Monthly Archives: February 2012

Auroras way up north plus the moon visits a famous star cluster

Posted on February 28, 2012 by astrobob

Bright auroras have dressed up the Arctic sky the past two nights after the sun’s wind of charged particles – electrons and protons – pried an opening in Earth’s magnetic field and spiraled down into the upper atmosphere. There’s still … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Milky Way from a hilltop and the starry gazelle leaps again

Posted on February 27, 2012 by astrobob

Yesterday afternoon I stood atop a hill with snow coming down and the trees all fuzzy in the distance. Then it hit me like a snowball on the back of the neck – the forest helps us understand the appearance … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Put your stamp of approval on a new Pluto stamp

Posted on February 26, 2012 by astrobob

“It looks like the moon cut in half,” said the little boy after he looked at Venus through the telescope last night. And so it did. We had some interference from high clouds, but it was clear enough to see … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Moon and planets align this weekend – don’t miss it

Posted on February 25, 2012 by astrobob

If it’s clear in the west tonight, your eyes will twinkle with extra added sparkle. The crescent moon slides just a few degrees to the right of Venus, while Jupiter shines above and Mercury below. You’ll want to be out … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

February fireballs really shake things up

Posted on February 24, 2012 by astrobob

Security video captured the Canadian fireball over Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada Meteorites seem to be dropping everywhere. First China and now today comes word of fresh cosmic booty on the ground north of the town of Rockhaven (a wonderfully appropriate name) … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Faster than light neutrino result flawed, loose cable to blame

Posted on February 23, 2012 by astrobob

Remember last September’s Italian experiment that supposedly detected faster-than-light neutrinos?  Neutrinos, which come in several varieties, are neutral subatomic particles that have a very minute mass and rarely interact with matter. When hydrogen is fused into helium in the sun’s … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Mercury makes its move into the evening sky

Posted on February 22, 2012 by astrobob

Move over Jupiter. Move over Venus. It may be the smallest planet, but Mercury is on its way up into the evening sky. Beginning tonight – and with the help of a very young crescent moon – observers with clear … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Rocket launches into aurora plus a new meteorite falls in China

Posted on February 21, 2012 by astrobob

As some of us stood amazed at the haphazard dance of northern lights last Saturday night, a team of scientists and graduate students from New Hampshire’s Space Science Center watched with equal amazement night as a rocket laden with sensors … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Great Twilight Planet Show rolls into town

Posted on February 20, 2012 by astrobob

Have you been watching the light show in the western sky these past few weeks? Jupiter and Venus has been ever-so-slowly drawing closer together during evening twilight. Like two lovers in a lengthy courtship, these two planets were clearly meant … Continue reading →

Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Aurora update plus we visit with the sun’s sisters in Cancer

Posted on February 19, 2012 by astrobob

Wow – two decent auroral displays in a week! We haven’t had that around here for a long time. While last night’s lights were in the forecast, they weren’t described as anything more than “isolated active periods”. I think it … Continue reading →

Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments