Archive for the ‘Planets’ Category

The Sky Tonight: Aug 26 – Sept 1

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

This week’s Look-Up report features a colorful sunset conjunction, the waxing gibbous Moon with Jupiter and Pleiades, and a word about light pollution!  Click here for the full report, including graphics and links.

A Celestial Song

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Wanna see (and hear!) something really fun?  Solar Beat, a project by White Vinyl Design, employs a virtual orrery to illustrate the orbits of the planets, including Ceres and Pluto, through sight and sound.

Each planet is represented by its own note as it marks one full orbit around the Sun, creating a beautiful celestial melody.  You can even adjust the tempo, from a somber slow to a more whimsical quick.  For added fun, watch the “years passed” data at the bottom of the application.  You’ll quickly grasp the differences between the inner planets vs the outer planets.

So, go ahead – click on the Solar Beat graphic and don’t forget to turn up your sound!

Thanks to @Go2SpaceNow for sharing this wonderful project!

Now Available On-Demand

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Our special Perseids #Meteorwatch presentation, When Planets and Particles Collide – Part II, is now available for on-demand play.  Click here to watch and listen.  NOTE: The slides may take a moment to load.

Planets, Particles, and the Perseids!

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

WHAT: When Planets and Particles Collide – Part II

WHEN: Thursday, August 12, 9:00 pm EDT

WHERE: AFM*Radio

Join us Thursday night on AFM*Radio for a fun slideshow presentation featuring the Perseid Meteor Shower!  Adapting last year’s When Planets and Particles Collide, we’ll  focus on the Perseids as we talk about the differences between meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites; the mechanisms of meteor showers; and the night sky surrounding constellation Perseus.  Science and Fun, all rolled into one!

NOTE: This special feature will be presented in Adobe Connect.  Log-in here as a “guest”. You can then listen to the audio through the Adobe room, or mute the Adobe sound and listen via AFM*Radio.

The Sky Tonight: Aug 5 – Aug 11

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

This week’s “Look Up” report features the waning and waxing Moon, sunset planets, and a Perseids preview!  Audio and Text versions available, here.

The Sky Tonight: July 8 – July 14

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Morning Montage

This week’s sky report, July 8 – July 14, features Venus with Regulus; the waning and waxing crescent Moon; and a morning montage that includes two bright star clusters and Jupiter’s four Galilean moons!  Text and audio versions available on our The Sky Tonight page, here.