Why Is Astronomy Important?
Looking up at the sky, it’s easy to feel a sense of wonder. That feeling is the essence of astronomy. But astronomy is more than just stargazing. It’s a field that has shaped our understanding of the universe and our place within it. This comprehensive guide explores why astronomy is essential to our society. It […]
Observing Guide: November and December 2024
Below is your observing guide for the months of November and December 2024. While this guide may be useful in the early evening, you may wish to read our current guide, Observing Guide: January and February 2025. As the weather becomes cooler and the nights longer in the northern hemisphere, many stargazing opportunities await you […]
Space Weather
There is a clear link between solar activity and effects observed in space directly around the Earth. This space weather results from dynamic events within the Sun’s atmosphere. This article first explores the mechanisms that cause dynamic events in the Sun’s atmosphere before exploring how they affect space around Earth. Finally, it explores the effects […]
Solving the Solar Neutrino Problem
Our understanding of stellar processes is based on our understanding of the Sun. We have studied the processes in the Sun and, with astronomical observations, developed models of how stars are born, live, and eventually die. If our understanding of the Sun is incorrect, then so too would our models of how stars develop. In […]
What are Stellar-Mass Black Holes?
This article explores what we know about stellar-mass black holes and how we find them. To do this, we need to look at what a stellar-mass black hole is and how we can detect its presence. Due to their nature, we can not view them directly. Just a warning. This is a more technical article […]
Refractor vs Reflector Telescope: How Do They Differ?
Reflector and refractor are similar words. While refractor and reflector telescopes aim to achieve the same thing, they do so in different ways. In this article, we look at the differences between a refractor vs reflector telescope. Importantly, we will detail which type of telescope is best for different purposes. Refractor telescopes were the first […]
How do Scientists Classify Stars?
With a casual glance at the night sky, all stars may be similar. They all appear to be a similar color but with varying brightness. However, scientists have developed a complex and intricate classification system to classify stars. In this article, we will explore how do scientists classify stars. The only information we receive directly […]
How Far Away Is Venus From The Sun?
Venus is a world shrouded in a thick layer of clouds. As such, its surface is a mysterious place that we can’t directly observe. It is the second planet out from the Sun. You may be wondering how far away is Venus from the Sun. Even though the planet’s surface is not visible, we still […]
Are Nebulae Bigger Than Galaxies
With the naked eye in a dark sky location, it is possible to see both a nebula and a galaxy. With a telescope, you can see many more of each. They both appear to be of a similar size. This may lead some to ask, are nebulae bigger than galaxies? In this article, we will […]
How Many Moons Does the Sun Have?
Other than for a few days around the new Moon, our Moon is always visible from Earth. Using binoculars or a telescope, we can see moons orbiting Jupiter. These moons all orbit a planet. It may make you wonder about how many moons does the Sun has. To answer this question best, we must understand […]