What's Up? The Space Place

Hey Space Placers! A fascinating read from Forbes' Ethan Siegel. ..... Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! As it gets darker earlier take the time to see brilliant Venus in the SW after sunset. Mars is to the left of Venus and a dimming ember of itself from back in May when it was closest to the Earth. The bright Summer Triangle is setting in the West and the Great Square Pegasus flies high overhead while Orion rises in the East with Sirius . I hope to get some nice pics at sea and sharing them with you. Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! IT'S BLACK FRIDAY. Here are some suggestions for that stargazer on your gift list. Good hunting! Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Check out this story about more water found on Mars. This subsurface deposit has more water than Lake Superior on Earth! Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! As we zoom into the holidays here are some great tips on buying a telescope. Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Here's the latest on the Dawn mission to the dwarf planet Ceres .  Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Read this great article   on the latest findings about Pluto from the New Horizons mission. (Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute) What a fascinating world!. Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! It was so uplifting to see the whole world involved in the Full Super Beaver Moon. Twitterverse, media and people were excited about the whole event AND went outside to see it and photograph it. I watched and photographed the event at Shenandoah National Park and wanted to share my pics with you which span 11/13 and 11/14. The Supermoon Rises in the Piedmont of Virginia The Earth's Shadow & Belt of Venus The Supermoon Rises Above the Earth's Shadow  The Color of Night Via A Supermoon The Supermoon Over Shenandoah Valley The Supermoon at 221,524 Miles-Closest Until 11/25/20134 Wonderful Color As SuperBeaverMoon Sets over the Massanuten Range Wonderful Color As SuperBeaverMoon Sets over the Massanuten Range I hope you got to see it as well...... Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Got plans tonight, tomorrow morning? Whatever they are and wherever you are, you should include taking a peek at the Moon. Depending on when you were born doing so may be a once in a lifetime event as November’s Full Moon will be the closest one since January 26,1948 and will not be as close again until November 25, 2034  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/see-the-biggest-supermoon-in-68-years/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-161111&utm_content=896725_SKY_HP_eNL_161111&utm_medium=email   . November’s Full Moon will also be a Supermoon, a phrase that has become part of our popular culture in recent years but has been around since 1979  http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon   . Just to be clear Supermoon is not an astronomical term. In each monthly lunar cycle while orbiting the Earth our Moon has a point where it is closest to the Earth - perigee - and when it is farthest - apogee. When the Full Moon o...

Hey Space Placers! NASA has added a new feature to its very popular "Spot the Station" website.   The new interactive map makes it easier than ever to pinpoint your location and get alerts from NASA as to when the International Space Station will be visible to you. It is truly amazing to watch 1 million pounds of space hardware inhabited by humans soar silently overhead. Sign up today... Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Read this - it WILL HAPPEN SOMEDAY ......We need to be prepared just like we are for all natural disasters. Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! Here is my story on my visit to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center yesterday to participate in Media Day. The JWST Optical Telescope Element Greg Redfern Be sure to click the links in the story. Sky Guy in VA