The planetary system contains the Sunshine as well as the planets it orbits, plus their moons, rings, and such “fragments” as planets and comets. Stargazers are actually discovering more concerning this system continuously, with telescopes and also Earth-launched space probes.
Our solar body formed about 4.5 billion years ago. It outgrew a thick region in an interstellar cloud of dirt and fuel. read here
The Sunshine is actually the superstar at the facility of our sunlight body. It is actually an enormous, warm ball of plasma televisions that gives off radiation in the kind of obvious lighting, infrared, ultraviolet as well as X-rays. This radioactive particles supplies a lot of the electricity needed forever on Planet.
Deep in the Sunshine’s primary, atomic combination takes spot to transform hydrogen right into helium. This procedure misshapes the framework of the celebrity as well as makes features like sunspots as well as flares. When these features launch high-energy fragments right into room, they can easily interfere with gps communication and result in the “geomagnetic storms” that occasionally interrupt power frameworks in the world.
The Sunlight is actually surrounded by a substantial blister of billed fragments called the heliosphere, which defenses earths and their moons from fast interstellar fragments understood as planetary radiations. This bubble prolongs out to regarding 2,000 AU, the proximity of the Oort cloud, where long-period comets dwell.
Our planetary system contains the Sunlight, 8 planets and their countless moons and also asteroids. It also consists of an extensive swath of extremely rare fuel as well as dust understood as the interplanetary tool. Our device formed 4,500 million years earlier and also performs some of the external spiral arms of the Galaxy universe.
The Moon orbits The planet in an elliptical trainer style that takes about 27 days to complete a single rotation. This brings about the Moon’s periods and also enables sun and lunar eclipses. Its surface is pockmarked along with scars coming from the countless meteorites that have actually hit it over the years. Yet beneath its own rough crust exists lava, which has actually appeared for billions of years.
The smallest moons are Deimos at Mars, Ganymede at Jupiter, Titan at Solar System as well as Iapetus on Pluto. There are actually greater than 210 well-known nomadic moons, plus a lot more in the planet waistband and the big rings of Jupiter, Solar System, Uranus as well as Neptune. The Voyager probes uncovered 6 earlier uncounted moons of Neptune that vary in dimension coming from thirty three to 250 kilometers around.
The planets in our photovoltaic unit developed coming from a rotating cloud of gasoline as well as dirt. The center of the cloud fell down as a result of to gravitational force and developed the Sun. Over time, wrecks between fragments in the bordering cloud barged all together to form rough and gaseous planets.
These earths orbit the Sunlight in ellipses, with each one’s proximity from the center of the Sun (periodic span) varying slightly. The earths that orbit closest to the Sun are actually Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars; those that orbit further away are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and also Neptune. Just About Pluto (right now thought about a dwarf earth) possess rings around them.
The internal earths possess rough, sound areas and also are actually intensely cratered; the exterior earths possess heavy gases that offer all of them the appearance of being ice titans. All of the planets have moons.
The Dwarf Planets
The planetary system possesses five “formal” dwarf worlds– Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake, and also Haumea. In enhancement, stargazers think about a variety of trans-Neptunian items, consisting of Gonggong (2007 OR10), Quaoar, Sedna, Orcus, 2002 MS4, and Salacia, to be applicants for the classification. The measurements of these objects may simply be actually approximated located on their presumed albedos, and also as a result the specific lot of dwarf planets in our sunlight device is actually unknown.
The discovery of these overshadows has induced conflict, especially due to the fact that they are actually certainly not large sufficient to qualify as true earths under the rigorous interpretation used due to the International Astronomical Alliance. Some Pluto lovers criticized the experts that named them, as well as some of the finders obtained hate mail coming from smashed 6-year-olds.
These dwarfs might have rocky centers surrounded by ice, as the asteroid Ceres performs. They may likewise have moons, as the icy Eris carries out, and the rocky Haumea performs. Their tracks signify that they were actually the moment portion of a much larger world, which obtained taken apart throughout a time frame of gravitational interruption contacted behind time heavy barrage. In the course of this opportunity, Jupiter, Solar System, and Neptune shifted inward towards the Sun, knocking clutter right into their tracks.
The Solar Body has the Sunshine, 8 earths, their moons, about 290 thousand planets and also much more than 3,900 comets. It developed 4,500 million years earlier, as well as it orbits the facility of our Galaxy Galaxy in some of its own external spiral arms.
The four stony planets closest to the Sunshine are Mercury, Venus, The Planet and also Mars. Beyond them rests the asteroid district, an area including countless small rough things that are leftovers coming from the accumulation of the global disk. The gasoline giants, Jupiter, Solar System, Uranus and Neptune, pack the void in between the asteroid waistband as well as the Sunlight.
Comets are actually blends of ice, rock and also dirt that loop with the Solar System in lengthened elliptical trainer orbits. When a comet comes close to the Sunshine, it warms up and its icy products transform directly from solid ice to gas in a method gotten in touch with sublimation. This releases dirt bits that develop a tail that directs far from the Sunlight. An additional rear of neutral ions extends in an upright line coming from the Sunlight, a graceful contour that offers all of them their label as “grimy snowballs.” Astronomers think that short-period comets, which orbit the Sunlight in lower than 200 years, come from the Kuiper district and long-period comets stem from the Oort Cloud, a disc-shaped location that extends beyond Neptune’s orbit.


12:53am (37,191 notes)
Dark Sky Island
The gorgeous Isle of Sark, the smallest self-governing island in Europe, is located in the English channel 130 miles off the southern English coast. In January 2011 it became the world’s first “Dark Sky island” by controlling light pollution. The island’s single electricity source is an oil-fired power station, and there are no cars, streetlights or even paved roads: you can only get around by bike, horse, carriage or tractor-drawn bus. Due to the lack of light pollution, the Milky Way stretches gloriously overhead—from horizon to horizon across the pristine black sky.


The Astrophysics Research Group was established at Liverpool John Moores University in February 1992. Since then it has grown to its present size of over 40 individuals with further rapid expansion planned. During this period it has attracted significant PPARC and EU grants and was one of only two university physics departments in the UK to show an improvement of 3 grades between the 1992 and 1996 national Research Assessment Exercises. In August 2000 the Astrophysics Research Institute became an independent department within the University. An Advisory Board, including senior university staff and external representatives, provides guidance to the Institute from a wider perspective.
Current research spans topics in stellar astronomy including novae and related stars; regions of star formation; brown dwarfs, extra-solar planets and the environments of Be stars. Work in the area of extragalactic astronomy and cosmology encompasses galactic dynamics; interacting and merging galaxies; the evolution of galaxies, and large-scale structure.
The Institute houses a node of the STARLINK system for data reduction and analysis. It also holds a PPARC PATT rolling grant to fund travel for observational work at telescopes around the world and a PPARC Visiting Fellows grant to enable collaborators to spend extended periods working within the Institute. Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Assistants, Research Students and technical and secretarial staff are funded by PPARC grants or University (RAE) research funds.
A major initiative that the Institute is involved in is the Liverpool Telescope project funded in part by an EU grant. Project partners are PPARC, the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, and Merseyside industry. Our primary aim is to re-establish the UK's ability to build large optical telescopes, and to base the enterprise in the Merseyside region. The prototype instrument, the 2m Liverpool Telescope, will be the World's largest robotic telescope, and will be in full scientific operation on La Palma in the Canaries in 2003. The Institute will be responsible for running this telescope, and will have a significant amount of guaranteed time in which to conduct observing programmes. The telescope, and its successors, will be built on Merseyside by a subsidiary company of JMU, Telescope Technologies Limited.
Members of the Institute are also involved with Physics with Astronomy B.Sc. and Astrophysics M.Phys. degrees in conjuction with the University of Liverpool Physics Department, a variety of distance learning programmes and the National Schools' Observatory. In the recent QAA teaching quality assessment exercise conducted together with the Physics Department of the University of Liverpool we were awarded a maximum TQA score of 24 out of 24.


Abstract：Very Long Baseline Interferomety (VLBI) is a high-resolution imaging technique in radio astronomy. It has made substantial contribution to our understanding of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The progress in VLBI is reviewed focusing on the development at millimeter wavelengths and its applications to AGN studies. Extending this technique to millimeter wavelengths, so-called mm-VLBI, leads to a unique opportunity to directly probe the central regions of AGN with the highest angular resolution in astronomy. Direct imaging of the jet innermost regions is indispensable for answering a number of unresolved fundamental questions regarding the jet formation, acceleration, and collimation. It is also a key to understand how the gravitational effects and magnetic fields (through full polarimetric VLBI observations) play the role in the vicinity of Super Massive Black Holes (SMBH). Such kind of studies are not possible at centimeter wavelengths due to the self-absorption, opacity, Faraday depolarization and scattering (in the case of Sgr A*) effects. In addition, millimeter-VLBI observations also open windows to study new species of spectral lines with unprecedented angular resolutions. The present challenges of millimeter VLBI are explained and a brief developing history is then described. Recent technical development allows imaging of hundreds of sources at 86GHz with high dynamic range. At even higher frequencies, studies are at present limited to pilot experiments, but have shown the detectability of brightest AGN and the existence of event-horizon-scale structures. These studies provide us with direct insights into black hole and relativistic jet physics. The future potential for improvement in mm-VLBI detection sensitivity is summarized. The characteristics for those radio telescopes and interferometer arrays, which are likely available in the next few years for global VLBI at short millimeter wavelengths (≤1.3mm) are presented. With the addition of these new instruments, a detailed imaging of nearby SMBHs (e.g. Sgr A*, M87) and answer to the open question of jet formation can be prospected.


