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Western Slope Skies – Astronomy Highlights for 2024
2024 is almost here, and in astronomy, a lot will be happening. The sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle. Expect many sunspots, extreme solar flares, and coronal mass ejections of charged particles.This activity may trigger auroras, aka northern lights, and airglow, which may be visible from the Western Slope. Although comet…
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There are Ideal Orbits for Space-Based Interferometers
Ever since the telescope was invented in 1608, astronomers have striven for bigger and better telescopes. When it comes to instruments to observe the sky, bigger really is better whether you are observing faint galaxies or planets a larger collector gives higher resolution and brighter images. A paper recently published looks into different kinds of…
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Moon and Jupiter
Jupiter is the third-brightest object in the night sky — only the Moon and Venus outshine it. If our eyes were sensitive to infrared light, Jupiter would look even brighter. That’s because it radiates about twice as much energy into space as it receives from the Sun — all in the infrared. Scientists still aren’t…
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James Webb telescope reveals gargantuan ‘Mothra’ star in most colorful image of the universe ever taken
NASA has combined the power of its two premier space telescopes to produce one of the most colorful and comprehensive views of the universe ever. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Hubble Space Telescope to collect light in different wavelengths, a new, combined image reveals a parade of stars and galaxies…
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10 scenic spots to watch the April 2024 total solar eclipse
The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 will be visible from North America within a narrow path of totality around 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide. That path, which stretches from Mexico to Canada via 15 U.S. states, will pass through many state parks, national parks and other scenic spots that offer a perfect backdrop…
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International Space Station to be visibile over Ireland
The International Space Station (ISS) will pass across Irish skies over the next 12 nights. The ISS has six astronauts on board, and will cross the sky over Ireland over the coming days until December 5th. Advertisement “It is an incredible sight to see the International Space Station blazing across Irish skies, so we are…
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Save $53 on these lightweight Nikon binoculars this Black Friday
Looking for a powerful and lightweight binocular that won’t break the bank? Then we have the deal for you. The Nikon Prostaff P3 10×42 binoculars are now $53 off at Amazon this Black Friday. At over 35% off, this deal is worth snapping up if you’re in the market for a great pair of beginner…
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NASA Chooses Blue Origin’s Rocket To Launch Smallsat Mission To Mars
NASA selected Blue Origin in February to launch the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, a pair of smallsats that will study the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere of Mars. The space agency now expects the mission will be on the first launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch…
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Black Friday: Save $183 on these powerful skywatching binos
Skywatching has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, but sadly, so have the prices. But we’ve found a Black Friday binocular deal to help you save money and get stargazing for less. The powerful Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 binoculars are now $183 off at Amazon in this Black Friday deal, meaning you can pick…
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Black Friday: Save $183 on these powerful skywatching binos
Skywatching has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, but sadly, so have the prices. But we’ve found a Black Friday binocular deal to help you save money and get stargazing for less. The powerful Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 binoculars are now $183 off at Amazon in this Black Friday deal, meaning you can pick…
