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William M. Thomas Planetarium to Host 'How Big? How Far?' Show on Solar System Scale

William M. Thomas Planetarium to Host 'How Big? How Far?' Show on Solar System Scale

The William M. Thomas Planetarium will present a new show titled 'How Big? How Far?' on November 19 at 7:30 p.m. The program, created by Nick Strobel, aims to provide audiences with a tangible understanding of the vast scales within our solar system and its relation to surrounding stars and the Milky Way galaxy. The show will utilize various methods to convey these immense distances, including scale models. For instance, a Nerf basketball represents the sun, with planets scaled down to grains of sand or small coins, and distances paced out across the Bakersfield College Panorama campus. The presentation will also explore travel times between planets using the speed of the New Horizons spacecraft as a reference. Additionally, the show will feature an evening sky tour using the Chronos star projector, highlighting visible planets like Saturn and constellations such as Taurus and Orion, along with details on the Leonid meteor shower peak.

Caltech JPL's Historical Contributions to U.S. Space Exploration Highlighted in New Exhibition

Caltech JPL's Historical Contributions to U.S. Space Exploration Highlighted in New Exhibition

A new exhibition titled 'Dare Mighty Things: From Rocketry to Space Exploration at Caltech JPL' is showcasing the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) ninety-year history of contributions to rocketry and space exploration. The exhibition, drawing from the collections of both the Caltech Archives and Special Collections and the JPL Archives, traces the evolution of JPL's missions and the collaboration between JPL researchers and Caltech. Initially, in the 1930s, Caltech graduate students and rocket enthusiasts began small rocket engine experiments, attracting Army funding for rocket-assisted airplane takeoff. This led to the establishment of JPL in 1943. After the USSR launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, JPL built the first successful U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, in 1958. Following the establishment of NASA, JPL transitioned from Army work to designing uncrewed spacecraft for NASA, playing a pivotal role in lunar missions with Pioneer, Ranger, and Surveyor probes, and later sending Mariner probes to Venus and Mars. JPL...

Astronomy.com Details 2026 Full Moon Calendar and Lunar Phases

Astronomy.com Details 2026 Full Moon Calendar and Lunar Phases

Astronomy.com has released its 2026 Full Moon calendar, providing a comprehensive schedule of lunar phases and associated astronomical events. The calendar details the exact times for each Full Moon throughout the year, along with their traditional names, many of which are derived from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions. For instance, the November Full Moon in 2026 will be the Beaver Moon, occurring on Tuesday, November 24, at 9:54 a.m. EST, and will also be a Super Moon. The article explains that a Full Moon occurs when Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the entire lunar face visible from Earth to be illuminated. It also outlines the various phases of the Moon, including New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter, and waning crescent, noting that a full cycle takes approximately 29.5 days.

November 2026 to Feature Multiple Meteor Showers Across the U.S.

November 2026 to Feature Multiple Meteor Showers Across the U.S.

November 2026 is set to offer several opportunities for skywatchers across the United States to observe meteor showers. NASA has highlighted three main events: the Southern Taurids, the Northern Taurids, and the Leonids. The Southern Taurids are expected to peak around November 5, known for producing bright meteors, or 'fireballs,' with an estimated rate of about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Following this, the Northern Taurids will peak around November 12, also producing approximately five meteors per hour. The most anticipated event, the Leonid meteor shower, is slated to peak around November 17, with NASA recommending observation during the early morning hours of November 17 and 18, particularly after moonset. The Leonids could potentially offer up to 15 meteors per hour under optimal viewing conditions. These celestial events are observable without specialized equipment, requiring only dark skies and patience.

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals 93-Billion-Mile Cosmic Dust Structure, 'Cat's Tail,' Challenging Astronomical Explanations

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals 93-Billion-Mile Cosmic Dust Structure, 'Cat's Tail,' Challenging Astronomical Explanations

Astronomers at the University of Arizona, utilizing the Hubble Space Telescope, have made a significant discovery: a gargantuan, 93-billion-mile-long cosmic dust feature dubbed the 'Cat's Tail.' This structure is located in the Beta Pictoris system, approximately 63 light-years away. Previously, this anomaly was only detectable by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in infrared light. Lead researcher Arin Avsar explained that the 'Cat's Tail' evaded visible-light detection for so long because it is composed almost entirely of heavily carbon-based organic refractory material, which effectively absorbs visible light. The structure is roughly 1,000 astronomical units long, equivalent to wrapping between the Earth and the Sun about 500 times.

NASA Warns Hubble Space Telescope Expected to Fall from Orbit by Mid-2030s, Considers Rescue Mission

NASA Warns Hubble Space Telescope Expected to Fall from Orbit by Mid-2030s, Considers Rescue Mission

NASA has announced that the Hubble Space Telescope is projected to fall from orbit and re-enter Earth's atmosphere by the mid-2030s. This follows the recent re-entry of NASA’s Swift Observatory on Wednesday, which had exceeded its two-year mission projection by lasting 11 times longer than planned. The agency is currently exploring the feasibility of a 'rescue mission' to push the Hubble Space Telescope further into space, thereby extending its operational life. The Swift Observatory's re-entry occurred after unsuccessful attempts to correct its sinking orbit. This development highlights the challenges of maintaining long-term space assets and the eventual fate of orbiting telescopes.

