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Posts Tagged ‘space’

A Tale of Lunar Night

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , , on June 5, 2025| 1 Comment »

Any plans for this afternoon? Nothing special? Then you might be interested in checking out a moon landing.

Japanese company ispace will attempt historic moon landing on June 5 | Space

The Resilience lander is currently orbiting the moon as it prepares to land within Mare Frigoris (“Sea of Cold”) in the northern hemisphere. The landing is scheduled for Thursday at 3:17 p.m. EDT (1917 GMT; or 4:17 a.m. Japan Standard Time on Friday, June 6)… If Resilience lands successfully, it is expected to operate for up to two weeks (one lunar day) on the moon’s surface before succumbing to the deep cold of lunar night.

That’s right, a private company is attempting a moon landing today. Is the privatization of space a good thing? A bad thing? It’s certainly an interesting progression of humanity’s extra-planetary exploration, always fascinating material for science fiction writers.

And we can watch!

(“the deep cold of lunar night”: is that a great phrase or what?)

Quick update: the landing time changed a bit due to orbital mechanics or something fancy like that, but more importantly, controllers are waiting to find out if it landed safely and can establish contact. Updates via CNN…

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Photo by Beres Ioan on Unsplash

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Don’t Stop Believing

Posted in Other, Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on May 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

A couple of years ago I wrote about NASA’s excellent graphic novel encouraging folks to imagine themselves on the moon: First Woman: Dream to Reality.

There was a second issue, too, called First Woman: Expanding Our Universe. Both were free and available to the public on NASA’s site. (Which makes sense, because NASA is paid for by US tax dollars, including mine.) Sadly, both have now been removed.

But good news, aspiring explorers! As highlighted over at Space.com, both issues are still available via that bastion of awesome, The Wayback Machine:

Calliefirst – NASA

Issue #1: Dream to Reality follows Callie’s trailblazing path as the first woman on the Moon. Callie and her robot sidekick, RT, overcome setbacks, disappointment, and tragedy along the way. From her childhood dreams of space travel to being selected as an astronaut candidate, Callie takes us on her journey to the Moon.

I don’t always take the time to update older links, but I thought this one was important.

Because if humanity stops inspiring the next generation, humanity stops.

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NASA, via The Wayback Machine

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Best (Space) Wishes

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , on May 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday? – NASA Science

What did Hubble look at on your birthday? Enter the month and date below to find out!

Or any other day, your choice!

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Photo by nate rayfield on Unsplash

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Accomplish This

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on May 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We’re heading into the end of the week and I don’t know about you, but I’m usually looking at my to do lists and wondering where the time has gone. (Also? I’m now convinced that meetings exist primarily to spawn more meetings.)

So, fine, maybe I haven’t accomplished everything I wanted to, but it’s not like I haven’t earned a little time for fun.

You too? Then consider taking a few minutes off to read about why The Phony Physics of Star Wars Are a Blast.

You can also read more about the Science Behind Science Fiction: The Physics of Star Wars from the Connecticut Science Center.

An extra bit of fun: And if you’ve always wondered how quickly you’d react to a lightsaber in the dark, or a TIE fighter arrowing out from behind a canyon wall, maybe you should try testing your Reaction Time. (That big blue bar at the top? Click that:)

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Photo by Nicholas Fuentes on Unsplash

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Earth Day that Was

Posted in Holidays, Science!, tagged , , , , on April 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I know, I know, I’m a little late to be celebrating Earth Day. Which was yesterday. But deserves to be celebrated every day!

In the spirit of “yay, Earth,” I’d like to share this from NASA:

Celebrating Earth as Only NASA Can

This Earth Day, NASA is sharing how — by building on decades of innovation—we use the unique vantage point of space to observe and understand our dynamic planet in ways that we cannot from the ground.

And just for fun, you can spell out Your Name in Landsat 🛰️

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NASA’s Landsat

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Visitors from Outer Space

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , on April 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We’re coming up on Easter weekend, which often means sugar-crazed energy spikes, loud family gatherings, and other high-energy experiences. If you happen to be an introvert, or just need a break with a bit of science in it, try going outside at night and doing a little meteor spotting.

