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NASA

Cold Moon Will Light Up Night Sky: Here's When Cold Moon Will Light Up Night Sky: Here's When
Cold Moon Will Light Up Night Sky: Here's When Skywatchers are in for a treat as the Cold Moon, December’s full moon, illuminates the night sky.  Known as the Cold Moon for its association with the chilly winter season, this celestial event will be visible at its peak Sunday morning, Dec. 15, passing opposite the sun at 4:02 a.m. Eastern time, according to NASA. But that's not the only time to keep an eye on the sky. The moon will appear full for about three days from Friday evening, Dec. 13 through Monday morning, Dec. 16, NASA says, calling it "a full moon weekend." The Cold Moon rises just after sunset and will remain vis…
The Beaver Moon — Last Supermoon of 2024 — Will Dazzle Skywatchers Soon: Here's When To Look Up The Beaver Moon — Last Supermoon of 2024 — Will Dazzle Skywatchers Soon: Here's When To Look Up
The Beaver Moon — Last Supermoon of 2024 — Will Dazzle Skywatchers Soon: Here's When To Look Up Local skywatchers, mark your calendars. The final supermoon of 2024 — known as the Beaver Moon — will light up the night sky this week.  The moon will reach peak brightness at 4:29 p.m. EST on Friday,  Nov. 15, and promises to be one of the brightest nighttime displays of the year, according to USA Today.  Related: Fireball Lights Up East Coast Sky, Captivating Thousands  Click here to find out exactly when the moon will be at its most encouraging where you live.  A supermoon occurs when the moon is full and closest to the Earth in its orbit, according to N…
New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns
New Images Of Stranded New England Astronaut Spark Concerns NASA is assuring the public that a Massachusetts astronaut is in good health after recent photos of the woman sparked concerns to the contrary. Pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, has been stuck aboard the International Space Station since early June after NASA discovered multiple problems with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft. The 59-year-old retired Navy officer, along with her colleague Butch Wilmore, were originally scheduled to return home after eight days. They’ll now hitch a ride back to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025. Earlier …
Once-In-A-Lifetime Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe Once-In-A-Lifetime Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe
Once-In-a-lifetime Celestial Event Has Skywatchers In Awe Stargazers are being treated to a once-in-a-lifetime event this month — make that 1,000 lifetimes.  Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made a guest appearance in the night sky as it came within 44 million miles of our homeworld last week, and it is dazzling astronomers and novice skywatchers alike.  Stargazers got their best view of the comet on Tuesday, Oct. 15, but it will remain visible with the unaided eye through the end of the month as it rises higher and higher in the night sky until it is gone, according to NASA.  The comet won't make another pass of Earth for another 80,…
'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch 'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch
'Once In Lifetime' Comet Will Be Visible To Naked Eye In Night Sky: Here's When To Watch You'll want to keep an eye on the sky in the coming days and weeks. A newly discovered comet is about to make its closest pass by Earth later in the week and is expected to be visible through the end of October. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or C/2023 A3, which was first identified last year, is expected to be especially vivid, and its brightness could even compare to Jupiter, according to The New York Times. The comet will be closest to earth -- about 44 million miles, mind you -- on Saturday, Oct. 12, according to NASA. “This one is, I would say, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said astro…
New England Native, Second Astronaut Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles New England Native, Second Astronaut Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles
New England Native, Second Astronaut Will Hitch Ride On SpaceX Capsule Amid Starliner Troubles After spending months in limbo aboard the International Space Station, an astronaut from Massachusetts finally has a return date to Earth. Pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore will abandon Boeing’s troubled Starliner and instead hitch a ride on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025, NASA confirmed Saturday, Aug. 24. The stunning decision capped off 11 weeks of uncertainty after NASA discovered numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with Starliner’s thrusters following its launch from Florida's Space Coast on Wednesday, June 5. Ea…
Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event
Blue Supermoon: What You Need To Know About Rare Lunar Event There's an out-of-this-world lunar event set to begin this week.  From Monday, Aug. 19, through Wednesday, Aug. 21, the moon will appear bigger and brighter in the night sky than normal. It's called the supermoon. It's the first one of the year, but that's not why this one is special.  A supermoon occurs when the moon is full and closest to Earth in its orbit, according to NASA. That closeness makes the rocky satellite appear 15 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter.  What makes August's supermoon so unique is that it's a blue moon. No, the light of the moon won't change co…
Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year
