2020 February 24 Moon Corona, Halo, and Arcs over Manitoba Image Credit & Copyright: Brent Mckean Explanation: Yes, but could you get to work on time if the Moon looked like this? As the photographer was preparing to drive to work, refraction, reflection, and even diffraction of moonlight from m […]
2020 February 23 Illustris Simulation of the Universe Video Credit: Illustris Collaboration, NASA, PRACE, XSEDE, MIT, Harvard CfA; Music: The Poisoned Princess (Media Right Productions) Explanation: How did we get here? Click play, sit back, and watch. A computer simulation of the evolution of the u
2020 February 22 Central Centaurus A Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage (STScI/ AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration Explanation: A mere 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Also known as NGC 5128, the peculiar elliptical galaxy is over 60,000 light-
2020 February 21 LDN 1622: Dark Nebula in Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Min Xie Explanation: The silhouette of an intriguing dark nebula inhabits this cosmic scene. Lynds’ Dark Nebula (LDN) 1622 appears against a faint background of glowing hydrogen gas only visible in long telescopic ex
2020 February 20 Trifecta at Twilight Image Credit & Copyright: Paul Schmit, Gary Schmit Explanation: On February 18, as civil twilight began in northern New Mexico skies, the International Space Station, a waning crescent Moon, and planet Mars for a moment shared this well-planned single field
2020 February 19 UGC 12591: The Fastest Rotating Galaxy Known Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble; Processing & Copyright: Leo Shatz Explanation: Why does this galaxy spin so fast? To start, even identifying which type of galaxy UGC 12591 is difficult — featured on the lower left, it has dark
2020 February 18 Orion over the Central Bohemian Highlands Image Credit & Copyright: Vojtěch Bauer Explanation: Do you recognize this constellation? Setting past the Central Bohemian Highlands in the Czech Republic is Orion, one of the most identifiable star groupings on the sky and an icon fami
2020 February 17 The Changing Surface of Fading Betelgeuse Image Credit: ESO, M. Montargès et al. Explanation: Besides fading, is Betelgeuse changing its appearance? Yes. The famous red supergiant star in the familiar constellation of Orion is so large that telescopes on Earth can actually resolve i
2020 February 16 NGC 2392: Double-Shelled Planetary Nebula Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, Chandra; Processing & License: Judy Schmidt Explanation: To some, this huge nebula resembles a person’s head surrounded by a parka hood. In 1787, astronomer William Herschel discovered this unusual
2020 February 15 Carina Nebula Close Up Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, ESO, Amateur Data; Processing & Copyright: Robert Gendler & Roberto Colombari Explanation: A jewel of the southern sky, the Great Carina Nebula, also known as NGC 3372, spans over 300 light-years, one of our galaxy̵