Hawaii By Sextant
Hawaii By Sextant by David Burch and Stephen Miller
An In-depth Exercise in Celestial Navigation Using Real Sextant Sights and Logbook Entries.
In the spirit of early Bowditch editions, we offer navigation details of a full ocean passage as an excellent way to learn the ropes of practical celestial navigation. With your own tables and plotting sheets, you can analyze 224 timed sextant sights to obtain 26 position fixes to find your way along a 2,800-nmi voyage lasting 17 days. We use sun, moon, stars, and planets.
After completing this passage you will be prepared to navigate by celestial navigation on your own – if you choose to, or need to.
The book includes an in-depth discussion with examples of the Fit-Slope Method, along with the formulation and examples of numerical LOP advancement for small DR corrections during a sight session and other suggestions for optimizing cel nav when combining traditional and modern solutions to position fixing.
Also included is a record of our rendezvous with the remnants of Hurricane Daniel, and other nuances, such as evidence of loose-cannon mesoscale current eddies–something that we (and most other navigators at the time) did not even know existed in these waters.
Solutions are provided by computation, filled-out workforms, and detailed plots using universal plotting sheets. After each fix, the range and bearing DR to Fix is recorded and discussed in light of proposed guidelines for ocean DR uncertainty.
Landfall at night using computed navigation light ranges is also discussed and illustrated.
Note that this is not a book on how to learn basic celestial navigation. This is an extended realistic exercise in using the celestial navigation you already know to enhance your knowledge and expand it with advanced methods that could be needed in special circumstances.
This book is unique.
There never has been in the past, nor will there likely be in the future, such a thoroughly documented training exercise based on a voyage relying purely on celestial navigation to cross an ocean.
# of pages: 162
Size: 8.25" x 11"
Authors: David Burch and Stephen Miller


I saw the Sun, and it seemed to me I was seeing a glorious goddess; To Her I bowed for one last time in this world of Time.
– Song of the Sun, Edda poem Solarljod
New Year’s Eve is the threshold between our very recent past and our near future. December 31st is the bridge that links the darkest and longest day of Winter Solstice and the return of the sun. Our choices, our character and our past will lead us to this time of reflection. The doorway into the New Year lies charged with all that we have experienced and learned, and breathes mighty with the possibilities of our wishes and dreams. It is here that we must stand thankful for all that has been, willing to let go and create space for the new, and remain open to what is yet to come. The shadow dance between dark and light is an ever-vigilant presence and yet is especially brutal and breathtaking as it settles in for the winter months in Norway. This duality is the backdrop for the New Year’s Eve, where past and future collide in a burst of color.
Nowhere have I witnessed the magnitude, grace and beauty of the almost all-encompassing darkness to befall the days of winter as I have within the northern islands of Norway called Lofoten. The Lofoten islands rest within the Arctic Circle, and it is here that both the splendor and might of true night seeps steadily into the days, as sunlight is often only glimpsed for but an hour or two, if any, and is robed in a few stray rays of grey light.
It is believed that earliest settlers of Lofoten can be traced back to over 11,000 years, and Norse mythology chants of the darkness that comes to blanket the region and the glimmers of light as it slowly begins its rebirth. Tourists from all over the world flock to Lofoten over the summer months to experience the great beauty of the archipelago and revel in awe-inspiring nature, but winter to me is the most enchanting experience. The battle waged between darkness and light, is eternal, for they are two halves of the same whole as they sustain one another, and to witness it within ourselves and see it reflected across the night sky is a majestic and humbling feat.
The pagans of Scandinavia saw the embodiment of the sun as an elfin sung goddess, who during the winter months is swallowed up by the darkness of the winter wolf. The Sami called her Beaivi Nieida meaning the “Sun Maiden” and it was believed that she was the source of all life. As her rays touched the earth, life was breathed into the fields and the wombs of all living things. When you find yourself enveloped in a darkness that seems to encompass both the day and night within itself, you will know how every shard of light must be preserved, remembered and renewed.
The Aurora Borealis have been written about, painted and beautifully photographed, but absolutely nothing can compare to actually being able to experience the night sky as it moves with majesty of colors we often reserve for pictures taken in space. This ever-shifting spectrum of color is named for the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for wind, Boreas. I love to photograph, but there are moments in time where memory has to be allowed to be the lone witness, and such is the case when viewing the Aurora Borealis. The hues of blues and greens glide across the star scattered sky with such grace, that you almost want to hold your breath, to freeze the moment in time, for even within the span of seconds the tapestry of the sky is eternally changing.
The first time I saw the Northern Lights, I lowered my camera and stood in perfect awe. I have always loved the night sky scattered with stars, and on a trip through the desert from California to Las Vegas, I remembered thinking that as long as I could look up at the sky and see stars, I would never feel lonely. Watching the ribbons of ethereal light cascade across the Norwegian skies, I am reminded of all the people I love and somehow, no matter how far across the world we may find ourselves, the connections remain ever strong.
According to Hermetic writings, Earth mirrors the great heavens and is best encased in the quote “ As above, so below”. Perhaps my absolute favorite tradition to observe both on Christmas and New Years in Norway is the lighting of candles upon all the graves. These are the shards of light and love that break through the darkness, just as the sun goddess breaks free from the belly of the wolf, and enters the cycle of rebirth anew. Facing the ocean and the winds with their might and ability to bring change, held close by the embrace of those we love both living and those who have passed, supported by the steadfastness of the earth and the mountains, we are reminded that we are beings of light, and the light will always find a way.
The glow of candles in the cemetery breathes softly and the night skies are clear, scattered with starlight and the light of the new dawn blown by the winds in shades of primordial blues and greens. We hold hands and firecrackers in our free hands, because the world is made of light bursting through the dark.


An unmanned Soyuz spacecraft carrying Russia's first humanoid robot has failed to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).
A statement from Russia's Roskosmos space agency said the failure to dock on August 24 was because of problems in the docking system.
Roskosmos officials were later quoted as saying a second docking attempt would take place on August 26.
The Russian news agency TASS reported that the Soyuz came as close as 96 meters to the space station before aborting the docking attempt and moving away.
The cause of the problem appeared to stem from the automated rendezvous system called KURS, the U.S. space agency NASA said, adding that nothing was wrong with the Soyuz vessel itself.
Both NASA and Roskosmos said the six-person crew on board the space station were not in any danger.
The FEDOR robot, the abbreviated name for the Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research anthropomorphic mechanism, blasted off to the Earth orbit aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on August 22 from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan.
The robot, with the identification number Skybot F850, repeated the famous phrase by the first human in space, Russian Yury Gagarin, by saying 'Poekhali!' (Let's go!) during the launch.
FEDOR, which is 1.8 meters tall and weighs 160 kilograms, even has Instagram and Twitter accounts.
'The first phase of in-flight experiments went according to the flight plan,' the robot's account tweeted after reaching the Earth orbit.
Officials Roskosmos have said that FEDOR will assist ISS crew members with minor tasks, while future models will be developed to carry out extravehicular activities.
With reporting by Current Time, AFP, dpa, and AP
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036


H. MOSER & CIE.: THE SOMBRE BEAUTY OF THE MOON
Fascinating, mysterious: People have always found the moon captivating. With the Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept model, H. Moser & Cie. pays remarkable homage to the lunar body. With two resolutely contemporary models, H. Moser & Cie. reinterprets the most poetic complication ever; showcasing the eyecatching moon in a large window at 6 o’clock, in all its splendour. A perpetual moon, the Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept is one of the most precise moon phases available, with one day’s deviation every 1027 years.
By reinterpreting the moon phase in such an understated way, H. Moser & Cie. highlights the beauty of the lunar body in an ode to its purity. Nestled at the heart of the Concept dial, which features neither logo nor indices, the moon shines through in a large window at 6 o’clock. Surrounding it there is only space, seemingly interplanetary space. This effect is enhanced by the dial which is made from Vantablack® for the steel model. Its ultra-black coating, regarded as the darkest substance of all, Vantablack® is used in astrophysics in telescopes and by the army as thermal camouflage. It is composed of carbon nanotubes that are vertically aligned next to each other and is capable of absorbing 99.965% of light. It is the darkest black dial to be produced yet. The black colour is such that it appears astral, abyss-like: An undeniable black hole at the centre of which shines the moon. The Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept in steel has an elegant, serene and refined moon phase display. A contemporary and bold design equipped with a black leather strap.
More sensual, the 5N red gold version features an H. Moser & Cie. midnight-blue fumé dial. Its deep lustres, with twilight tones, are perfectly matched with the red gold of the case. A brown alligator leather strap adds the finishing touch.
The Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept is powered by the HMC 801 hand-wound Manufacture calibre, equipped with an interchangeable Moser escapement. This calibre ensures the watch has a minimum 7-day power reserve, with an indicator on the movement side. The moon phase system is an extremely precise display that can be set, read and predicted to within a minute. The system can be easily adjusted using a push-button on the side of the case. On average, the moon’s orbital period lasts 29.53059 days. To be more precise: 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.9 seconds. The Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept’s intricate wheel train portrays this interval so precisely that the gap is a mere 0.23 seconds per day, that is to say one day’s deviation after 1027.30 years, making it the most precise model available.
The H. Moser Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept embodies technical complexity, is unconditionally elegant and understated and worthy of the finest watchmaking traditions. Available in steel or red gold, the Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces for each of the two references.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – ENDEAVOUR PERPETUAL MOON CONCEPT
Reference 1801-1200, steel model, Vantablack® dial, black leather strap, limited edition of 50 pieces Reference 1801-0400, 5N red gold model, midnight-blue fumé dial, brown alligator leather strap, limited edition of 50 pieces
Steel or 18-carat 5N red gold
Diameter: 42.0 mm, height: 12.9 mm
Screw-in crown adorned with an “M”
Vantablack® or midnight-blue fumé with sunburst pattern
Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands
Centre seconds and AM/PM hands
Moon phase window
Hand-wound HMC 801 Manufacture calibre
Diameter: 34.0 mm or 15 lignes, height: 6.5 mm
Frequency: 18,000 Vib/h
28 jewels and screwed gold mounts
Power reserve: minimum 7-day with a double barrel
Bevelled ring and Moser teeth for all wheels and pinions
Interchangeable Moser escapement
Original Straumann Hairspring®
Traditional screw balance wheel with gold adjusting screws
Gold escapement wheel and pallet fork
Hours and minutes
Centre seconds hand and hacking seconds
AM/PM indicator – Hours 12 to 6 o’clock representing AM and 7 to 11 o’clock representing PM
Large moon-phase indicator display
Power reserve indicator on movement side
Moon-phase adjuster push-button on the case flank
Hand-stitched black leather or brown alligator leather
Steel or 18-carat 5N red gold pin buckle engraved with the Moser logo
Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept, reference 1801-1200, steel model, Vantablack® dial, black leather strap, limited edition of 50 pieces
Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept, reference 1801-0400, 5N red gold model, midnight-blue fumé dial, brown alligator leather strap
Source Credit: Content and images from H. Moser & Cie.
More about H. MOSER & CIE.
H. Moser & Cie. was created by Heinrich Moser in 1828. Based in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, it currently employs around 60 people, has developed 12 in-house calibres to date and produces more than 1,500 watches per annum. H. Moser & Cie. manufactures parts such as regulating organs and balance-springs, which are used for its own production as well as to supply its partner companies. H. Moser & Cie. is honoured to have a Moser family member with the company as Honorary Chairman and President of the Heinrich and Henri Moser Foundation. The aim of the Moser Foundation, created by one of Heinrich Moser’s descendants, is to keep the family history alive and seek out antique pieces for the Moser Museum, located in Charlottenfels Manor, Heinrich Moser’s family home. With its substantial watchmaking expertise and highly acclaimed experience in the sector, MELB Holding holds shares in H. Moser & Cie. and Hautlence. MELB Holding is an independent family group, based in the heart of the legendary Vallée de Joux.