Here's When To Watch Most Popular Meteor Show Of Year The best meteor shower of the year is about to peak. The Perseid meteor shower, marked by swift and bright streaks, frequently leaves long "wakes" of light and color behind as it moves through Earth's atmosphere, according to NASA.  The most significant activity is expected to occur on the night of Sunday, Aug. 11, into the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 12, and possibly Tuesday, Aug. 13. Perseids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though meteors from this shower can be seen as early as 10 p.m. NASA says. EarthSky.com says that "the best t…
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner
Mass Astronaut May Be Stuck In Space Until 2025 As NASA Mulls 'Other Options' For Starliner What was supposed to be an eight-day trip to the International Space Station may end up lasting much, much longer for an astronaut from Massachusetts. Two months after the Boeing-built Starliner blasted off from Florida’s Space Coast on its first crewed flight, NASA announced that pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore may not come home until February 2025. In a mission update Wednesday, Aug. 7, NASA and Boeing leaders said they were still figuring out how to safely bring the pair back to Earth and that they may have to ride back on a Sp…
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles
NASA 'Not Quite Ready' To Bring New England Native, 2nd Astronaut Home Amid Starliner Troubles Nearly two months after blasting off from Florida’s Space Coast, a pair of NASA astronauts – including a Massachusetts native – still have no idea when they’ll return to Earth. In a mission update Thursday, July 25, NASA and Boeing leaders still could not commit to a return date for Starliner pilot Suni Williams, from the town of Needham in Norfolk County, and commander Butch Wilmore. The pair – serving as guinea pigs of sorts for Starliner’s first crewed mission – remain in limbo aboard the International Space Station after numerous helium leaks and malfunctions with the spacecraft’s thrus…
Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles
Stuck In Space: Mass Astronaut Faces Uncertain Return Date Amid Starliner Troubles A Massachusetts native is among two American astronauts facing an uncertain return date to Earth amid ongoing problems with the Boeing-built Starliner spacecraft. Pilot and Needham native Suni Williams, along with commander Butch Wilmore, remains stuck on the International Space Station nearly a week after their expected departure date while NASA crews work to understand several issues that have arisen since the pair launched into orbit on Wednesday, June 5. Among the problems sparking concern are malfunctions of the vehicle’s thrusters and numerous helium leaks that sprang up during their…
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend The northern lights produced by one of the strongest geomagnetic storms to hit the Earth in two decades could be visible throughout the weekend, and scientists are warning that the storm could disrupt electrical and communication systems. Although there were clouds around on Friday night, May 10, there were numerous reports from the region of spectacular aurora displays (known as the northern lights). Those displays will continue on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, and possibly linger even longer. Severe Geomagnetic Storm conditions were first observed at Earth at 6:54 p.m. Eastern Ti…
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…
Launch Of 3 NASA Rockets Could Be Visible During Total Solar Eclipse Launch Of 3 NASA Rockets Could Be Visible During Total Solar Eclipse
Launch Of 3 NASA Rockets Could Be Visible During Total Solar Eclipse What a day for outer space. NASA will be launching three sounding rockets during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, to study how Earth’s upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight momentarily dims over a portion of the planet. And they are expected to be visible for between 10 and 40 seconds along the East Coast. The Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) sounding rockets will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to study the disturbances in the ionosphere created when the Moon eclipses the Sun.  The sounding rockets will launch at three differe…
Total Eclipse 2024: NASA Wants To Know About Strange Behavior From Animals Total Eclipse 2024: NASA Wants To Know About Strange Behavior From Animals
Total Eclipse 2024: NASA Wants To Know About Strange Behavior From Animals When parts of the US are under total daytime darkness during a solar eclipse, scientists will be studying if animals act any differently — and they want your help. NASA has funded the "Eclipse Soundscapes Project" to collect the sights and sounds during the total solar eclipse in the afternoon on Monday, Apr. 8. Scientists are asking for the public's help recording how different ecosystems react to the sudden midday change. You can share your observations on social media using the hashtag #EclipseSoundscapes. Don't forget to tag the location where you experience the eclipse. Weird plant a…
Total Solar Eclipse: Here's What To Expect To See By Minute, Zip Code Total Solar Eclipse: Here's What To Expect To See By Minute, Zip Code
Total Solar Eclipse: Here's What To Expect To See By Minute, Zip Code What's being called the most visible eclipse for the United States in 100 years is just a day away, but you won't have to wait until Monday afternoon, April 8. Click here for a new, updated story - Total Solar Eclipse: Here's Brand-New Cloud Cover Forecast, Timing By Zip Code A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. According to NASA, totality will start on Monday around 1:07 p.m. Eastern time in Mexico and leave Maine around 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. While mos…
