Halloween The last night of October was traditionally celebrated as the eve of Winter by the ancient Celts. Moreover, it was also the beginning of their New Year. In ancient Ireland, a new and sacred fire was kindled on this night, from which all the fires of Ireland would be lit. The Celts believed this…
Summertime 2024
Summertime 2024 and the Summer Solstice will be interesting in the midst this El Niño season. However, in the past, there was love, dancing and terror! How delightful it was out in the countryside, with golden wheat swaying, green oats rustling, and hay neatly stacked in the grassy meadows! And there, the stork strutted on…
A Vernal Equinox Story
The Cosmic Dance of Spring A Vernal Equinox Story Happens Only Once Every Year…. In the quiet expanse of the cosmos, where stars twinkle like distant lanterns, there exists a celestial event that stirs the very fabric of our existence—the Vernal Equinox. Imagine, if you will, a cosmic waltz where Earth pirouettes around the Sun,…
December 2023
December 2023: Reflecting on Apollo 8’s 55th Anniversary December 21st, 2023, marks the 55th anniversary of the historic Apollo 8 mission (December 21–27, 1968), the first manned flight to the Moon. This momentous journey, undertaken by astronauts Lovell, Anders, and Borman, provided humanity with an unparalleled live, close-up view of the lunar surface and the…
Leonid Meteor Shower
November’s Meteors Unpredictable Brilliance: The Leonid Meteor Shower’s Mystique The Upcoming Show: November 16th/17th, 2023 Prepare for a celestial spectacle as the Leonid Meteor Shower reaches its peak in the early hours of November 16th/17th. This meteor shower is known for its enigmatic and erratic behavior, leaving observers at the edge of their seats. Historic…
The Carrington Event
The Carrington Event – A Solar Storm for the Ages In early September 1859, the world experienced an extraordinary event known as the Carrington Event, a massive solar storm that had profound effects on Earth. This remarkable incident is a crucial part of our understanding of space weather. The Solar Flare On September 1, 1859,…
Selling the Night Sky
Selling the Night Sky… An Observatory astronomer here once had a great idea for making a fast buck. He’d nab a copy of the city’s list of fire hydrants and sell them one at a time to anyone who’d send him a check for $50. He’d promise to name a plug after anyone whose check…
Making A Fast Buck
An observatory astronomer once had a great idea for making a fast buck. He decided to sell the city’s list of fire hydrants one at a time to anyone willing to send him a check for $50. In this way, he promised to name a plug after anyone whose check didn’t bounce and sent them…
The Seventh Night of the Seventh Moon
The Seventh Night of the Seventh Moon August 1, 2023. This is the Seventh Night of the Seventh Moon, according to the Chinese calendar. This is the night that thousands of magpies will form a bridge over the ‘silver river’ between the Earth and Heaven, and re-unite two young lovers. The Forbidden Love Many, many…
Cheap Thrills!
Cheap Thrills Let’s take a trip back to those warm summer nights during childhood looking for some “Cheap Thrills”. On these evenings, options seemed scarce, funds were limited, and parental restrictions were in place. However, whether we gathered with friends under a streetlamp or leaned back on the family Ford’s hood to gaze at the…