Professor Sara Seager was born and grew up in Toronto, Canada. Among her first memories is a trip to a “star party” with her father, to see the moon through a telescope—spectacular! Professor Seager graduated from Jarvis Collegiate Institute, a 200-year old public high school known for its science education. During high school she was astounded to learn that one could be an astrophysicist for a living, only to be deterred by her father, who believed the best career was as a doctor or lawyer.
Professor Seager entered the University of Toronto with the idealistic view that anything and everything could be described by a physics equation. She soon learned, that, in reality, approximations are not only rampant but necessary. This realization motivated Professor Seager to eventually leave pure physics to pursue her “first love” astronomy. After graduating with a BSc in the Math and Physics Specialist Program at the University of Toronto, Seager attended the PhD program in Astronomy at Harvard .
While at Harvard, in the mid-1990s, the first reports of exoplanets around sun-like stars began appearing. Encouraged by her PhD supervisor, Dimitar Sasselov, Seager studied the atmospheres of these so-called hot Jupiter planets. At the time, many scientists were skeptical of the new planets, preferring to believe they were the result of a different phenomenon, such as star variability. Others thought the claims made in Seager’s thesis would never be substantiated. But exoplanets kept turning up and Seager’s early work was eventually validated.
After earning a PhD from Harvard in 1999, Professor Seager joined the cadre of postdoctoral fellows at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. There, she benefited enormously from the mentorship of the late John Bahcall. Unlike most scientists at the time, John Bahcall supported Seager’s new ideas in exoplanets with almost unbounded enthusiasm, as long as the underlying physics was sound and the phenomenon was detectable some day in Seager’s lifetime. Bahcall’s support enabled Seager to initiate several new topics in exoplanet characterization.
Professor Seager’s research now focuses on theoretical models of atmospheres and interiors of all kinds of exoplanets as well as novel space science missions. Her research has introduced many new ideas to the field of exoplanet characterization, including work that led to the first detection of an exoplanet atmosphere. She was part of a team that co-discovered the first detection of light emitted from an exoplanet and the first spectrum of an exoplanet. The exceedingly surprising diversity of exoplanets has led Seager’s maxim, “For exoplanets, anything is possible under the laws of physics and chemistry.”
Professor Seager is an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at MIT. She lives with her husband and two sons in Massachusetts.


Jul 23, 2020
In this episode, we interview Brady Pyle is the Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer for NASA. Brady shares his thoughts on leadership and lessons learned in his career.
Brady is responsible for leading Human Resources Services for NASA. Over the past two years, Brady has led the Executive HR Directors for NASA’s ten field Centers. He joined the Executive ranks in March 2016 as HR Director for NASA’s Johnson Space Center—home to NASA’s Astronauts and leaders in human space exploration, including the International Space Station, which recently celebrated 20 years of continuous human presence in space.


The Beat Goes On — Even 258 Miles Above Earth
At little after 3:30 p.m. EDT on April 7, 2020, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, returning to Earth after nearly a month attached to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft brought back a number of physical and life sciences research projects, including heart and gut tissue chip projects that traveled to the ISS as part of the Tissue Chips in Space initiative.
Following this article, take a photo journey with the heart tissue chips as they traveled from Earth to the ISS and back.
The initiative is an ambitious collaborative endeavor that brings NCATS, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and the ISS U.S. National Laboratory together to rapidly advance tissue chip technology for biomedical research. The chips contain miniature models of living tissues built from human cells. Because tissue chips accurately model the structure and function of human organs and systems, researchers could use them to predict — more quickly and effectively than current methods allow — whether a candidate drug, vaccine or biologic agent is safe or toxic in humans. Tissue chips also can provide new opportunities for researchers to study biological processes in the extreme environment of microgravity aboard the ISS.
Prolonged exposure to microgravity — as is experienced by the astronauts on the ISS — is known to cause changes to many aspects of the functioning of the human body, including in the heart and cardiovascular system. Many of the changes caused by microgravity look similar to those caused by accelerated disease and aging processes. Using tissue chips on the ISS provides a unique opportunity for researchers to model and study conditions related to diseases and aging over weeks or months, rather than the years that it would take for these conditions to develop on Earth.
A research team led by Deok-Ho Kim, Ph.D., at Johns Hopkins University and comprising researchers from several academic institutions and other organizations developed heart tissue chips to study the structural and functional changes to the tissue caused by spending time in low gravity. The team also developed related technology needed to send the tissue chips safely into space, survive on board the ISS for nearly a month and return to Earth. The researchers hypothesized that during that period of time the tissues would undergo functional, visible and molecular changes that are similar to those that occur with illness or old age on Earth.
To create the heart tissue chips, the researchers coaxed human induced pluripotent stem cells, which have the potential to become almost any type of cell in the body, to form cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) that developed into small 3-D structures between two posts on a silicon scaffold. One of the posts, which was flexible and bent each time the tissue contracted, contained a small magnet. While on the ISS, the magnet’s movements were picked up by a sensor and transmitted to the researchers on the ground so they could collect data on the strength of the contractions — and any changes to that strength — remotely.
Now that the tissue chips have returned to Earth, the researchers will continue to analyze the data they collected while the tissue chips were on the ISS and compare them to data from a set of comparison chips that remained on Earth. The research team also will begin to assess the visible and molecular changes the tissue may have undergone as a result of spending time in microgravity.
On a future flight, the researchers will test methods to improve heart cell contractions, including mechanical stimulation, which mimics muscle conditioning, as well as drugs known to protect the heart from an irregular heartbeat or heart disease. Findings from the project may have implications both for improving the health of astronauts and for finding new ways to study and treat heart diseases related to aging on Earth.
Follow the heart tissue chips' journey from Earth to space and back again by clicking the images below!
Heart tissues in one of the launch-ready chambers. Each chamber contains six individual tissues; a total of 48 tissues were sent to the International Space Station.
Ty Higashi of the University of Washington (left) and Stefanie Countryman and Paul Koenig of BioServe Space Technologies (back right) look on as Jonathan Tsui (center), also of the University of Washington, examines tissue chips in one of the launch-ready chambers through a microscope in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center before the launch of SpaceX CRS-20.
From left to right, Jonathan Tsui and Ty Higashi of the University of Washington and Paul Koenig and Stefanie Countryman of BioServe Space Technologies pose with the heart tissue chip hardware in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center before the launch of SpaceX CRS-20.
Just before midnight on March 7, 2020, SpaceX CRS-20 blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft carried more than 4,300 pounds of cargo and science projects, including the heart tissue chip project.
After astronaut Jessica Meir used the International Space Station’s robotic arm to capture the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on March 9, 2020, ground controllers remotely installed it on the Station’s Harmony module, where it stayed until its departure on April 7.
On board the International Space Station, astronaut Jessica Meir performed media exchanges on the chambers containing tiny, beating engineered heart tissues. The media exchanges removed waste and introduced new fluids to feed the cells.
Astronaut Jessica Meir holds a chamber containing heart tissue chips that traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Tissue Chips in Space initiative. Studying tissue chips on the ISS gives researchers a unique opportunity to examine the effects of microgravity on human organs.
Six heart tissue chips beating on the International Space Station, 258 miles above the Earth.
Sensors attached to the chambers containing the heart tissue chips detected changes in magnetic force as the tissues’ contractions moved posts with embedded magnets.
The data were transmitted back to Earth, allowing researchers on the ground to monitor the strength of the contractions while the experiment was on the International Space Station.
On April 7, 2020, the Space X Dragon capsule departed the International Space Station (ISS). It splashed down in the Pacific Ocean several hours later, returning the tissue chips and many other research projects and cargo to Earth.
The researchers will continue to study the data they collected while the chips were on the ISS and examine the tissues for visible and molecular changes.
Sensors attached to chambers containing the heart tissue chips detected changes in magnetic force as the tissues’ contractions moved posts with embedded magnets. The data were transmitted back to Earth, allowing researchers on the ground to monitor the strength of the contractions while the experiment was on the International Space Station. (NASA)


I took these pictures on September 9th 2014. The Sept. 9 super moon was the last to complete the trio of super moons that began in July. The biggest and brightest of the trio was the one that occurred Aug. 10.
I used my neighbor’s tree as a reference to capture the rising moon in the eastern sky.
It is by far the biggest and brightest object in the night sky however, the moon is not an easy subject to photograph.
Super moons are lunar phenomena where the moon reaches a point in its orbit where it is closest to the Earth. At this point, the moon will appear to be bigger and brighter.
Nighttime: It’s trickier to take pictures at night, but the rewards are well worth it.


