Mars: Mission Statistics
Today we are going to discuss the different mission statistics of launching a mission to Mars. With several upcoming Mars missions set to launch in the near term future, lets take a look at the…
First TV Image of Mars
2020 is a big year for space travel to Mars. There are several different countries attempting to send spacecraft to the planet with a variety of different setups and goals. Some of these spacecraft will…
Neowise: Tips And Tricks For Imaging And Viewing
With much excitement for comet Neowise, we figured we would provide a bit of information regarding our experience imaging and viewing the object. Everyone has their own favorite spots to view the comet, but there…
Top 5 Most Beautiful Meteor Showers
For more information about viewing Meteor Showers and the different meteor showers that can be viewed over the course of a year, check out our article on the topic. This article is going to focus…
Top 5 Most Reliable Fall Astronomical Targets
Fall can always be a tough time in the Pacific Northwest with varying temperatures, cloudy and wet weather, and the potential for a wide variety of weather in a short period of time to make…
Viewing Comet NEOWISE
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), or Comet NEOWISE, is a retrograde comet with a near-parabolic orbit discovered on March 27, 2020 by the NEOWISE space telescope. It passed closest to the Sun on July 3, 2020 at…
Constellations Always Visible From The Pacific Northwest
A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms a perceived outline or pattern, typically representing an animal, mythological person or creature, or an inanimate object. Due…
Lunisolar Calendar
Used by many cultural s throughout history, lunisolar calendars are used to indicate the date in the form of both the Moon phase and the time of the solar year. It is worth noting that the use of…
July 5 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
As mentioned in the moon phases 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…
Star Party Resources
For those looking for star party resources including where locations in the Pacific Northwest, volunteering resources, or ideas for your party, here is a collection of articles. These star parties are gatherings of amateur astronomers for the purpose…