorado.

  • Star Light-Star Bright Observatory - The observatory is part of the nonprofit National Space Science & Technology Institute's education and public outreach program.

    The goal of the Star Light—Star Bright Observatory, is to put the universe within reach of primary grade students and their teachers; along with being an educational asset for the community. The observatory is an educational project that was established in 2004 to serve young and old alike and provides the only free access to viewing the universe in the Pikes Peak Region.

  Radio Astronomy Links

  • AMSAT - The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT, is a worldwide group of Amateur Radio Operators (Hams)... AMSAT's goal is to foster Amateur Radio's participation in space research and communication.

  • National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NRAO - Radio Astronomy news and information.

  • Radio JOVE Project - Radio JOVE students and amateur scientists observe and analyze natural radio emissions of Jupiter, the Sun, and our galaxy.

  • Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers - The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA) is an international society of dedicated enthusiasts who teach, learn, trade technical information, and do their own observations of the radio sky.

  More Astronomy Links

  • "TheSky" - Astronomy Software by Software Bisque. It's where discoveries are made. Where astronomers unravel the mysteries and reveal the beauty of space. At the heart of this search lies Software Bisque and its family of precision-crafted robotic telescope mounts, astronomy software solutions and embedded systems. Tools that help quench the astronomers' thirst for scientific breakthrough and personal enrichment the world over.

  • A Sea of Stars - Voyages of a Merchant Mariner & Amateur Astronomer - I'm a retired Navy veteran, currently sailing with the US Navy's Military Sealift Command as an Operations Chief. My dominant interests are science (esp. astronomy), history and photography, and I enjoy naval and military wargaming WHEN I can find the time.

  • A Short Guide to Celestial Navigation - Celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects — sun, moon, planets, or stars.

  • The ARRL - Amateur Radio Relay League - Information about amateur radio and how to become an amateur radio operator.

  • American Meteor Society - Provides amateur observers a place to learn about and report meteor, fireball and related sightings.

  • AstroBackyard - Welcome to the AstroBackyard Backyard of the Week! This is a place where we honor the hard work and dedication put into building an astrophotography rig to capture the glorious night sky. There are many ways to tackle this hobby, with varying types of telescopes, cameras, and mounts with one thing in common — they produce results!

  • Astrogirl Homepage - Astrogirl.org exists to educate, encourage and promote the hobby of amateur astronomy to people of all ages. It is the goal of this site to provide relevant information and resources to the amateur astronomer as an aid in their enjoyment of the night sky. It is a family-friendly, educational site and has been rated as a safe site for all ages.

  • Astronomia - Online web applications that use catalogues of astronomical objects. Applications and their description are also prepared in English.

  • Astronomy Picture of the Day - Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

  • Astronomy Resources - This site has some good links a young, interested student wishes to share.

  • Beginners Guide To Astrophotography - A Quick & Easy Tutorial Of How To Take DSLR Astro Photography

  • Be an Astronomer right from your Window - At-home astronomy techniques.

  • Black Hole Encyclopedia - Excellent site from StarDate - University of Texas McDonald Observatory

  • Caelum Observatory - The LARGEST dedicated public telescope in the Southwest at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter!

  • Celestron Telescopes - Celestron telescopes.

  • Citizen Science - Citizen Science Projects - NASA's citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public.

  • Clear Skies Observing Guides - CSOG, short for Clear Skies Observing Guides is a new concept in visual amateur astronomy. It is a digital publication that will enable observers to target all deepsky objects and carbon stars within reach of their equipment.

  • The Constellations of the Night Sky - Good site for finding out more about the 88 constellations and their associated stars. Links to the constellations mentioned in the newsletter can be found on this page.

  • CosmoQuest - The place where you map other worlds, explore out universe and contribute to science.

  • Distant Suns - Desktop Astronomy package for PCs.

  • Dwarf II Smart Telescope - Introducing DWARF II - the world's most portable smart telescope controlled by the mobile app DWARFLAB.

  • EarthSky - Astronomy news.

  • Go Astronomy - Links to constellations, noted in this newsletter, as well as to promote and educate people about amateur astronomy.

  • Heavens-Above - As the name implies - What's up in the heavens, particularly satellite passes.

  • The International Dark-Sky Association - To preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies.

  • informED: 10 Teaching Tools for Educators - informED - Teacher Resources.

  • Isa's Astrophotography Atelier - Isabel Streit's exceptional astrophotography web page.

  • iTelescope.net - iTelescope.Net is the world's premier network of Internet connected telescopes, allowing members to take astronomical images of the night sky for the purposes of education, scientific research and astrophotography.

  • JPL Solar System Ambassador Program - "Volunteers Bringing the Solar System to the Public"

  • JPL Solar System - Jet Propulsion Laboratory information on our solar system.