- Uchuu Project Overview: Uchuu is a simulation of the formation of the Large Scale Structure of the Universe based on the mutual gravitational interactions between the dark matter particles, and it can resolve smaller features to depict the Universe in greater detail. Uchuu has 2,097,152,000,000 (two trillion) particles! It was run with GreeM3 N-body code by Tomoaki Ishiyama at the ATERUI II supercomputer in Japan. The Uchuu simulation has delivered 4PB of raw data! All Uchuu data products will be made publicly available. "Uchuu" is a Japanese word meaning "Universe".


In the 18th century, England (and America) changed the calendar that it had been using for almost 2000 years. In the process, eleven days were “lost”. And, according to legend, there were riots as people took to the streets to demand their eleven days back.
In ancient times, most calendars were lunar, and were based on the period of time between full moons or new moons. This, however, caused a problem over the longterm. The 30-day lunar cycle did not fit evenly into the 365-day solar cycle, so after a period of years any specific dates based on lunar cycles would be falling into completely different seasons. As a result, most agricultural societies began keeping solar time instead, based on the motion of the sun in the sky; astronomical observations were carefully kept to determine the time of the spring and autumn equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices. This still caused problems, however, since the solar cycle did not equal 365 days–it actually lasted roughly 364.25 days. So the solar calendar gradually fell out of step with the actual cycle of the sun.
In the Roman times, the calendar was originally divided into ten months. (September, October, November and December come from the Latin for seven, eight, nine and ten.) The days of each month were counted from the first day (the Kalends) the middle day (the Ides) and the last day (the Nones). Later two more months were added. But this still left the year too short, so every so often two extra months (called the Intercalaris) had to be added. It was up to the priests to keep track of all this, and since nobody else actually understood the calendar’s workings, it was not unusual for the priesthood to adjust the length of the year (sometimes through bribery), making it longer or shorter for political or religious reasons.
In 45 BCE, under the rule of Julius Caesar, the mess became so confusing that a change was needed, and the Roman Republic adopted a version of the solar calendar that became known as the “Julian”. For the first time, this new calendar introduced the concept of the “leap year”–an extra day tacked on to one of the months to correct the discrepency caused by the fraction in the solar cycle. The Julian calendar also changed the beginning of the year. The old Roman calendar had used March 1 as the beginning of each year; the Julian system moved this to January 1.
The Julian calendar remained long after the Roman Empire collapsed. It was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church and held sway throughout Europe for the next thousand years. The only modification to be made during this time was to change the date of the first of the year. The early Church, as part of an effort to emphasize the Christian holy days instead of the pagan Roman, moved the first day of the year away from January 1. In the 7th century CE Christmas Day was the beginning of the new year; by the 9th century CE the new year was set at March 25, Annunciation Day.
However, the Julian calendar also had a problem. The solar cycle, it turned out, was not exactly 364.25 days–it was a little less than that. So by adding a leap day every four years, the Julian calendar was actually adding too much time, and it fell out of step with the actual solar cycle by one full day every 128 years. By the 16th century CE, the calendar dates were ten days out of sync with the solar equinoxes and solstices.
This was a problem for the Church. Holy days such as Easter were calculated astronomically from the solar equinoxes and the lunar phases, but these were now irreconcilable with the calendar dates (Easter had traditionally been celebrated on March 21). So in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a sweeping change to bring the calendar back into alignment with the solar cycle. He decreed that ten days would be dropped in October; October 1 would be followed immediately by October 12. He also declared that the beginning of the new year would be moved to January 1. And finally, to solve the problems with the Julian calendar, Pope Gregory reduced the number of leap days: now instead of adding a leap day every four years, it would be added only if that year was divisible by 400.
The Gregorian calendar went into effect in Catholic Europe in October 1582. The Protestant countries, however, flatly refused to adopt the “Popish timekeeping”, and kept their Julian calendar. As a result, Europe now had two different calendars, simultaneously. To avoid confusion, civil, commercial and diplomatic documents began “double dating”, listing both the Julian and Gregorian dates. (But, to make things more confusing, in 1600 Scotland, then an independent kingdom, moved the beginning of the year on its Julian calendar from March 25 to January 1. Then in 1603, King James of Scotland also became King of England, and the British kingdom had the same calendar but with two different New Year’s days.)
This awkward system continued for almost 150 years, but soon it became so unwieldy that it could no longer be tolerated. In 1750, England bowed to reality, and Parliament passed a resolution that implemented the Gregorian calendar to bring Britain and her colonies into sync with the rest of the world. The beginning of the year was moved from March 25 (known as Lady Day) to January 1, and eleven days were dropped (the delay in adopting the Gregorian system had allowed the Julian calendar to become inaccurate by an extra day). As a result, March 24, 1750, was followed by March 25, 1751, but December 31, 1751, was then followed by January 1, 1752. (Thus the year 1751 lasted only 282 days instead of 365, and there was no January or February in that year.) Then, on Wednesday, September 2, 1752, eleven days were dropped, and the next day became Thursday, September 14.
In later centuries, a myth appeared that the benighted English peasants, upon being told that 11 days would be dropped from the calendar, thought that their lives were actually being shortened by almost two weeks, and rioters appeared in the streets demanding their eleven days back. In reality, contemporary records show no such incidents, although there were some local protests when a few landlords tried to collect a full month’s rent for the short month of September. The calendar change did become a political issue in Parliament between the Whigs and the Tories, with the conservatives opposing the “papish calendar”.
A few countries, however, still retained the Julian calendar. Tsarist Russia never adopted the Gregorian system. It wasn’t until the Soviet Union was established in 1917 that the new calendar came into use (which is why the February and October Revolutions happened in March and November). The last nation to adopt the Gregorian calendar was Turkey, in 1927.


Light travels at approximately 300,000 km per second. This website functions as a day calendar, showing the objects that a beam of light might pass by, when travelling from the sun, in a straight line, for one year (cats not included).
Our light particles have now travelled for a Julian year (365.25 days) and are not even close to reaching the nearest star. The Crab supernova remnant is about 4,000 years away; the Milky Way Galaxy would take 150,000 years to cross; the Andromeda Galaxy is 2.3 million light-years away. Light will have to travel for another 28 billion years to reach the edge of the visible universe.


Emmi Itäranta’s third novel The Moonday Letters (Kuunpäivän kirjeet) has won the Tähtivaeltaja Award for the best science fiction novel published in the Finnish language in 2020. The jury described the book as follows:
“The book, crisp and flowing in terms of style, is an epistolary novel consisting of the messages its main character, Finnish-born Lumi Salo, writes to her spouse who works far away. The accomplished narration blends several timelines and fragments of history, news material, research knowledge and even advertisements. These form a many-stranded, consistent picture of humanity that has spread out to the Moon, Mars, space stations and gas giant satellites. (…) The second theme running throughout the book, ecology, interweaves seamlessly with the themes of connection and belonging. Earth has been turned nearly uninhabitable by environmental destruction, and as their next step, the humankind that has escaped is grabbing resources from the surfaces of bare planets. The view into the collapsed ecosystem, an abandoned shell sucked dry by humans, is ominous and prophetic. It makes The Moonday Letters strictly topical. At the same time, the book reaches effortlessly into a future where the threshold of colonizing space has already been crossed.”
The Tähtivaeltaja Award is given annually by Helsinki Science Fiction Society to the best science fiction book published in Finland, including translations. In 2021 the other shortlisted novels were Rehab by Laura Gustafsson, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, Death’s End by Liu Cixin and Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.


Our focus this week was our moon and the planets. We watched some video's about the moon's phases. Then we did an activity with styrofoam and flashlights in the darkness of our windowless classroom. It was so cool to be able to see the different phases! Next, we learned about the Algonquian names for the full moons of each month, or moonth. ;) We drew the phases of the moon in our lesson books. Then I showed them a 2 minute clip of the bathroom scene in Hidden Figures. In this scene, Katherine Johnson is expressing her anger to her boss and all the clueless white males at NASA about how difficult it is for her to find a bathroom to use due to segregation. It was nice to place space exploration into the context of the Civil Rights Movement happening at the same time. I highly recommend watching this movie!
Everyone is in the process of creating a travel brochure for one of the planets. I gave them a research guide with questions, my expectations for the project and some books and let them research on their own. I was impressed by the initiative they took on this project. They were really enjoying themselves. I let each student plug their age into a page on Exploratorium's website that let us know our age on every planet. They loved this!


Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is planning to send three Indian astronauts to space by 2022, as part of India’s ambitious “Gaganyaan” project, will also send manned human missions in solar system in near future, ISRO engineer and scientist Dr. V. R. Lalithambika said here.
While delivering a lecture at “Techfest 2020”, organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, at its Powai Complex in North East Mumbai, Dr. Lalithambika said that now the ISRO which has already gone through the process of sending spacecrafts to moon and mars, will try to send manned space missions also in the solar system.
Dr. Lalithambika, who is heading “Gaganyan mission to send humans to space, said that the space research got momentum after two world wars due to the competition between different nations. The human ingenuity makes one to explore newer and newer avenues. To enter solar system, the speed of the rocket should be 1/5 th of the speed of the light. The light reaches earth within 8 minutes.
To send space crafts or satellites, now the chemical rockets are used, but in future this technology will become outdated and plasma rockets will have to be used. Since the plasma rockets have tremendous speed, it will be possible to reach to planet Jupiter within a week/ month from the moon. With chemical rockets, the estimated duration is 4 years to reach Jupiter from the moon. In future the speed of the chemical rockets will be reduced to large extent and they will become obsolete.That is the reason, the use of plasma rockets is the need of the hour.
To propel humans through space with a 100-billion-Watt laser is one of the ISRO’s projects in the pipeline she said and added that ISRO is serving the nation in various fields including communication, navigation, space science etc and every single person of India is somehow linked with its services. Over 75 per cent of the population of country lives in remote areas and it is advisable to space technology to provide services in various speeds.
The amount of space junk around earth has hit a critical point. Hundreds of thousands of man-made objects are zipping around our planet—from dead satellites to errant nuts and bolts, putting our working satellites at risk. There are at least 5 lakh satellites in the earth orbit. Of these nearly 4000 satellites are obsolete. As such to send satellites in the space is a big problem. To design satellite for the space mission is also a challenge before researchers.
A lot of research goes in finding out how the satellites could be sent into the space using less energy. Similarly the astronauts travelling by space crafts face many health hazards like muscular pain, kidney disorder, eye ailments, brain fatigue, change in thinking system etc.
Dr. Lalithambika later inspected the project “Innovations and major challenges in Oil refinery”, presented by IIT Assistant Professor Pramod Kothmire, as part of the 23rd edition of “Techfest 2020”. The project has been appreciated by Reliance India Ltd, ONGC, BARC and a few other oil refinery industries.
Former Prime Minister of Bhutan and an environmental activist, Dasho Tshering Tobgay speaking on “towards an environmental friendly nation” said that today Bhutan is “carbon neutral” due to strict adherence to pollution control norms and efforts to maintain an ecological balance. That is the reason “climate change” has not affected Bhutan which continues to be peaceful. Besides “we have protected our culture from undue influence of social media”. As such our country is peaceful”.
IIT Bombay is headed for the moon
In the meanwhile IIT Bombay has collaborated with NASA funded “Colorado Space Grant Consortium University of Colorado” at Boulder(USA) for the Lunar Mission. Projet Manager Anmol Sikka and Assistant Project Manager Sanskriti Bhansali said that the IIT Lunar Mission is part of IIT Bombay Student Satellite Project. “We are part of this endeavour and the provisional plan envisages 500 Luna Satellites designed and developed by students from all over the world to fly to the moon. Spacecraft made by IIT-B will be one of them. The size of the spacecraft is 5cm x 5cm with a thickness of 1-2mm. The launch is slated for 2022,which will mark the 50th anniversary of “Apollo 17”, the last manned mission to the moon.
By now over 60,000 people have attended the three-day long Techfest. The visitors are having first hand experience of Air taxis, air drones, ‘Robowars’, The Time Machine(innovation by a Japanese firm), Prosthetics for sports and many other eye catching projects.
Raju Vernekar is a Media Professional based in Mumbai and is a regular contributor of Imphal Times. He had served as Chief Reporter at Free Press Journal (1996 – 2015 ). His Activities includes writing for different news papers, script writing/production for TV channels, Films Division. Writing poems in Marathi, Hindi, English, Guiding mass media students and helping people to solve their problems. Raju may be contacted at [email protected]


This page lists books that have helped me personally in my studies of astronomy, astrophotography, ccd imaging and image processing. If my websites have sparked your interest in astronomy, please look for any of these titles at your local library or you can order them directly through Amazon.com.
CCD Astronomy and Digital Astrophotography
|Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing -- Richard Berry and Jim Burnell
This is an incredible book and cd combo. In my opinion, Richard Berry transformed amateur astronomy with his early books that allowed amateurs like me to build their first ccd camera. Most of us now use improved commercial cameras but Richard continues his important role with this reference and accompanying software. The cd with AIP4Win software is worth the price alone. This is one of the best available tools for image processing and is continually updated with free downloads. The book is not a manual for the software (that's included in the help section of the software). Instead, the book is an outstanding reference covering the science of image processing. If you can only buy one book on the subject of image processing, this is it!
|Digital SLR Astrophotography -- Michael A. Covington
Mr. Covington has been introducing amateurs to astrophotography for a number of years and follows up with this detailed text for astrophotography with a digital SLR.
|The Ccd Camera Cookbook : How to Build Your Own Ccd Camera/Book
and Disk -- Richard Berry, et al.
This book provides detailed instructions for building your own ccd camera for astronomical imaging. The ccd images on my web pages were obtained with this camera. If you're interested in purchasing or building a ccd camera, buy this book! This book increased my joy for the hobby of astronomy beyond measure.
|A Practical Guide to Ccd Astronomy (Practical Astronomy Handbooks
, No 8) -- Patrick Martinez, et al.
Practical guide to CCD astronomy. Includes a thorough introduction to the CCD and associated electronics, image processing, and applications in astronomy. Excellent text for the more experienced beginner to intermediate CCD amateur.
|The Art and Science of Ccd Astronomy (Practical Astronomy)
-- D. Ratledge(Editor)
Articles from twelve leading amateurs. Provides practical advice and tips from experienced amateur CCD astronomers.
|Ccd Astronomy : Construction and Use of an Astronomical Ccd
Camera -- Christian Buil, Emmanuel Davoast (Translator).
Detailed, intermediate-level, text on CCD electronics, construction, operation and image processing.
|Astrophotography for the Amateur -- Michael Covington
Astrophotography for the Amateur provides a complete guide to taking pictures of stars, galaxies, the Moon, the Sun, comets, meteors and eclipses, using equipment and materials readily available to the hobbyist. Astrophotography for the Amateur is the standard handbook for all amateur astronomers. It will also appeal to photography enthusiasts who can discover how to take spectacular images with only modest equipment.
|The Backyard Astronomer's Guide - Terrence
Outstanding beginner-to-intermediate book covering amateur astronomy and astrophotography. This book will help you find the right equipment, navigate the stars and begin taking beautiful astrophotography images.
|Splendors of the Universe : A Practical Guide to Photographing
the Night Sky -- Terrence Dickinson, Jack Newton
Beautiful images accompanied by practical advice in beginning astrophotography. This book will get you started in photographing the night sky with an inexpensive manual 35mm camera and a tripod. If you're interested in trying your hand at astrophotography, start with this book.
Observational Astronomy Aids / Atlases
|Advanced Amateur Astronomy -- Gerald North
Essential information on telescope optics, the atmosphere, astrophotography, electronic imaging, and telescope hardware. Chapters on photometry, spectroscopy and radio astronomy bring observational astronomy to a level where data of real scientific value can be acquired.
|Burnham's Celestial Handbook (Volume 1, Andromeda through
Cetus) -- Robert Burnham, Jr.
Subtitled: An Observer's Guide to the Universe, this volume along with its two additional companion volumes (see below) are an essential reference for every amateur astronomer. Much of the factual information on my web pages comes from these volumes. These fascinating books can be used as references as they catalog thousands of celestial objects grouped by constellation. I find the books especially unique in that they provide folklore, history and extensive descriptive notes about each object. Add these three volumes to your library before all others.
|Burnham's Celestial Handbook (Volume 2, Chamaeleon through
Orion) -- Robert Burnham, Jr.
|Burnham's Celestial Handbook (Volume 3, Pavo through
Vulpecula) -- Robert Burnham, Jr.
My astronomy-related websites
|CCD Astronomy - CCD camera images of galaxies, nebulae, and star fields.|
|Astrophotography - Color images of comets, the Moon, nebulae, galaxies and the Milky Way. Each image includes a description of the object, links to further information and how the image was taken.|
|Aurora Images - Color images of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights from Alaska and Maine. Includes a description of the cause of the lights.|
|Astronomy Resources - Extensive list of astronomy resources on the internet, categorized by subject with descriptions of each site.|
Last Updated on May 18, 2008
|Send comments to Jeffrey A. MacQuarrie|
All images copyright © 2007 by Jeffrey A. MacQuarrie and may not be used without permission.


The ninth and final challenge of the 2020 Series will be a 10-day challenge marking the extraordinarily rare astronomical event known as the Great Conjunction. The challenge will be offered on the GFN-18, GFN-19, and GFN-20 subprojects, beginning 21 December 13:22 UTC and ending 31 December 13:22 UTC.
To participate in the Challenge, please select only the GFN-18 and/or GFN-19 and/or GFN-20 subprojects in your PrimeGrid preferences section.
Addendums? Annotations? Apprehensions? Discuss in the forum thread for this challenge. Best of luck!


April 5th 2014, 1:00 pm
Join the Howell Woods Advisory Board and staff for an annual open house event at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center. Spend part of the day and into the night enjoying educational programs and recreational activities for adults and children.
The Howell Woodstock event has fun things to do for the whole family including hayrides, star gazing, nature walks, live music and a bonfire with s'mores.
There will be a variety of educational programs, conservation and green living booths, as well as learning center reptile and birds of prey displays.
In addition, local vendor Raglands Productions will be on site with a rock wall, mechanical bull and inflatables. Food will be available for purchase from the following:
Vendors: click here to register
- White Swan BBQ
- The Chuck Wagon
Educational Program Schedule (All programs are free)
2:00 p.m. Soaring with Raptors
3:00 p.m. Living with North Carolinas Venomous Snakes
4:00 p.m. Turtles of Howell Woods
5:00 p.m. Exoplanets
6:00 p.m. Black holes
7:00 p.m. Weather on Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
8:00 p.m. State Wide Star Party*
For more information on the event, call (919) 938-0115.
* State Wide Star Party
Join Howell Woods in celebration of the North Carolina Science Festival with a sky watching extravaganza! Howell Woods is a perfect spot for viewing the night sky because it’s located away from city lights. During the afternoon, solar telescopes will be staffed by amateur astronomers who can show the public sunspots and solar flares. And after dark, we'll train our telescopes on the moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and a number of deep sky objects.
NOTE: If you have your own telescope or binoculars, we encourage you to bring them along with blankets and chairs. This Statewide Star Party event is an extension of the Howell Woodstock festival which begins at 1:00 p.m. Come early, bring the kids and enjoy an afternoon of nature talks and activities, food, music, crafts and fun!
The North Carolina Statewide Star Party is made possible thanks to the generous support of NC Space Grant.
©2014 Johnston Community College. All Rights Reserved.
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You are cordially invited to the Biochemistry Formal, "Among the Cosmos." Join us for a night of dancing and celebrating the year in the stars. We look forward to seeing you there!
Date: Thursday, April 5th, 2018
Location: The Renaissance 285 Queen Street
Kingston, Ontario K7K 1B7
This event is restricted to Biochemistry students as the formal is only for Biochemistry students and their guests.
For any questions please contact email@example.com


The Russian side of the International Space Station transmits slow scan television (SSTV) images on 145.8 MHz (WFM modulation, roughly 20 kHz bandwidth without doppler correction) roughly twice a year during SSTV events. The signal is so strong that these images can be captured relatively easily e.g. by using cheap RTL-SDR dongles and v-dipole antennas, and decoded using readily available SSTV decoders. Up here in southern Finland, the ISS passes never exceed 20 degrees, but reception is still possible as long as there is line of sight to the ISS. Typical SSTV events take place on two consecutive days, but images are typically only transmitted for a couple hours every day. Typical SSTV events are focused around an event or a person, and there are typically 12 images that are being transmitted. Images are transmitted using PD120 mode which means that it takes two minutes to transmit one image, and each image is 640x496 pixels. However, although ISS passes are typically 10-12 minutes, you can only capture approximately 2-3 images per pass as there is a cooldown period after each transmission. SSTV transmissions are analogue transmissions which means that you can actually hear it, and if there is interference it shows up as noise instead of e.g. black bars or pixels.
While realtime decoding of the SSTV images is possible, it is beneficial to record baseband, because that enables decoding of APRS packets that the ISS transmits on 145.825 MHz. APRS packets can be decoded using any AFSK 1200 decoder.
Images below are from SSTV event that took place between 4 and 5 August 2020, and celebrated helicopter designer Marat N. Tishchenko (1931–2015).


