Beyond The Forecast: Planets to see in the early days of 2021
Read full article: Beyond The Forecast: Planets to see in the early days of 2021If you like to stargaze, we’re pleased to report that the skies will be busy for you over the next week! Early forecasts call for clear skies on these evenings but make sure you check back for updates on the expected cloud cover. This will require an early wake-up call as the planet’s visit with the near-new moon will happen before dawn next Monday. Again, check the forecast Sunday night before you go to bed to make sure clouds won’t obscure your view. Switching gears to your forecast, there’s not a whole lot going on in the weather world this week up until Friday.
WATCH: The “Christmas Star” has arrived
Read full article: WATCH: The “Christmas Star” has arrivedIf you couldn’t see it where you live, we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss this astrological phenomenon. [Here’s how to spot the rare ‘Christmas Star’ on Monday]What many are calling the “Christmas Star” is actually two planets. Despite being 400 million miles away from each other Saturn and Jupiter will appear closers than they have since the 13th century.
Here’s how to spot the rare ‘Christmas Star’ on Monday
Read full article: Here’s how to spot the rare ‘Christmas Star’ on MondayROANOKE, Va. – You’ll want to make sure you don’t miss tonight’s astronomical marvel! Despite being 400 million miles away from each other Saturn and Jupiter will appear closers than they have since the 13th century. Since the event is happening so close to Christmas, many have dubbed the phenomenon the “Christmas Star.”In Southwest and Central Virginia here’s what to do so you don’t miss it! It takes Jupiter about 12 Earth years to do the same. (Credit: WKMG)The Great Conjunction occurs because Jupiter has the inside track while orbiting the sun in our solar system.
Jupiter, Saturn merging in night sky, closest in centuries
Read full article: Jupiter, Saturn merging in night sky, closest in centuries(Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jupiter and Saturn will merge in the night sky Monday, appearing closer to one another than they have since Galileo’s time in the 17th century. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn in their respective laps around the sun every 20 years. Saturn and Jupiter have been drawing closer in the south-southwest sky for weeks. Despite appearances, Jupiter and Saturn will actually be more than 450 million miles (730 million kilometers) apart. A telescope will not only capture Jupiter and Saturn in the same field of view, but even some of their brightest moons.
One week away! Seasonably cold weather precedes Christmas cold blast
Read full article: One week away! Seasonably cold weather precedes Christmas cold blastROANOKE, Va. – Following Wednesday’s wintry mess, we continue to stay seasonably cold Friday with decreasing clouds. The Great Conjunction of 2020Looking beyond toward Christmas, we are tracking a strong cold front that will likely bring rain to the area at some point on Christmas Eve. What we're tracking on Christmas Eve 2020Once the front passes, we’ll likely see some snow toward our west-facing slopes. The rest of us will be left much colder and windy at times through Christmas Day. What we're tracking on Christmas Day 2020At the moment, the chance of a White Christmas (1″ of snow on the ground on Christmas Day) is slim.
Rare ‘Christmas Star’ will light up the sky on winter solstice
Read full article: Rare ‘Christmas Star’ will light up the sky on winter solsticeAs Christmas nears, astronomers are urging citizens to look to the sky in a few weeks to witness something not seen in almost 800 years. Forbes reported that Jupiter and Saturn will look like a “double planet” for the first time since the Middle Ages. You’ll be able to witness the event in the sky through binoculars or a small telescope, according to NASA. Plus, Jupiter & Saturn appear closer than in decades, and the winter solstice arrives. Some astronomers believe that the “star of Bethlehem” was a conjunction between Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.
Jupiter, Saturn to make closest conjunction in nearly 400 years just days before Christmas
Read full article: Jupiter, Saturn to make closest conjunction in nearly 400 years just days before ChristmasROANOKE, Va. – Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, it’s important to note that there’s been some hardcore clickbait out there regarding this month’s upcoming planetary conjunction. Having said that, we’ll take any additional brightness we can get in the final days and weeks of 2020. This planetary conjunction ought to do just that. In the nights prior to the ‘great conjunction,’ Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer together in the southwest sky about an hour after sunset. It’s definitely a needed dose of brightness in the final days of what has been a challenging year for many.
Not just fireworks! What’s happening in space this 4th of July weekend?