Solar Eclipse: Viewers Can Suffer Severe Eye Injuries Without Proper Protection, NASA Warns Solar Eclipse: Viewers Can Suffer Severe Eye Injuries Without Proper Protection, NASA Warns
Solar Eclipse: Viewers Can Suffer Severe Eye Injuries Without Proper Protection, NASA Warns With a total solar eclipse now just a week away, officials are warning that eye safety will be crucial for the approximately 44 million Americans who reside in the path of totality and the millions more expected to travel to the path. "Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury," according to NASA. Known as the “Great North American Eclipse,” it will have a narrow path of totality from southwest to northeast across 13 states in the…
'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions 'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions
'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years' Coming Soon: First Projected Cloud Cover Conditions In just over a month, what's being called the astronomy event of the decade will occur when a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Many are planning road trips to places where the best viewing conditions are expected for what space.com says will be "the longest and most visible for the US in 100 years," with a four-minute totality duration beginning…
These Places Will Be Best To View 'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years': Here's When These Places Will Be Best To View 'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years': Here's When
These Places Will Be Best To View 'Most Visible Eclipse For US In 100 Years': Here's When It won't be long now. In just over two months, what's being called the astronomy event of the decade will occur when a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Mark your calendar now for Monday, April 8 with four-minute totality duration beginning at 3:13 p.m. Eastern time. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. According to space.com, it will be "the longest and most visible for the US in 100 years," w…
Meteor Shower Dazzles Tonight: How to Catch 2024 Quadrantids Meteor Shower Dazzles Tonight: How to Catch 2024 Quadrantids
Meteor Shower Dazzles Tonight: How to Catch 2024 Quadrantids Keep an eye on the sky along the East Coast tonight. The first meteor shower of 2024, the Quadrantids, is expected to be visible overnight Wednesday, Jan. 3 and peak in the early in the morning hours on Thursday, Jan. 4. The American Meteor Society says the best time to catch a falling star in North America will be between 1 and 5 a.m. Astronomers consider the Quadrantids as one of the best annual meteor showers. NASA says between 60 and 200 meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions. Quadrantids are known for their bright fireball meteors and short peaks. While most …
'Bright Fireball' Seen From New York Confirmed To Be Meteor: NASA 'Bright Fireball' Seen From New York Confirmed To Be Meteor: NASA
'Bright Fireball' Seen From New York Confirmed To Be Meteor: NASA A fireball that appeared in the skies off the coast of Long Island has been confirmed to have been a meteor that was seen in several states, including New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.  The meteor was seen in several East Coast states on Thursday, Nov. 2 just after 7 p.m., according to an announcement by NASA.  According to the agency, the meteor first appeared 65 miles above a point in the Atlantic Ocean 81 miles off the coast of Smith Point County Park on Fire Island in Suffolk County, New York. Fire Island is part of the towns of Babylon, Islip, and Brookhaven.  The "bright fir…
NASA Rocket Will Be Visible Across East Coast This Weekend NASA Rocket Will Be Visible Across East Coast This Weekend
NASA Rocket Will Be Visible Across East Coast This Weekend It’s a bird. … It’s a plane. …  It’s a NASA rocket that should be visible up and down the East Coast this weekend. Dubbed “Stronger Together,” NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will be launching a 59-foot-tall Electron rocket during a mission scheduled to lift off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, authorities announced. The rocket will take off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. There is expected to be a two-hour launch window. This mission represents the second to launch at the Wallops Island Spaceport, following “V…
Here's Where To Look: Green Comet Will Appear In Night Sky For First Time In 50,000 Years Here's Where To Look: Green Comet Will Appear In Night Sky For First Time In 50,000 Years
Here's Where To Look: Green Comet Will Appear In Night Sky For First Time In 50,000 Years A rare comet last seen 50,000 years ago during the Stone Age is set to make an appearance and NASA is providing new guidance on where in the night sky you should look -- and when. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), known as the "green comet," was discovered by astronomers in early March of 2022 inside the orbit of Jupiter. It will pass closest to Earth on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and Thursday, Feb. 2 "With binoculars and clear skies, you may spot C/2022 E3 (ZTF) near the Big Dipper," NASA said in a tweet on Wednesday. A #comet that hasn't been in our cosmic neighborhood in 50,000 years is making its cl…
Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments
Bye George: Embattled NY Rep Santos Stepping Down 'Temporarily' From Committee Assignments This story has been updated to include a statement from Rep. Santos. Just weeks after being appointed to two House committees, beleaguered New York Congressman George Santos is stepping down from those assignments amid investigations into his personal and campaign finances. In a statement Tuesday, Jan. 31, the freshman Republican lawmaker said he had submitted a request to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to be "temporarily recused" from his assignments to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the Small Business Committee "until I am cleared." "This was a decision that I take very…
Keep An Eye On The Sky: Rare Green Comet To Pass Near Earth This Week Keep An Eye On The Sky: Rare Green Comet To Pass Near Earth This Week
Keep An Eye On The Sky: Rare Green Comet To Pass Near Earth This Week A rare comet last seen more than 5,000 decades ago during the Stone Age is due to pass near earth this week. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), known as the "green comet," was discovered by astronomers in early March of 2022 inside the orbit of Jupiter. "Since then the new long-period comet has brightened substantially and is now sweeping across the northern constellation Corona Borealis in predawn skies," according to NASA. It will pass closest to Earth on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and Thursday, Feb. 2, says EarthSky.org. "Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this one continues its current tre…
Here's When NASA Rocket Launch Will Be Visible Across East Coast Here's When NASA Rocket Launch Will Be Visible Across East Coast
Here's When NASA Rocket Launch Will Be Visible Across East Coast A mission dubbed "Virginia is for Launch Lovers" is coming soon, and the rocket itself, the first of its kind, will be visible across the East Coast. The 59-foot-tall Rocket Lab USA Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island in Virginia on Monday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.  The mission will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360. The map above shows where the rocket will be visible. With this mission, NASA is helping foster a growing low-Earth space economy and continues Wallops' 35-year history…
Rocket Launching From NASA Flight Facility Will Be Visible Across East Coast Rocket Launching From NASA Flight Facility Will Be Visible Across East Coast
Rocket Launching From NASA Flight Facility Will Be Visible Across East Coast A NASA rocket launching from Virginia will be briefly visible across the East Coast (see map above or click here for times). Rocket Lab USA’s first Electron rocket is set to launch at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360. The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. With this mission, NASA is helping foster a growing low-Earth space economy and continues Wallops' 35-year history of support to t…
'Blood Moon' On Election Day: Here's Timing For Last Total Lunar Eclipse For Next 3 Years 'Blood Moon' On Election Day: Here's Timing For Last Total Lunar Eclipse For Next 3 Years
'Blood Moon' On Election Day: Here's Timing For Last Total Lunar Eclipse For Next 3 Years You won't want to miss the upcoming eclipse because it will be the last chance to view a total lunar eclipse for three years. The eclipse will take place in the early hours of Tuesday, Nov. 8, and will be the last total lunar eclipse until March 14, 2025, NASA reported. As the moon passes into the Earth's shadow, it will appear to turn a red hue, which is why these eclipses are sometimes referred to as "Blood Moons," NASA said.  NASA reported that the moon will begin to subtly dim at 3:02 a.m. EST. The partial eclipse will begin at 4:09 a.m., and the totality will begin at&…
Best Chance To See Jupiter In 59 Years Best Chance To See Jupiter In 59 Years
Best Chance To See Jupiter In 59 Years If you've never seen Jupiter, you'll get your best chance in 59 years Monday night, Sept. 26, officials say. With a good set of binoculars, the giant planet should be the second brightest image in the sky after the moon for several nights, NASA said on its blog. Stargazers can expect excellent views of Jupiter the entire night Monday when the giant planet reaches opposition, NASA said. From the viewpoint of Earth’s surface, opposition happens when an astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west, placing the object and the Sun on opposite sides of Earth. Jupiter’s oppo…
Super 'Blood Moon' Eclipse To Rise Over East Coast Super 'Blood Moon' Eclipse To Rise Over East Coast
Super 'Blood Moon' Eclipse To Rise Over East Coast Mother Nature is threatening to deprive East Coasters of a rare sight that hasn’t been seen in the US in decades. On Sunday, May 15, the sun, earth, and moon will create a total lunar eclipse, creating a full flower “blood” red moon, though the weather could throw a wrench in nature’s plans. During the eclipse, the moon will turn a deep shade of red before fading into near-complete darkness and then brightening back to its familiar shade approximately an hour later. "A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth, and moon align so that the moon passes into Earth’s shadow,” according to NASA…
Geminids Meteor Shower Peaks This Week: Here's When To Watch Geminids Meteor Shower Peaks This Week: Here's When To Watch
Geminids Meteor Shower Peaks This Week: Here's When To Watch It's almost the peak time to view the Geminids meteor shower, with hundreds of meteors set to blaze across the night sky.  Skyandtelescope.org reported that the meteor shower is set to peak between the night of Monday, Dec. 13, and the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 14. Up to 120 meteors could be visible each hour from a perfectly dark area, the website said.  NASA reported that the meteor shower will be active until Friday, Dec. 17, but the best time to view it is during the peak. Since the moon will be nearly 80 percent full during the peak, it may be a bit harder to see the meteors…