The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to dazzle the night sky beginning this week

“You’re not going to see meteors from downtown Manhattan or Central Park,” Cooke said. “You need to find the darkest sky you can, you need to lay flat on your back and look away from the moon.”

Give yourself 30 to 45 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark, Cooke said — and from there, simply enjoy the show.

And if you’re watching the sky this weekend, you may see the Lyrids overlap with another meteor shower, the Eta Aquariids, which is a thing I just learned about. For more on meteors and their schedules, visit the Meteor Shower Calendar from the American Meteor Society. 

So lay back, relax, and wave hello to these visitors from outer space.

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Photo by Philipp Düsel on Unsplash

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Very Cool Progress

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , on April 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Just going to post this here because cool!

Scientists hail ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system

Observations by the James Webb space telescope of a planet called K2-18 b appear to reveal the chemical fingerprints of two compounds that, on Earth, are only known to be produced by life.

Is it life? Maybe yes, maybe no, but either way? It’s progress. Very cool progress!

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Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

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An Altered Perspective

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , on March 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Now that Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are back on the planet after an unexpectedly long stint at the office (in space! because they’re astronauts!), we’re left with some important questions.

Like, what changes when you’re in space, physically speaking? How challenging is it when you come back to earth? How long does it take to adjust? And what exactly happens in their “comprehensive reconditioning process”?

For the answers to all this and more, check out How astronauts like Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore adjust when back on Earth.

“I was like, laying in bed. I had to go to the bathroom and I just started pushing off my back thinking, ‘I’m going to float to the bathroom.’ And the light was out and I’m pushing up and I roll out of bed,” he says.

Hehe:)

Here’s another take on the process, from former NASA astronaut Jack Fischer: Astronaut explains what a long space mission did to his body. He answers critical questions like “Can you have a beer right away if you wanted to?”

Inquiring minds want to know! (Short answer? Yes!)

There are certain upsides, physical…

The impacts of being in space, especially for long periods of time, on the body are still being studied. During a study conducted on astronaut twins Mark and Scott Kelly, researchers found that while Scott was on the ISS, he temporarily became two inches taller.

— NPR

…and mental…

“I went around the planet every 90 minutes. I saw everyone that was, is and will be on planet Earth.”

— Leland Melvin, Astronaut, NFL Player, Children’s Book Author 

Here’s to perspective!

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Modified Photo by SIMON LEE on Unsplash

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Tomorrow, in Space

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , on February 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be an astronaut? Do you wish you could ask someone all those burning space questions you’ve got in the back of your mind (and who doesn’t)?

Tomorrow is your lucky day!

Astronauts Are Streaming Live on Twitch—and You Can Talk to Them

This Wednesday evening, you’ll be able to join two astronauts—one of whom is in space right now—on a live stream from space and ask them questions about what it’s like to live and work on the ISS.

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You can ask your very own question if you remember to tune in on Wednesday, February 12, at 11:45 a.m. EST (8:45 a.m. PST) on NASA’s Twitch channel.

I’m posting this now to give you time to prepare your best questions and to stock up on snacks like freeze dried ice cream, the weirdly addictive treat I’ve loved since childhood.

For fun, here’s an article on space food, even more on space food, and a sample menu from the International Space Station:

Why do typos matter? Ask the “cried apples”! Also, I am hungry now.

Apparently I’m interested in space food😉 No matter what space stuff you’re into, you’ve got a chance to ask about it tomorrow!

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Not an astronaut, but fun all the same. Photo by Iván Díaz on Unsplash

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A Brief Explainer, or What’s That Up in the Sky?

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , on February 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

What’s the Difference Between Asteroids, Comets and Meteors? We Asked a NASA Scientist

So, what’s the difference between asteroids, comets, and meteors? Well, asteroids are rocky, comets are icy, and meteors are much smaller and are the shooting stars that you see up in the sky.

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Photo by Ken Cheung on Unsplash

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