Let's Send Neil Back To The Moon

As a native-born and life-long resident of Ohio, I have lived in the shadow of Neil Armstrong all my life. I visit Wapokenta every few years for two simple reasons - I love the Armstrong Museum and I feel a need to pass that heritage on to children, grandchildren and visiting friends. Of course, I was crushed when I read of his death. I would have given anything to have had Armstrong's autograph on my original Apollo landing newspapers, or even just to have seen the man. He was a humble hero... and this is the quality that I loved most about him. However, Neil Armstrong and his quiet ways didn't just impact my life. He touched us all.

Blue Moon This Week

When you hear someone say “Once in a Blue Moon” you know what they mean. They’re usually talking about something rare, silly, and even absurd. After all, when was the last time you saw the Moon turn blue? Well, rare or not, we’re having one this week, and according to astronomer David Reneke writer and publicist for Australasian Science magazine, a Blue Moon is slated for the last day of this month, Friday, August 31.

Weekly SkyWatcher's Forecast: August 27-September 2, 2012

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! If you only get your telescope or binoculars out once in a Blue Moon, then get them out this week when a Blue Moon actually happens! However, if you can't wait, then let's explore some great lunar features, bright star clusters and great double stars. When you're ready to learn some history, mystery and more, then just step on inside...

Star Consumes Its Planet

So far we've discovered a huge amount of planets orbiting a variety of stars, but this is the first time astronomers have uncovered evidence of a star devouring one of its offspring. When a planet comes up "missing", it's time to take a closer look at its parent star - in this case, a red giant older than the Sun and about eleven times bigger.

Weekly SkyWatcher's Forecast: August 20-26, 2012

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! It's going to be a great week to catch up on your lunar studies, but be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday's splendid conjunction! There will be bright stars and clusters to study, so enjoy these temperate nights while they last! Whenever you're ready to learn more about the history, mystery and majesty of what's out there, meet me in the back yard...

Weekly SkyWatcher's Forecast: August 13-19, 2012

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! Even if you missed the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, there will still be plenty of "strays" to sparkle this week's dark nights. For astronomy without a telescope, be sure to check out all the planetary alignments - and tell your friends! When you're ready to learn more about what to view and when this week, then meet me in the back yard...

Weekly SkyWatcher's Forecast: August 6-12, 2012

Greetings, fellow SkyWatchers! While you start your observing week out by watching the Mars Curiosity Landing, be sure to step outside and view the Aquarid meteor shower, too! It's going to be a grand week for globular cluster studies and breezing along the Milky Way. Whenever you're ready to learn some more history, mystery and just plain fun things about the night sky, then meet me in the back yard...

Swirling Along With NGC 1187

Discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1784, galaxy NGC 1187 floats along 60 million light-years away in the river Eridanus. It looks as peaceful as a cool, blue whirlpool... but, is all really quiet? Not hardly. This nearly face-on spiral galaxy is home to some very violent action - like two major supernova events in the last thirty years. Now, thanks to ESO’s Very Large Telescope, we're able to examine all of its facets in one of the most detailed photographs ever taken.