- 20 May 2016
Alpha Cephei is also called Alderamin which translates from Arabic to English as “the right arm” referring to its placement in the constellation of Cepheus, “the King.” Due to its position in the night sky, in about 5,500 years it will be an exact pole star. This star is a fast-rotator completing an orbit every 12 hours!
Read the full article- 19 May 2016
Ara is somewhat triangular in shape and covers 237 square degrees in the third quadrant of the Southern hemisphere. It falls 63rd in size and can be viewed at latitudes between +25° and -90°. Ara represents the altar to the Greek gods and derives its name from the Latin language.
Read the full article- 17 May 2016
World renowned French astrophysicist, Andre Brahic, one of the discoverers of Neptune’s rings, died in Paris Sunday (May 15th, 2016) at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy of research and books.
Read the full article- 13 May 2016
Did you miss the Mercury transit around the Sun on May 9th? Even if you didn’t. this time-lapsed video by NASA shows a one-of-kind look at this amazing phenomenon. Check it out!
Read the full article- 13 May 2016
Aquila is a loose triangular-shaped constellation covering 652 square degrees in the fourth quadrant of the Northern hemisphere (near the celestial equator). It can be viewed at latitudes between +90° and -75°. Aquila represents the eagle of the Roman god, Jupiter and, in fact, gets its name from the Latin word meaning “eagle.”
Read the full article- 12 May 2016
Alpha Centauri B without its companion star of Centauri A, Centauri B is the 21st brightest star in the night sky. However, with its entire system it is one of the brightest stars which can be seen from earth. The Alpha Centauri system was not discovered by astronomers, but rather a Jesuit Priest in India.
Read the full article- 6 May 2016
On Monday May 9th, Mercury will make its rare transit across the face of the Sun. This celestial event is a must-see and if you miss it, you’re out-of-luck until November of 2019.
Read the full article- 6 May 2016
Aquarius gets its name from Latin which means, water-bearer or cup-bearer and its Latin symbol also represents water. Aquarius was first catalogued in the 19th century by the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy. This unique constellation is the 10th largest and also represents a zodiac sign.
Read the full article- 4 May 2016
Alpha Centauri A is part of a two-star system located in the Centaurus constellation. This star is similar to the Sun, except it is 23 percent larger and has 151.9 times its brightness, making it the fourth most luminous in the night sky. It also spins a bit faster than our Sun completing an orbit every 22 days.
Read the full article- 3 May 2016
May is already here and that means there’s some very special things going on in space. So grab those telescopes and let’s take a look at our guide to all things astronomy this May 2016.
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