Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
General Relativity – While Newton’s formula for gravity yields elliptical shapes for orbits, Einstein’s theory of general relativity dictates that orbiting bodies follow an ellipse that moves. Each time around an orbit, the perihelion of the ellipse advances a little bit, rotating about the main mass.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Earth-like Planet Found – An exoplanet has been found that is the closest yet to being the size and temperature of Earth. It was found by NASA scientists in archived Kepler data, and has been dubbed Kepler-1649c.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Betelgeuse – As reported here over the last two months, the star Betelgeuse dimmed to its lowest recorded level in early February. New observations made in late February showed it creeping back up in brightness.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
New Target For Lucy – The Trojan asteroids are found in two groups along Jupiter’s orbit, one group at a 60 degree angle ahead of the giant planet, and the other 60 degrees behind.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Betelgeuse, although long known to vary somewhat in brightness, is the dimmest it’s been in at least a century. Before these recent variations, it had been brighter than Rigel at its peak, but recently dimmed to the level of Bellatrix, dimmer than first magnitude.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Milky Way Disk – Astronomers have known for more than 20 years that the disk of our Milky Way galaxy consists of two distinct populations of stars, differing in age and composition with the “Thin Disk” embedded within the “Thick Disk.”… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Neutron Star Found – In 1987, astronomers witnessed the nearest supernova in hundreds of years explode in the nearby dwarf galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud. Being the first observed of the year, the astronomical event was named SN 1987A.… Continue reading.
By Donald S. Lynn
How To Build It
More than 30 years ago I was attending the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference and Celestron was selling scrapped telescope parts at their booth. They were probably cleaning out their factory of stuff that customers had broken and brought in to be repaired.… Continue reading.
Astronomy and space news summarized by Don Lynn from NASA and other sources
Physics Nobel Prize – Because the Nobel Prizes do not have a category strictly for astronomy, astronomers whose work merits the honor are awarded the Physics Nobel. Three astronomers received the 2019 Physics award.… Continue reading.
By Mark Laurin
Mark Laurin is an amateur astronomer, a member of the Denver Astronomical Society for more than 15 years and has been active in astronomy outreach in the communities around Summit County since 2014. Here he shares what got him started working with the public, and what keeps him going.… Continue reading.