  • K8JTK.ORG - Welcome to the home page of Jeffrey Kopcak. You will find pages and posts I wrote about my hobbies, interests, projects, and things I'm involved in.

  • Kids Space Center - Telescopes and Astronomy - Another site suggested by a young student - Great info about telescopes.

  • Mars Exploration, Mars Rovers Information, Facts, News, Photos - National Geographic - Mars Exploration - Investigating the Red Planet.

  • Meade Advanced Products Users Group - Mapug-Astronomy Topical Archive & information resource, containing a massive 335 page archive of discussions about Meade equipment, and much more: observatories, observing lists, permanent piers, equatorial wedges, remote operations, software, eyepieces, etc.

  • NASA - Lunar and Planetary Science - General information, Missions to Comets, Data, Press Releases, Meteors and Meteorites, Other topics of Interest.

  • NASA Science News - NASA missions, updates, astronomy news, excellent resource.

  • National Archives info on space exploration - Archives Library Information Center (ALIC) - Space Exploration - Information about the United States' space flight programs, including NASA missions and the astronauts who participate in the efforts to explore space.

  • Phys.org - Science News including Nanotechnology, Physics, Earth, Astronomy & Space, Technology, Chemistry, Biology and Other Sciences.

  • Predictions for Solar and Lunar Eclipses - A website dedicated to predictions and information on eclipses of the Sun and Moon.

  • Sky360 - What's in our skies? - Observational Citizen Science of Earth's Atmosphere and Beyond.

  • Skymaps.com - Free sky maps each month.

  • SKY-MAP.ORG - The main purpose of SKY-MAP is to consolidate astronomical, astrophysical and other information about different space objects and astrophysical facts.

  • Space.com - Interesting space and astronomy articles.

  • Spaceflight Now - Launches and satellite news.

  • SpaceLinks/Space Careers - SPACELINKS is a specialist staffing consultancy sourcing and supplying high caliber professionals for a wide range of world class organizations in the Space and Defense industry.

  • "SpaceRef.com" - SpaceRef's 21 news and reference web sites are designed to allow both the novice and specialist alike to explore outer space and Earth observation.

  • Space Weather - Check out what the sun is doing as seen from space.

  • Stellarium - Free, downloadable planetarium/astronomy software.

  • Sterling Images - Images both celestial and terrestrial by Sterling "Rip" Smith (K3XO).

  • Telecommunications satellites and space exploration (OOMA blog) - Interesting article on telecommunications satellites with supporting links. Courtesy of Ariana Miller.

  • Telescope Live - The New Home for Astrophotography and Remote Imaging - Online access to a global network of 10 robotic telescopes.

  • The Most Expensive & Amazing Telescopes In History - Some of the most expensive and amazing telescopes in history - From The Hub Post.

  • The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography - Looking up into the night sky with just your eyes and maybe a telescope is amazing on its own. But it can be even better when you photograph and record it for your memories.

  • Top 50 Astronomy NASA Photos of All Time - A list of the most interesting moments in the history of science - From The Hub Post.

  • Ultimate Resource Guide for Astronomy - The resources we have provided below cover everything from discussing what astronomy is all the way to social media groups that focus on this popular and interesting topic. Use this resource guide for finding some great sites on astronomy whether you are a teacher looking for lesson plan ideas, a student wanting to brush up on their knowledge, a college student looking for a career or you just love the stars and want the most from your experiences.

  • UniverseToday - Short, interesting articles about space and related topics.

  • Wildcat Astronomy - Astrophotography by James Paulson - Planetary and Deep Sky imaging at its best. Check out the Blog as well as the images for tips and tricks of astrophotography.

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  Astronomical Lexicon

  Definitions of astronomical terms. Many of the astronomical terms used in this newsletter are defined here.

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  Read the Universe Today Newsletter by clicking on the logo.

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  Acknowledgments and References

  Much of the information in this newsletter is from Astronomy® Magazine (Kalmbach Publishing), JPL mission status reports, the Internet, "Meteor Showers - A descriptive Catalog" by Gary W. Kronk, Sky & Telescope web pages, and other astronomical sources that I have stashed on my bookshelves.

  The author will accept any suggestions, constructive criticisms, and corrections. Please feel free to send me any new links or articles to share as well. I will try to accommodate any reasonable requests. Please feel free to send questions, comments, criticisms, or donations to the email address listed below. Enjoy!

  More Acknowledgements and References

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  Subscription Information

  • To subscribe: visit Astronews subscription page.

  • Email Newsletter archives

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  Keep looking UP!
  73 from KIØAR
  

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  created by Burness F. Ansell, III,
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  IAAS - COO, Director of Aerospace Technologies
  JPL Solar System Ambassador, Colorado
  last modified: August 01, 2024

  URL:http://www.ki0ar.com/astro.html