Astronomers spy a nearby, blazing hot super-Earth
Most exoplanets orbiting close to their stars don’t have atmospheres. But Gliese 486b – orbiting a red dwarf star only 24 light-years away – does. It’s close enough to see well. Astronomers will be watching it!
Giant iceberg breaks off Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica
A giant iceberg, about twice the size of Chicago, broke off from Antartica’s Brunt Ice Shelf in late February 2021.
Historic conjunction of Mars and Pleiades Photographed
On March 3, 2021, the red planet Mars and Pleiades star cluster in Taurus will appear close together on the sky’s dome. The two won’t get this close again until 2038! See photos of the big event.
Development and Climate Change Contribute to a Himalayan Tragedy – Eos
On 7 February, an ice-capped piece of rock broke off in the Himalayas, triggering an avalanche and unleashing a devastating flood in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. As of late February, at least 70 people were killed, more than…
Closest Mars-Pleiades conjunction until 2038
This year – on March 3, 2021 – the red planet Mars and the Pleiades star cluster – also known as the Seven Sisters – stage their closest conjunction on the sky’s dome until February 4, 2038.
Asteroid dust in Chicxulub crater seals deal on dino extinction
Scientists examined rock cores taken from the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, site of the asteroid impact that triggered dinosaur extinction, and found iridium, a telltale sign of asteroids.
Gulf Stream at its weakest in over 1,000 years
A new study suggests that the Gulf Stream – an Atlantic Ocean current that plays a large role in shaping Earthâs weather patterns – is weaker now than at any point in the last 1,000 years.
More Polar Bear Climate Porn: Bears Use 4X More Energy In Computer Models
Last week (24 February 2021), The Guardian was promoting a study that claims polar bears now use four times more energy than expected to survive because of ‘major ice loss’ in the Arctic, as a way of suggesting that the…
Mercuryâs greatest elongation Mar 6, 2021
Mercury, the innermost planet, has a close conjunction with the king planet Jupiter on March 5, and then reaches its greatest elongation from the sun on March 6.
Moon, star Spica on Mar 1, 2021
This evening – March 1, 2021 – look eastward before going to bed and you just might catch the bright waning gibbous moon and the star Spica over the horizon.
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