Imagine a night sky filled with twinkling stars and a mesmerizing display of celestial beauty. Now, envision capturing this magical experience within the confines of your home. Galaxy lamps make this dream a reality, bringing the awe-inspiring wonder of the cosmos right into your living space. With their enchanting designs and soothing illumination, galaxy lamps have become a popular choice for those seeking to infuse a touch of celestial allure into their homes.
A Glimpse into the Cosmos
Galaxy lamps are a fusion of art and science, carefully crafted to replicate the celestial wonder of the galaxy. They encapsulate the essence of stars, planets, and cosmic formations in a compact, mesmerizing lamp. Utilizing advanced technology and creative design, these lamps project a breathtaking visual experience that transports you to the depths of outer space.
The primary mechanism behind these lamps involves intricate LED lighting and 3D printing technologies. LED lights are strategically placed within a spherical or dome-shaped structure, mimicking the appearance of stars and galaxies. The 3D printing technique allows for the creation of precise and detailed cosmic designs, giving the lamp an authentic and ethereal look.
The Dance of Light and Colour
One of the most captivating aspects of galaxy lamps is the interplay of light and colour. The LEDs within the lamp emit a soft, diffused glow, replicating the gentle radiance of stars. The hues range from deep blues and purples to vibrant pinks and greens, resembling the myriad colours found in the cosmic realm. This dynamic blend of colours adds a dreamy and surreal ambiance to any room, creating a relaxing and soothing atmosphere.
A Personalized Cosmic Experience
Galaxy lamps offer a customizable experience, allowing you to tailor the lighting to match your preferences and mood. Some lamps come with adjustable colour settings, enabling you to switch between various shades and intensities of light. Whether you desire a calming, tranquil atmosphere or a more vibrant, energetic vibe, these lamps can adapt to suit your needs.
Moreover, certain galaxy lamps offer the option to choose specific constellations or patterns, letting you create your own slice of the universe. From the mesmerizing swirls of a galaxy to the familiar constellations like the Big Dipper, the lamp’s design possibilities are as vast and varied as the cosmos itself.
A Source of Serenity
In a world filled with hustle and bustle, finding moments of serenity and relaxation is crucial for overall well-being. Galaxy lamps provide a tranquil escape, offering a meditative experience akin to stargazing. The gentle illumination combined with the entrancing patterns can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and promote a sense of peace. It’s a delightful way to unwind and rejuvenate after a long day.
Perfect for Every Space
The versatility of galaxy lamps is another reason for their widespread appeal. Whether you’re adorning your bedroom, living room, office, or any other space, these lamps seamlessly blend into any decor. Their aesthetic appeal and soft glow enhance the ambiance of any room, making them a wonderful addition to various settings.
A Gift from the Cosmos
Galaxy lamps make for exceptional gifts, captivating the hearts of both the young and the young at heart. Whether for a birthday, anniversary, or any special occasion, gifting a galaxy lamp is like presenting a piece of the cosmos. It’s a thoughtful and unique gesture that brings the wonders of the night sky to the recipient’s fingertips.
In conclusion, galaxy lamps hold a special allure, capturing the imagination and fascination of individuals seeking to bring the magic of the cosmos into their lives. With their artful designs, soothing illumination, and customizable features, these lamps offer a captivating and enchanting experience. Let the allure of the galaxy brighten your nights and bring a touch of celestial wonder into your everyday world.


An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Now this is a book I would like every aspiring youngster to read. Kids who want to be the tops and never mind youngsters, all adults should read this book. It's a great advert for co-operation, for planning, organising and thinking ahead, and gives excellent reasons why striving to be number one and better than everyone else, and making sure they know it, is not the way to succeed.
Chris Hadfield is a laconic Canadian, the astronaut who sent back from the space station all those lovely Youtube videos of life in space and the beautiful photographs of earth and space. He writes about his journey to become an astronaut and how all those bromides we hear are not a good idea. You should sweat the small stuff or disaster will happen. You should plan and organise and practise, practise, practise. You should co-operate and work with your colleagues/people around you because your life, and theirs, depend on each one's knowledge, and care.
Well, obviously that has to be done in space, people will say. Yes, but what about our planet which needs us to be as careful and caring as astronauts need to be. it's already in a critical state.
Yes, there are some really valuable lessons to learn from this book and it's a well written, fascinating read by a clear sighted, clear thinking, caring human being. We need to do a Gideom's Bible trick and get this book into every place and reach as many people as possible. After all isn't planet earth just a large space station floating in space?
View all my reviews


The US space agency Nasa has named the four astronauts who will take humanity back to the Moon, after a 50-year gap.
Christina Koch will become the first woman astronaut ever assigned to a lunar mission, while Victor Glover will be the first black astronaut on one.
They will join Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen to fly a capsule around the Moon late next year or early in 2025.
The astronauts won't land on the Moon, but their mission will pave the way for a touchdown by a subsequent crew.
The three US citizens and one Canadian were presented to the public in a ceremony in Houston, Texas.
They will now begin a period of intense training to get themselves ready.
In selecting a woman and a person of colour, Nasa is keeping its promise to bring greater diversity to its exploration efforts. All the previous crewed missions to the Moon were made by white men.


