Investigating and then understanding fundamental processes that impact humanity and the environment are crucial aspects of research for NASA and the scientific community. The data and information collected from these missions, plus the unique vantage…
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The Pacific Northwest has a lot of beautiful scenery, which means that there are a plethora of unique astronomy sites. The map above shows all of the locations, and if there is one that is…
The stars in globular clusters orbit about a common center of gravity, so these clusters are usually spherical. Some globular clusters, like Messier 19, have a slightly elongated shape. This cluster is only 6,500 light-years…
As mentioned in the lunar eclipses article, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not…
Many people are interested in model rockets, but what are they exactly? How do they vary and how did model rockets become so popular? A model rocket is a small rocket designed to reach low altitudes and be recovered by a…
It looks like Messier 18 might very well be a binary cluster that is paired with NGC 6618. NGC 6618 located inside Messier 17. Messier 18 is a relatively dim open star cluster located in…
Aside from being the typical cat toy and teaching aid, the laser pointer could be a helpful astronomy aid for some. It is common for some to use laser pointers to show different constellations and…
The rings of Saturn are arguably one of the most recognizable features of a planet in the entire solar system, other than Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Amateur astronomers are amazed at the first time that…
Messier 17 is the star-forming nebula that is more famously known by its nicknames as the Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, or Horseshoe Nebula. Located in the Sagittarius constellation, M17 is a very beautiful nebula…
How have amateur astronomy clubs in the PNW adapted to COVID-19? Which clubs are providing remote meetings? Which of these clubs are posting these videos online and which clubs are making these meetings open to…
A sky quality meter, abbreviated as SQM, is an instrument used to measure the luminance of the night sky. In the case of astronomy, the It is used, typically by amateur astronomers, to quantify the…
On November 26th, 1965, the French Space Program, today known as CNES, launch its first satellite, named Asterix 1 from Hammaguir, Algeria. By launching Asterix 1, France became the third nation in history to launch…