Solar eclipses can only be seen in certain locations and require safe eyewear. Lunar eclipses are visible at night, except the dimming of the Moon’s light is barely noticeable during a penumbral eclipse. In 2023, there will be four eclipses: two solar and two lunar. View dates with Naturalist’s Guide.
Leap years keep our calendar and seasons in sync with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun The Earth takes about 365.25 days to complete a full orbit around the Sun. If we kept it at exactly 365 days every year, our seasons would slowly drift off course because of the extra 6 hours it takes …
The February full Moon is called the Snow Moon because this name is attributed to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February in many northern regions. The February 24, 2024 full moon will be a minimoon. Unofficially called a ‘minimoon’, the moon will look slightly smaller than usual. This is because of the moon’s …
Wanna be a Martian? In preparation for IRL Mars exploration, the simulated mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Starting in Spring 2025, crew tasks include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth. The habitat, called the …
In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of Spring is an astronomical event in which the Sun shines directly on the equator causing nearly equal lengths of day and night. The first day of Spring is technically called the Vernal Equinox or Spring Equinox. Spring brings warmer weather, blooming plants, and longer days. The vernal …