Chandra Grahan 2023, Date and Time, Live Updates and Preacautions: The lunar eclipse, known as Chandra Grahan in India, holds both celestial and religious significance. Chandra Grahan 2023 in India is scheduled for October 28, starting at 11:31 PM and ending at 3:36 AM on October 29. This event will be visible from the moonrise on the 28th to the moonset on the 29th. To assist you in preparing for this eclipse, we’ve compiled essential information, including the date and time for lunar eclipses in different countries, viewing tips, and astrology-related insights. It’s important to note that the October 2023 lunar eclipse will commence with the moon rising over Eastern America and setting over Australia. For expecting mothers, we’ve also provided guidelines on Chandra Grahan 2023 and its potential effects during pregnancy.
Chandra Grahan, Lunar Eclipse 2023 India
The upcoming lunar eclipse in October 2023 holds great promise for both astronomy enthusiasts and those intrigued by its celestial charm. It presents exciting opportunities for growth and advancement. However, it’s essential to adhere to the Sutak guidelines if you’re passionate about stargazing and want to fully appreciate this cosmic spectacle.
Chandra Grahan 2023 Overview
|Chandra Grahan 2023
|Chandra Grahan Date
|28th October 2023
|Chandra Grahan Start Time
|11:32 PM on 28th October
|Chandra Grahan End Time
|03.26 AM of 29th October
|Country wise timings
|Type of Lunar Eclipse
When is Chandra Grahan Date and Time
The last lunar eclipse of 2023 occurred on the night of 28th-29th October. It was visible not only in India but also in Australia, Europe, North America, South America, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic, the Southern Pacific, the Arctic, and Antarctica.
In India, the eclipse began at 1:05 AM and ended at 2:24 AM, with the peak at 1:44 AM. In astrology, eclipses are considered inauspicious. To counter any negative effects, it’s recommended to sprinkle Ganga water throughout the house and take a bath after the eclipse. After bathing, purify the house with Ganga water and perform prayers and rituals. Donating to the needy is also considered significant after an eclipse.
These post-eclipse traditions help mitigate any potential adverse effects according to astrological beliefs.
Chandra Grahan 2023 Live Updates
In India, the lunar eclipse on October 28, 2023, will commence at 1:05 AM and conclude at 2:24 AM, lasting for 1 hour and 18 minutes. The midpoint of the eclipse will be at 1:44 AM, when the maximum impact will be observed. The eclipse’s penumbral phase will start at 4:05 PM the day before.
For various cities:
- Mumbai: Moonrise time today is at 4:57 PM.
- Lucknow: Moonrise time today is at 4:31 PM.
- Chennai: Moonrise time today is at 4:40 PM.
- Delhi: Moonrise time today is at 4:45 PM.
- Kolkata: Moonrise time today is at 4:02 PM.
- Patna: Moonrise time today is at 4:14 PM.
- Kanpur: Moonrise time today is at 4:34 PM.
- Gurugram: Moonrise time today is at 4:34 PM.
Please note these timings for the lunar eclipse and moonrise in your city.
Chandra Grahan Precautions, Does and Don’ts
Here are some important guidelines to keep in mind:
- Avoid Religious Practices: It’s best to refrain from engaging in any religious ceremonies or rituals during the Sutak period.
- Dietary Precautions: To prepare for the eclipse, consider including basil leaves in your meals, and if possible, try not to eat during the eclipse.
- Devotional Activities: During the Sutak period, it’s advisable to avoid participating in devotional singing and chanting.
- Post-Eclipse Routine: After the eclipse ends, it’s a good practice to take a bath before you consume any food.
Chandra Grahan Sutak
The lunar eclipse in Delhi is expected to conclude at 2:22 am, lasting around one hour and sixteen minutes. A significant aspect to note is the Sutak period, which starts precisely nine hours before the eclipse. During this time, it’s advised to avoid participating in any religious activities, whether at temples or at home. This tradition is deeply rooted in ancient scriptures and is aimed at protecting individuals from negative influences.
What Pregnant Women should do before and after Chandra Grahan
Expectant mothers should take special care during this lunar eclipse. Certain actions during the eclipse could potentially harm the baby’s cognitive development. That’s why it’s a common practice to close temple doors just before the Sutak period begins.
How to see Chandra Grahan 2023
While watching a lunar eclipse can be truly mesmerizing, remember to prioritize safety. Never look directly at the Sun, as it can harm your eyes. Ensure you use approved sun filters or specialized eclipse eyewear for solar eclipses. However, during a lunar eclipse, there’s no need for eye protection, as the Moon remains visible even when dimmed. To stay updated on upcoming eclipse events, rely on trustworthy sources for accurate information. Your eye safety matters.
Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope, Rashifal
Aries, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
The final lunar eclipse in the year might bring some challenges for Aries. It could impact your health negatively and lead to disagreements with your spouse. Both your personal and professional life could be affected, causing added stress. It’s advisable to refrain from making financial investments during this time.
Taurus, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
Your finances may take a hit during the lunar eclipse, causing increased expenses. This period might leave you feeling isolated and anxious, amplifying mental stress.
Gemini, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
You might be reminding yourself that life isn’t all about seeking perfection, and this realization will come to you soon. Staying attentive and mindful will bring harmony to how you express yourself and how you perceive things.
Cancer, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
If you’re a Cancer sign, this lunar eclipse might not be in your favor. Work folks, watch your step at the job, and don’t forget your well-being.
Leo, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
If you’re feeling like your current path is getting dull or doesn’t quite match your interests, don’t worry! Exciting changes could be on the horizon. Sometimes, life can throw a bunch of stuff your way all at once, serving as a gentle reminder to hit the pause button before settling into routines that may keep you feeling stagnant. Embrace a new approach to create a more vibrant future.
Virgo, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
Virgo individuals may experience financial challenges during the eclipse. It’s crucial to manage your spending, avoid borrowing, and exercise caution in your financial dealings.
Libra, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
Dear Libra friends, the current moment brings you divine equilibrium. When you take a step back, it becomes clear that life is flowing just as it should, bringing joy and steering you towards your cherished, long-held dreams. However Embrace this harmonious journey.
Scorpio, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
During this lunar eclipse, health concerns could surface, and job changes might become a possibility. Keep an eye out for potential challenges and be wary of any adversaries.
Sagittarius, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
Embrace spiritual growth and anticipate positive life changes. Trust your instincts and take gradual steps to overcome your fears.
Capricorn, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
Embarking on a fresh journey can stir up mixed emotions – a blend of uncertainty and nostalgia. But remember, your selfless deeds have left an enduring mark that’s truly priceless. It’s essential to carve out moments for self-care and let your unique talents shine.
Aquarius, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
You have a strong support system during this phase, even if you may not fully recognize it. Embrace openness and generosity, as they can bring unexpected blessings into your life.Moreover Just like a sunflower turns to face the sun for nourishment, look towards positivity and optimism.
Pisces, Chandra Grahan 2023 Horoscope
The cosmos is on your side, even after times of isolation. Join hands with people who share your passions and dreams. Prioritize genuine connections over just expanding your contact list, and watch your aspirations flourish. Be open to fresh bonds at work and home, as they could lead to exciting opportunities.
Chandra Grahan October 2023, Country wise timings
Discover the Lunar Eclipse 2023 schedule around the world:
New Zealand: October 28-29, 11:32 PM to 3:26 AM
United Kingdom: October 28-29, 8:40 PM to 4:00 AM
India: October 28-29, 11:32 PM to 3:26 AM
Cyprus: October 28-29, 10:30 PM to 4:20 AM
Australia: October 28-29, 9:00 PM to 3:30 AM
Europe: October 28-29, 10:30 PM to 4:20 AM
Russia: October 28-29, 9:40 PM to 3:50 AM
China: October 28-29, 8:45 PM to 4:10 AM
Japan: October 28-29, 8:55 PM to 3:00 AM
Thailand: October 28-29, 8:40 PM to 4:00 AM
UAE: October 28-29, 11:32 PM to 3:26 AM
USA: October 28-29, 8:40 PM to 4:00 AM
These timings provide a glimpse of this celestial event worldwide.


Tonight is the peak of the second meteor shower of October, the Orionids. Since the moon is just past full and has been incredibly bright, it’s unlikely we’ll get to see any shooting stars, but that doesn’t mean we can’t harness the energy of the shower in our magickal workings.
October’s full moon is often called the hunter’s moon, because its light aided hunters in tracking their prey on autumn nights, enabling them to bring home enough game for the winter months ahead. The Orionids fly from the constellation Orion, the greatest hunter in ancient Greece. At the same time as the full hunter’s moon, they give us powerful energy to work with.
Orion was the hunting companion of the goddess Artemis until he was killed by a giant scorpion. Artemis is the goddess of hunters and the wild things, as well as the goddess of the moon. She is the protector of animals and children and defends the powerless, especially women, against unjust treatment.
If you are in need of courage in the face of unfair dealings, protection for animals or children, or aid while hunting responsibly, call on Artemis and Orion tonight. It’s even better if you head outside, where the wild things are, and talk to Artemis directly. Ask nicely, because she’s a tough lady who expects respect. A small offering of thanks will keep you in her good graces.
I’ve had clear nights to enjoy October’s full moon, but I have to admit the addition of the frenetic Aries energy has made it an interesting ride for the past few days. It’s definitely hasn’t been a good time for catching up on sleep. Now that the moon has transitioned into Taurus, maybe I’ll get some rest.
If you haven’t seen this beautiful moon yet, I hope you have a cloudless sky tonight.


I am thrilled to be leading two remarkable photography tours during 2019. The first tour (featured in today’s post) will be offered from Jun. 27 through Jul. 10, 2019 and features a comprehensive photographic itinerary through Chile and Easter Island, including the opportunity to observe and capture images of a total solar eclipse, one of the most spectacular natural events visible on Earth. Learn more and book your space here: Chile Eclipse Photography Tour.
Tomorrow’s post will explore the second of my tours in 2019, an exciting adventure through Mongolia that will be offered from Sep. 13 through Oct. 1, 2019.
From Jun. 27 through Jul. 10, 2019, join our small group of photography enthusiasts and experience the thrill of shooting a total solar eclipse as well as capturing the full range of Chile’s spectacular beauty including a visit to fabled Easter Island. Chile is a dream destination for travel photographers, offering breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, unparalleled astrophotography, and fascinating cultural encounters. We’ve planned this unique itinerary to provide ample opportunities to capture unforgettable images that you won’t find in travel brochures and on postcards.
Our extraordinary photographic journey will take us from the historic and vibrant capital city of Santiago and colorful Valparaiso, to La Serena and Isla Damas for in-depth workshops on eclipse photography in preparation for capturing extraordinary images of the total solar eclipse in this region, then on to the stark otherworldly beauty of the Atacama Desert with the darkest skies on Earth that are perfect for astrophotography, and finally to mystical Easter Island where we’ll have the opportunity to meet and photograph the native Rapa Nui people in exclusive photo shoots we have customized to capture a strong sense of the people and the place.
Award-winning professional travel photographer Kyle Adler will be shooting alongside tour participants and will provide personalized in-the-field instruction. During our optional informal workshops, we’ll review our recent images, plan our shot list for upcoming locations, and cover techniques to make the best images possible. Topics will be tailored to the group’s interests and may cover any aspects of travel photography from shot planning to capture technique, and on to post-processing and image sharing. Unlike most photography tours, we will place a special emphasis on learning to use the camera as a bridge to enhanced understanding of the land and people we visit. Photographers of any level will see their images improve, and non-photographer friends and family are also most welcome to join this tour. You can make memorable images using whatever camera gear you wish to bring; it is not necessary to invest in specialized gear.
To learn more or to book this tour, please visit Eclipse Photography Tour in Chile.