Read full article: Not just fireworks! What’s happening in space this 4th of July weekend?ROANOKE, Va. – While many fireworks displays have been canceled, there may be a few other things that catch your eye this holiday weekend! The full ‘Buck’ moon rises on the 4th, and it does so in conjunction with a few friends. Penumbral eclipse to occur this weekendThe last thing is something you won’t see. This is called ‘aphelion,' or the farthest point away from the sun in Earth’s annual orbit. Aphelion takes place this 4th of July weekendThis further proves that our seasons on Earth aren’t dictated by our distance from the sun, but rather the angle of the sun.
Moon, Jupiter appear "close" to each other in Thursday night sky
Read full article: Moon, Jupiter appear "close" to each other in Thursday night skyROANOKE, Va. - Skywatchers, be sure to look to your south and southwest Thursday night. Just make sure to do so before 10:45, as that's when the moon sets. The moon will be in very "close" quarters to Jupiter from our vantage point, and the sky should be clear enough for a good view of it! Far to the left of the moon will be Saturn. By Saturday night, the moon will appear very close to Saturn, with Jupiter farther to your right.
Hubble snaps new portrait of Saturn
Read full article: Hubble snaps new portrait of Saturn(CNN) - When Saturn was approaching closest to Earth this year on June 20, the Hubble Space Telescope captured the view. Some features come and go, like a large storm by the north pole spotted by Hubble last year. Hubble spotted Saturn during its summer. Each year, the Hubble Space Telescope spends some time looking at the outer planets of our solar system. In late June, during one of these observation periods, Hubble also took a stunning detailed portrait of Jupiter.
30 years ago: Voyager 2 snaps photo of Neptune
Read full article: 30 years ago: Voyager 2 snaps photo of NeptunePASADENA, Calif. - Thirty years ago, NASA's Voyager 2 mission flew by Neptune, capturing the first close-up images of the blue gas giant. Trina Ray was working at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Neptune flyby of the Voyager 2 mission. "Its been a wonderful experience because there was so much to be learned," Stone said, reflecting on his time with the Voyager mission. Those who worked on the Voyager mission and now assist with Europa Clipper's development know they may not be able to see the mission through. "You only send a robot emissary that exits the solar system for the first time once, and that's Voyager," Ray said.
Jupiter, Saturn and moon to line up in night sky this week
Read full article: Jupiter, Saturn and moon to line up in night sky this weekVenus and Mars are currently blocked from our view by the sun, but this week is a great chance to catch Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction with the moon. The nearly full moon will appear very close to Jupiter on the night of August 9. Like Jupiter, Saturn will also appear in the sky once night falls and be visible until dawn, east of Jupiter. On the evening of August 11, the moon will appear to the right of Saturn and then on its left on August 12. Other tribes also called it the "moon when all things ripen" the "blueberry moon" or the "wheat cut moon."
See Saturn's rings as it begins its closest pass by Earth
Read full article: See Saturn's rings as it begins its closest pass by EarthDuring opposition, Saturn, the sun and Earth are in a straight line, with Earth in the middle. Beginning Tuesday, Saturn will be at opposition, meaning it will rise opposite the sun in the Earth's sky. When we pass between the sun and a planet outside our own orbit, the other planet "is generally closest to Earth and brightest for that year," EarthSky notes notes. During this time Saturn, Earth and the sun will be in a straight line, with Earth in the center. On July 15 and 16, a full moon "scrapes by the ringed planet," according to NASA.
Saturn goes into 'opposition' Tuesday afternoon; appears bright at night
Read full article: Saturn goes into 'opposition' Tuesday afternoon; appears bright at nightROANOKE, Va. - If the sky can clear out enough for you Tuesday night, be sure to look east after sunset. Saturn is going into opposition Tuesday afternoon, meaning that Earth will be sandwiched in between the planet and the sun. As a result, Saturn will be brighter than it usually appears in our night sky. Start out looking east around sunset, look higher up around midnight and then look west by sunrise Wednesday morning. The only thing that may get in the way of your view will be clouds and patchy overnight fog.
NASA's new mission, Dragonfly, will explore Saturn's moon Titan
Read full article: NASA's new mission, Dragonfly, will explore Saturn's moon TitanNASA via Wikimedia CommonsNASA announced the latest mission in its New Frontiers program, called Dragonfly, which will explore Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Before it ended in 2017, the Cassini mission flew by Titan while studying Saturn. The data provided by the Hyugens probe, which was part of the Cassini mission, suggested that Titan was the perfect candidate for further exploration. We will launch Dragonfly to explore the frontiers of human knowledge for the benefit of all humanity." They want to explore sand dunes on Titan to determine if they're made of the same organic discovered in the atmosphere.