Astronomy, features and articles | Educational Science

Sep 23, 2022

China discovers rare lunar crystal and nuclear power source on near side of the moon

Researchers in China have discovered a new type of crystal nestled among the volcanic debris of the near side of the moon, as well as a potential fuel source that could help revolutionize the production of clean and efficient energy on Earth. The small, transparent crystal — named Changesite-(Y), after...

Oct 4, 2022

The full Hunter's Moon could outshine a 'dragon' meteor shower on Oct. 9

On Oct. 9, the full Hunter's Moon will rise once again, reaching peak illumination at approximately 4:54 p.m. ET (8:54 p.m. UTC). As with all full moons, the moon will appear bright and full during the night before and the night after the peak, offering skywatchers three chances to bask...

Oct 5, 2022

How did the moon form? A supercomputer may have just found the answer

The moon could have formed immediately after a cataclysmic impact that tore off a chunk of Earth and hurled it into space, a new study has suggested. Since the mid-1970s, astronomers have thought that the moon could have been made by a collision between Earth and an ancient Mars-size protoplanet...

Oct 11, 2022

What is the 'man in the moon' and how did it form?

If you've ever gazed up at the full moon, you might notice a face looking back at you: the so-called man in the moon. But why does our natural satellite seem to sport a face? Over billions of years, asteroid impact craters and the aftermath of lunar volcanic eruptions gave...

Oct 30, 2022

Why can we sometimes see the moon in the daytime?

The moon's presence in the night sky has transfixed people for millennia. But why is the moon sometimes visible during daylight? We sometimes see the moon during the day for the same reason we see it at night — it is reflecting light from the sun — and its closeness...

Nov 7, 2022

The 'Beaver Blood Moon' rises (and eclipses) on Nov. 8. Here’s how to watch.

November's full moon, sometimes called the Beaver Moon, Frost Moon or Snow Moon, will rise on Tuesday, Nov. 8. While the full moon peaks at 6 a.m. EST (10 a.m. UTC) on Tuesday morning, the moon will still appear full and bright for about three days, from early Nov. 7...

Nov 7, 2022

Last total lunar eclipse until 2025 rises on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Here's how to watch.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the full Beaver Moon will pass into the darkest part of Earth's shadow for nearly 90 minutes in the final lunar eclipse of 2022 — and the last total lunar eclipse until 2025, according to NASA. At least part of the lunar eclipse will be visible...

Nov 8, 2022

Gorgeous and ghostly photos of the Beaver blood moon total lunar eclipse

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the final total lunar eclipse until 2025 unfolded high in the sky over Earth. The eclipse — also known as a blood moon, for the rusty, reddish hue that the moon takes on after fully entering into Earth's shadow — was visible throughout East Asia, Australia,...

Apr 3, 2023

Artemis Program: NASA's plan to send humans back to the moon

The Artemis mega moon rocket is NASA's latest and most powerful launch vehicle, intended to return astronauts, robots, and supplies to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. It consists of a multistage rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS), which can carry various additional modules...

Apr 4, 2023

Watch the full 'Pink Moon' rise into the sky on April 6

This month's full moon, known as the Pink Moon, will be at its fullest on Thursday, April 6, 2023, and will shine close to the bright star Spica. The moon will also appear bright and full on Wednesday and Friday. According to Timeanddate.com, April's full moon is called the Pink...

Apr 7, 2023

Students set to land first US rover on the moon — before NASA

After 65 years of lunar exploration, the United States is finally going to put its first autonomous rover on the moon. But this mission won’t be helmed by NASA engineers — instead, it is the brainchild of a dedicated group of college students. The Iris rover was developed by students,...

Apr 22, 2023

Will Earth ever lose its moon?

The moon's orbit around Earth appears so regular that civilizations have based the month on lunar motion for thousands of years. However, the moon is actually creeping slowly away from Earth. So will Earth lose its moon at some point? Scientists determined the rate at which the moon is drifting...

May 3, 2023

How to see the full 'Flower Moon' eclipsed by Earth's shadow this weekend

This weekend, the full 'Flower Moon' will move through part of Earth's shadow and be eclipsed for a few hours. The event that will be visible to more than 6.6 billion people, according to Timeanddate.com. During the brief alignment this weekend, viewers in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, New...

May 5, 2023

For the 1st time, scientists confirm the moon has a solid iron 'heart' just like Earth

After more than 50 years, scientists have finally uncovered the moon's interior structure, showing that our closest celestial companion has a fluid outer core and a solid inner core, similar to Earth's. A team of researchers from the Côte d'Azur University and the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculations...

May 15, 2023

How to see ghostly 'Da Vinci glow' illuminate the crescent moon this week

A phenomenon called 'Da Vinci glow' will be visible on the dark limbs of the moon on successive days this week and again next weekend. The subtle light — also known as Earthshine — is sunlight reflected first by Earth onto the lunar surface, then again into the eyes of...