Time is simultaneously one of the most illusive and familiar concepts out there. Familiar because we experience time in every instance of our waking life, illusive because it precludes every notion of common sense that we have ever had.
Time ticks at the same rate no matter where you are. Time can only move in the forward direction. Time moves at the same speed for you when you are moving, as it does for people who are stationary. These are all common beliefs about time in which science, specifically Einstein’s theory of relativity, have proven to be untrue.
Einstein started to think of time in terms of its roots of existence, as opposed to being a human made mechanism which ticks away from a clock. His discoveries explained to us that time is much more than our common experience tells us.
1) The Concept of “NOW” is Simply a Holographic Illusion.
One of Einstein’s key insights is that we experience time relative to light. When we look up at the sun, we are not technically seeing the sun as it is “now”. We are seeing light that was emitted from the sun over 8 minutes ago.
We perceive things as happening “now” only at the moment in which light has reflected off a certain object and reached our eyes. But there is no universal “state of now”. It all depends on where you are experiencing an event from.
When we observe the stars, we are seeing light from some stars which do not exist anymore. We are observing light which has been traveling for millions of years, but since the light is arriving at our eyes at this instance, we perceive the star as existing in the now. It is possible that if you could instantaneously see the origin of the light, that there would be nothing there.
Imagine if we were in a different location, one which is another 100 light years away from Earth and the given star. We would not experience that star as existing until another 100 years have passed and the light has finally reached us. This implies that our universe acts like a giant hologram, and that is why Einstein and other physicists believe that the concepts of past, present and future are illusory.
2) The Faster you Travel, the Slower that Time Passes.
This is not to say that the faster you are travelling, the slower that you perceive time passing. This means that time itself actually passes slower, including the physical seconds that tick on a clock.
How do we know this happens? In 1971, an atomic clock was flown on a jet and compared to a similar clock which stayed on the ground. An atomic clock is the most accurate clock invented by humans to date. This clock operates on the natural frequency of a cesium atom, an atom which oscillates, or “ticks” at over 9 billion cycles per second. This allows us to measure and compare extremely small intervals of time.
The results of this experiment were exactly what Einstein’s theory had predicted. The clock on the jet and the clock on the ground no longer displayed the same time after the flight. The difference was small as it was only measurable in nanoseconds. The effect was measured in every trial of the experiment. Einstein’s theory stood up to the test.
3) As Time and Space Warps, so Does Our Perception of Physical Objects.
The faster an object is traveling, the smaller it appears to a body which is at rest, or traveling slower.
This diagram helps to visualize such an effect in action. V stands for velocity, or speed. and C stands for the speed of light. The speed of light is measured at 186,000 miles per second (mps). The diagram states V = 0.3C, which means that the blue sphere is traveling at 30 percent of the speed of light (55,800 mps).
Notice how there is a minor difference in contraction between 0 and 0.3C, while there is a huge difference between 0.6C and 0.9C. The speed of the ball has increased by the same amount, but the length of the ball has contracted significantly more from 0.6C to 0.9C. That is because the closer an object accelerates towards the speed of light, the more the size of the object will contract for each mile per hour gained.
Most of us have not traveled faster than a Boeing 747 jet, which reaches speeds of around 567 mph (0.1575 mps). The speed of light travels over 1,180,952 times faster than this. Because we travel so slow, we cannot notice this effect. But it does happen, and it is more proof that the way our universe works is not what our common perception tells us.
4) Time Travel is not Impossible, and we Have All Done it to Some Degree.
There are many people in the scientific world who regard time travel as “unscientific” or “impossible”, and it is neither. We travel in time everyday. Maybe not to other dimensions or other timelines, but Einstein’s theory lets us understand that the rate in which time passes changes with respect to our speed.
So whenever we displace ourselves, we slow the amount of time which passes in our frame of reference, as compared to our surroundings. This effect actually moves us into the future, as the video below will explain.
Also, Einstein’s and other physicist’s equations which comprise the Theory of Relativity work just as well moving forward in time as they do moving backward in time. These facts certainly lay a theoretical basis for making time travel research a worthwhile scientific endeavor.
In this video, Stephen Hawking explains how time travel into the future is possible, simply by traveling close to the speed of light.
5) Einstein’s Scientific Discoveries take us Closer to Ancient Wisdom.
It is common to see a dichotomous division between science and ancient philosophy, but Einstein’s theory actually helps to unite our understanding of time with some sacred principles of Buddhism.
Einstein was the first modern scientist to think of space and time as being intrinsically connected. He renamed the plane in which we exist as “4-dimensional space-time”. However, this is not a new idea.
An ancient concept of Buddhist philosophy is that of “being-time” (u-ji). “Being” represents our existence in the three spatial dimensions, while time represents the fourth dimension.
There was also a recognition of the illusory nature of time. The Buddhist concept of “zero time” explores how there is no distinction between past, present, and future. According to this philosophy, everything that we experience is just a series of present moments, meaning that one time exists within all times. This is very comparable to Einstein’s ideas that time is just an illusion, and that what is happening “now” is relative to where you experience an event from.
This leads us to more philosophical questions about our existence.
Since time was understood so deeply by Buddhist philosophy, what other forms of ancient wisdom can help us extend our understanding of the nature of reality?
With such a major discovery proving that our personal experience of time tells us nothing about its true nature, how else does our reality and our perception of common sense deceive us?
Learn more about time and how we perceive it by watching the documentary, “The Illusion of Time”, by Brian Greene and PBS Nova.


Which way is north? Whether you’re lost in the woods or you’re trying to install a sundial in your yard, you’re bound to want to find true north from time to time, and chances are when the time comes you won’t have a compass.What’s more, even if you do have a compass, it will point to magnetic north, which changes with your location in the world
Method 1 of 8: The Shadow Tip Method
1. Place a stick upright in the ground so that you can see its shadow.
Alternatively, you can use the shadow of a fixed object. Nearly any object will work, but the taller the object is, the easier it will be to see the movement of its shadow, and the narrower the tip of the object is, the more accurate the reading will be. Make sure the shadow is cast on a level, brush-free spot.
2. Mark the tip of the shadow with a small object, such as a pebble, or a distinct scratch in the ground.
Try to make the mark as small as possible so as to pinpoint the shadow’s tip, but make sure you can identify the mark later.
3. Wait 10-15 minutes.
The shadow tip will move mostly from west to east in a curved line.
4.Mark the new position of the shadow’s tip with another small object or scratch. It will likely move only a short distance.
5.Draw a straight line in the ground between the two marks.This is an approximate east-west line.
6.Stand with the first mark (west) on your left, and the other (east) on your right. You are now facing mostly toward true north, regardless of where you are in the world. The illustration shows that the sun and marker at Points 1 is what is happening for Step 2. At Points 2, it shows what is happening for Step 4. This method is based on the fact that the sun moves across the sky from East to West.
Method 2 of 8: Using the Stars: Northern Hemisphere
1.Locate the North Star (Polaris) in the night sky.The North Star is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper constellation. If you have trouble finding it, find the Big Dipper. The two lowest stars in the Big Dipper (the outermost stars of the cup of the dipper) form a straight line that “points” to the North Star. You may also find the constellation Cassiopeia, which is always opposite the Big Dipper. The North Star is located about midway between the central star of Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper (see figure).
2.Draw an imaginary line straight down from the North Star to the ground. This direction is true north, and if you can find a landmark in the distance at this point, you can use it to guide yourself
Method 3 of 8: Using the Stars: Southern Hemisphere
1.Find the Southern Cross constellation. In the southern hemisphere, the North Star is not visible, and no single star always indicates north or south, but you can use the Southern Cross and the pointer stars as your guide. The Southern Cross constellation is formed by five stars, and the four brightest stars form a cross that is angled to one side.
2.Identify the two stars that make up the long axis of the cross. These stars form a line which “points” to an imaginary point in the sky which is above the South Pole. Follow the imaginary line down from the two stars five times the distance between them.
3.Draw an imaginary line from this point to the ground, and try to identify a corresponding landmark to steer by. Since this is true south, true north is directly opposite it (behind you as you are looking at the point).
Method 4 of 8: Using the Stars: Equator
1.The Orion Constellation is visible from both hemispheres depending on the time of the year.
It is a permanent feature on the equator.
2.Look for Orion’s Belt. Orion has several
prominent stars. The ‘belt’ (3 stars in a row) runs from East to West. Look for that, it has a ‘sword’ attached to it.
3.Project a line From the sword through the middle star of the Belt.
That is the general direction of North.
4.Orion lays across the Equator: the Belt rises & sets at east & West
Method 5 of 8: Alternate Shadow-Tip Method for Increased Accuracy
1.Set up a stick as perpendicular to the level ground as possible and mark the first shadow-tip as above.
For this method, take your first reading in the morning, at least an hour or so before midday.
2.Find an object or length of string, etc.
exactly the same length as the shadow.
3.Continue taking measurements of the shadow’s length every 10-20 minutes.The shadow will shrink before midday and will grow after midday.
4.Measure the shadow length as the shadow grows.
Use the string or object you used to measure the length of the initial shadow. When the shadow grows to exactly the same length as the string (and hence exactly the same length as your first measurement), mark the spot.
5.Draw a line connecting the first and second marks as above.
Once again, this is your east-west line, and if you stand with the first mark on your left and the second on your right, you will be facing true north.
Method 6 of 8: Watch Method: Northern Hemisphere
1.Find an analog watch (the kind with hour and minute hands) that is set accurately. Place it on a level surface, such as the ground, or hold it horizontal in your hand.
2.Bisect (that is, find the centre point of) the angle between the hour hand and the twelve o’clock mark (the number 12 on the watch).The centre of the angle between the hour hand and twelve o’clock mark is the north-south line. If you don’t know which way is north and which south, just remember that no matter where you are, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. In the northern hemisphere the sun is due south at midday. If your watch is set to daylight saving time bisect the angle between the hour hand and the one o’clock mark instead.
Method 7 of 8: Watch Method: Southern Hemisphere
1.Use an analogue watch as above, and point the twelve o’clock mark (the number 12) of the watch toward the sun.
If your watch is set to daylight saving time, point the one o’clock mark toward the sun.
2.Bisect the angle between the twelve o’clock mark (or one o’clock mark if using daylight saving time) and the hour hand to find the north-south line.
If you’re unsure which way is north, remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west no matter where you are. In the southern hemisphere, however, the sun is due north at midday.
Method 8 of 8: Estimating the Sun’s Path
1.Understand the path that the sun takes.
Remember that the sun rises in the general east and sets in the general west. In between, the sun will sweep out an arc to the south in the northern hemisphere, and to the north in the southern hemisphere (always towards the equator). This means that in the very early morning (shortly after sunrise), the sun will be generally east, while very late in the evening (shortly before sunset), it will be sun will be generally west.
- The path of the sun can vary quite a bit depending on the season, especially far from the equator. For instance, in the summer, sunrise and sunset will tend to be further from the equator (more northerly in the northern hemisphere, and more southerly in the southern hemisphere), while in the winter, they will tend to be closer to the equator. Only one the spring and fall equinoxes does the sun rise due-east and set due-west.
- For precautionary measures, familiar with the path of the sun for your area or the area where you will be going before you are in a situation where you have to know it. A helpful and free web tool is available athttp://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php. In particular, try to learn the shape of the path at the two solstices, and the approximate time of sunrise and sunset for these two paths. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you estimate the path for the current day.
2.Find north based on the direction of the sun. If you determine that the sun is in the east (early in the morning), then north will be roughly a quarter turn counterclockwise (for instance, if you’re facing the sun, then you would turn to the left). If the sun is in the west, then north is roughly a quarter turn clockwise. If the sun is in south, then north is directly opposite it.
- Around 12 noon (depending on day light savings time and your position within the timezone), the sun will be pointed due south in the northern hemisphere, and due north in the southern hemisphere.