Monthly Archives: March 2008

The Earth sets over the moon as seen from the Kaguya spacecraft – JAXA/NHK Cloudy skies are in the forecast tonight and tomorrow. Why not kick back and enjoy a movie or two? For your astro pleasure, I have two wonderful, … Continue reading →

Current space station crew / NASA(The Expedition 16 crew members pose for a portrait at the Johnson Space Center. From the left (front row) are Russia’s Federal Space Agency cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, flight engineer and Soyuz commander; astronaut Peggy Whitson, … Continue reading →

Saturn and Regulus in Leo. Have you met their gaze? – Bob King / News Tribune Have you noticed a pair of eyes looking over your shoulder these spring nights? I’m talking about the planet Saturn and the star Regulus in Leo the Lion. … Continue reading →

The Northern Lights last night at 11 p.m. — Bob King / News Tribune Did you get a chance to see the aurora last night? From the countryside, it was active until past 11 o’clock. Faint rays like rising smoke … Continue reading →

The International Space Station / NASA A quick reminder for satellite watchers tonight and tomorrow night. Here are times for viewing Jules Verne and the International Space Station from the Duluth-Superior region. Weather looks good and tonight’s passes should be … Continue reading →

The sun today as seen from the SOHO spacecraft / SOHO-MDI There’s aurora in the air. Last night I saw two plumes of light low in the northern sky around 10 p.m. They gradually brightened and then slowly faded like breath evaporating … Continue reading →

Just caught the 9 p.m. pass of the International Space Station here from my front yard, and it was a brilliant one. Even through thin clouds, the ISS was brighter than nearby Sirius. The other satellite, Jules Verne, was dim. Clouds didn’t help either. Tomorrow night’s … Continue reading →

I got home late last night after looking at Saturn, a dozen galaxies and a beautiful star cluster in my telescope from a dark place north of home. The house was quiet but a light was on in my older daughter’s room. "Dad, can … Continue reading →

Time exposure of star trails around Polaris / Bob King Every day it’s a merry-go-around. The planet spins round and round with its axis pointed in the same direction at the same special star, Polaris. More familiar to us as … Continue reading →

Earthly stars Zellweger and Clooney — Bob King / News Tribune Stars of the cosmic variety / NASA Hollywood celebs George Clooney and Renee Zellweger came to Duluth today to promote the movie "Leatherheads." I’ve been so busy getting photos of these … Continue reading →