NASA's Voyager 1 Spacecraft Crosses 'One Light-Day' Mark After 'Big Bang' Fix

NASA's Voyager 1 Spacecraft Crosses 'One Light-Day' Mark After 'Big Bang' Fix

NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has successfully crossed the 'one light-day' mark, a significant milestone in its journey through interstellar space. This achievement follows a critical 'Big Bang' fix that resuscitated the spacecraft after a brief loss of communication on October 20th, which lasted 48 hours. The fix involved alternating three primary units (two heaters and an 8-track digital tape recorder) with three low-power secondary options. This method was previously used to keep Voyager 2 functioning in August. Launched on September 5, 1977, Voyager 1, along with Voyager 2, continues to provide scientific data from beyond the heliosphere, making them the first missions to directly sample this region. The spacecraft relies on Plutonium-fueled radioisotope thermoelectric generators for power, which are steadily losing power at a rate of about 4 watts per year. This power degradation has necessitated difficult decisions, such as turning off the Low Energy Charged Particle experiment (LECP) in early 2026. Cu...

University of Arizona Hosts Inaugural Space Horizons Forum to Foster Collaboration in Space Sector

University of Arizona Hosts Inaugural Space Horizons Forum to Foster Collaboration in Space Sector

The University of Arizona recently hosted the inaugural Space Horizons Forum in Tucson, bringing together leaders from NASA, the U.S. Space Force, the defense industry, commercial space companies, and academia. The two-day event, held on October 29-30, focused on strengthening partnerships and exploring the blurring boundaries between these sectors in space exploration and security. Speakers included Quantum Space CEO and former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, U.S. Space Force Chief Science Officer Stacie Williams, and Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., alongside over 20 other experts from organizations like NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Discussions covered topics such as robotic missions to reduce risks for crewed flights, the future of space defense focusing on data fusion and nuclear propulsion, and the role of commercial capabilities in freeing up science and technology dollars for transformative work. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella emphasized ...

Southern California Stargazers Anticipate Busy November with Meteor Showers, Planetary Conjunction, and Supermoon

Southern California Stargazers Anticipate Busy November with Meteor Showers, Planetary Conjunction, and Supermoon

Southern California is set for a month of significant astronomical events in November. Stargazers can anticipate the Northern Taurid meteor shower, peaking overnight on November 11, which offers a higher chance of observing 'fireballs'—meteors brighter than Venus. Following this, on November 15 and 16, Jupiter and Mars will appear in a rare planetary conjunction in the pre-dawn eastern sky, visible between 4 and 6 a.m. The annual Leonids meteor shower is also expected to peak on November 17 and 18. The month will conclude with a 'supermoon' on November 23 and 24, occurring when the full moon is near its closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter. These events provide multiple opportunities for sky-watching enthusiasts to observe celestial phenomena.

Hubble Telescope Allocation Committee Approves Extensive Research Programs for Astronomical Observation

Hubble Telescope Allocation Committee Approves Extensive Research Programs for Astronomical Observation

The Hubble Telescope Allocation Committee (HST TAC) has approved a wide array of research programs for astronomical observation, spanning various cycles, including Cycles 31, 32, 33, and 34. These programs involve numerous principal investigators (PIs) from institutions across the United States and internationally, such as Northwestern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California - Santa Cruz, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. The approved projects cover diverse areas of astrophysics, including studies of exoplanets, black holes, supernovae, galaxy evolution, stellar formation, and the composition of celestial bodies. For instance, Cycle 34 includes programs like 'Community Discovery Program: panchromatic CXO/VLA/HST observations of NS mergers' led by Wen-fai Fong, and 'Why is AGN Feedback Behaving Different in Clusters at z~1?' by Michael McDonald. Cycle 33 features 'STELa: Survey of Transiting Exoplanets in Lyman-alpha' by R. O. Loyd, and 'Where is the central blac...

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Identifies First Dwarf Planet Candidate, Bolstering Space Research

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Identifies First Dwarf Planet Candidate, Bolstering Space Research

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science are supporting the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which has revealed its first dwarf planet candidate within our solar system. This discovery is part of the observatory's operational phase, during which it will conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. The NSF, an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1950, manages its funding for this project through the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) via a cooperative agreement. Concurrently, the DOE Office of Science, recognized as the largest supporter of basic physical sciences research in the U.S., manages its funding through SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) under a DOE contract. The Rubin Observatory itself is operated jointly by NSF NOIRLab and SLAC, signifying a collaborative effort in advancing scientific knowledge.

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere After 22-Year Mission

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Reenters Earth's Atmosphere After 22-Year Mission

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, previously known as the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer, concluded its 22-year mission by reentering Earth’s atmosphere on Wednesday. Launched in 2004, the space telescope plunged back into the atmosphere at 7:39 am ET, just four hours after NASA's prediction. The reentry occurred over the North Sumatra region of Indonesia, west of Malaysia. NASA anticipates that most of the telescope burned up during reentry, though some components may have survived. Operations for Swift were shut down in late October, with its final observation conducted on October 20, due to increased atmospheric drag at its orbiting altitude of 171 miles above Earth's surface.