Tag Archives: World Space Week

In the Sky This Week – October 8, 2019

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This entry is part 117 of 118 in the series In the Sky This Week

This week is World Space Week! Held annually every October 4-10th, it is the largest space event on Earth, with more than 5,000 events in over 80 countries. The theme for 2019 is: “The Moon: Gateway to the Stars.” “The General Assembly declares 4 to 10 October World Space Week to celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition” – UN General Assembly resolution, 6 December 1999 Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon continue to be excellent observing targets all week after sunset. The waxing gibbous Moon is in the southwestern sky at midnight on Oct. 8th. At midnight on Oct. 11th, the waxing gibbous Moon is high in the southern sky. The full Moon appears in the southeastern sky at midnight, Oct. 14th. Mars appears a bit higher each morning in the eastern sky just before sunrise.   Constellation Pegasus Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after … Continue reading →

In the Sky This Week – October 2, 2018

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This entry is part 63 of 118 in the series In the Sky This Week

The Moon joins the constellations Gemini and Orion high south in the predawn sky. Mars and Saturn continue to be excellent observing targets in the southern sky after sunset. You might be able to catch a glimpse of Venus this week if you have a clear southwestern horizon; Venus is VERY low in the sky at sunset. Observing Target: M45 – The Pleiades The Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters) is an open star cluster located in the constellation of Taurus. The cluster contains several hot, B-type stars, and is among the nearest star clusters to Earth. The Pleiades easily visible to the naked eye – binoculars work great for viewing the Pleiades; if you want to use a telescope, you’ll need to use a longer focal-length (lower magnification) eyepiece. Time-exposures of the Pleiades reveal a blue nebulosity surrounding the stars; once thought to be left over from the formation of the cluster, it is now thought to be … Continue reading →

World Space Week – Oct. 4-10

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World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events: • October 4, 1957: The launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, beginning the space age, and opening the way for space exploration. • October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Brother Guy Consolmagno represented the Holy See at UNISPACE+50 – the 50th anniversary meeting of the United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna. 50 years ago the U.N. had its first conference on the peaceful uses of space. And I was a member of the UD High Model U.N. pic.twitter.com/V4ZWsi5Dry — Guy … Continue reading →