Monthly Archives: November 2010

Wake up to Venus and the moon

Posted on November 30, 2010 by astrobob

The month of December will be the best one for seeing Venus in the dawn sky. And what better way to begin the new month than an excursion tomorrow morning to see the planet in the company of the crescent … Continue reading →

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Kickin’ around in the snow

Posted on November 29, 2010 by astrobob

I took a great walk in the woods yesterday. Many trees were still blanketed with snow from our Thanksgiving Day storm. As I kicked through the fluffy white clods, I thought of Comet Hartley 2 and its carbon dioxide-propelled geysers … Continue reading →

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Ten popular myths about astronomy

Posted on November 28, 2010 by astrobob

Myth #1: You can see the Great Wall of China from the moon and /or Earth orbit. To discern a particular feature on the Earth while standing on the moon using only your naked eye, it has to be around … Continue reading →

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Starry pleasures either side of midnight

Posted on November 27, 2010 by astrobob

There are those who watch and study the stars and planets during evening hours and those who prefer the morning hours for their cosmic connection. Today we’ll try to provide something for sky watchers on both sides of the midnight … Continue reading →

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Thankful for light and life

Posted on November 25, 2010 by astrobob

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re happily tucked away out of the cold with family close by and a tasty meal in the offing. Because of today’s packed schedule, the six International Space Station astronauts celebrated Thanksgiving early with a meal … Continue reading →

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Jupiter’s Red Spot has all its ducks in a row

Posted on November 24, 2010 by astrobob

The Great Red Spot (GRS) on Jupiter is a big deal, literally. A high-pressure storm similar to a hurricane on Earth, its girth would swallow two Earths with room to spare. This photo shows the recent development of a string … Continue reading →

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How to make a flying saucer, Saturn-style

Posted on November 23, 2010 by astrobob

It’s not often a spacecraft nabs six moons around another planet in one photo, but there they are – Enceladus (313 miles across), oblong Janus (111 miles), Atlas (19 miles), Pan (17 miles), Daphnis (5 miles) and Epimetheus (70 miles) … Continue reading →

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Dibs on the Big Dipper

Posted on November 22, 2010 by astrobob

Though the moon remains big and bright early this week, there are a few constellations that stand out despite the glare of moonlight. One of them is the Big Dipper, not a constellation really, but the better half of the … Continue reading →

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Faces of astronauts in space

Posted on November 21, 2010 by astrobob

As a photojournalist, my job mostly involves taking pictures of people. I enjoy nothing more than catching a nice moment, expression or human interaction. The best pictures reveal the emotion the subject is feeling, be it elation, confusion, sadness or … Continue reading →

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Full moon in the time of short shadows

Posted on November 20, 2010 by astrobob

The moment of Full Beaver Moon happens tomorrow morning at 11:27 Central time, but you’ll be hard pressed to detect any “out of roundness” with your naked eye when you look tonight. The moon looks nearly circular a full 12 … Continue reading →

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