- 23 June 2016
Bode, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Caelum is the eighth smallest constellation in the sky, occupying only 125 square degrees. It is located in the first quadrant of the Southern hemisphere and can be viewed specifically at latitudes between +40° and -90°. The crooked line of Caelum represents “the chisel” and derives its name from the Latin language.
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- 17 June 2016
Alpha Crucis is made up of two stars and is part of the Southern Cross in its home constellation. Historically, Amerigo Vespucci charted the stars in 1501, then an Italian explorer by the name of Andrea Corsali made a more accurate chart in 1515. This star appeared on celestial globes by both Petrus Plancius in 1598 and also Jodocus Hondius in 1600.
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- 17 June 2016
Bootes is the 13th biggest constellation in size and covers 907 square degrees. It can be viewed in the third quadrant of the Northern hemisphere and lies specifically at latitudes between +90° and -50°. To correctly say, Bootes, each “o” is pronounced separately, putting emphasis on the “tes.”
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- 14 June 2016
It’s a sad truth, but according to a study done by Italian and American scientists, one-third of the world’s population and 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way.
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- 7 June 2016
For some of us it may have been a long time since we studied the Solar System in grade school. So here’s your chance to brush up on your cosmic IQ. Take our quiz to see where you rank among the “stars.”
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- 2 June 2016
Auriga is the 21st biggest constellation in size and covers 657 square degrees. It can be viewed in the first quadrant of the Northern hemisphere and lies specifically at latitudes between +90° and -40°. Like some of the other constellations, in the 2nd century Auriga was first catalogued by Ptolemy, who was a Greek astronomer.
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- 1 June 2016
Alpha Coronae Borealis is the brightest star of the seven that make up the semicircle of the “Northern Crown.” This is a binary star system with its companion star completing an orbit every 17.4 days. There could also be a planetary system in its orbit. In the 2nd century, Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, catalogued this star along with the 88 constellations.
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- 27 May 2016
NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We know the International Space station is orbiting around our planet, but unless it hits the news, we tend to forget about it…out-of-sight, out-of-mind.
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- 27 May 2016
Aries means “the ram” in Latin and represents the horn of this animal. It can be found in the first quadrant of the Northern hemisphere and is located specifically between latitudes of +90° and -60°. Aries is part of the Zodiac chart and like all the Zodiac signs, it was first catalogued in the 2nd century by Ptolemy, who was a Greek astronomer.
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- 26 May 2016
Alpha Ceti has a traditional name of Menkar which derived from Arabic meaning “the nostril” of the constellation of Cetus the whale. Alpha Ceti is a very old star which is approaching the end of its life. It will eventually burn through all its core elements to become a planetary nebula with a white dwarf remnant left behind.
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