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Astronomy

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…
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 tonight, 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 of Monday, Sept. 26 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 opposi…