This Day In Space History: August 21

1972

The Orbiting Astronomy Observatory 3, "Copernicus" is launched. Read about the mission here: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1972-065A

1989

Launched twelve years ago yesterday, Voyager 2 flies by Neptune's moon Triton. Read about Neptune's largest moon, and its encounter with the Voyager spacecraft here: https://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/08/dayintech_0821/

1993

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/08/21/this-day-in-history-august-21-2017.html

NASA loses contact with the Mars Observer orbiter before its entry into Martian orbit.

2017

A total solar eclipse is visible over North America, the first time in 38 years!!!

For a complete list of today’s Space History, see  http://www.astronautix.com/a/august21.html

It's Eclipse Day!!

Hi everyone! Today was an exciting day...when the moon crossed in front of the sun, in perfect alignment with the Earth. Watching the news, I was amazed at the size of the crowds, a truly national (and international - one reporter said 20 countries were represented) gathering for everyone to experience, what could be a once in a lifetime event. I saw a smiling bride and groom standing among a crowd, looking up toward the darkened afternoon sky; and it appears many couples said 'I do' today during the total solar eclipse. I watched as people waited anxiously, followed by cheers, in Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, Illinois - where tickets cost up to ten thousand dollars. And after they saw its totality -the longest duration: 2 minutes and 41 seconds- they were able to see Venus in the sky (might I remind you this was in early afternoon!). What an amazing sight it must have been!

As for how I experienced the eclipse, well...the glasses were all sold out, so I consulted the internet for how to experience it without looking at the sun! The Washington Post came through, providing me with easy directions for a pinhole projector. I used a Thin Mints box because I of course wanted to make the box be a special one and what better way to celebrate an eclipse than with cookies! Making it was so simple - white paper goes on the inside for the screen, cut two squares, cover one with foil, poke a hole through the foil, that's pretty much it. So here's my box and here's the best picture I could get of what I could see. Looking at the image of the sun is so incredibly misleading because its the middle of the afternoon and you see what looks like a crescent moon and it's just amazing and so fun to look at! Unfortunately my picture below does not do it justice for what I could really see (and of course what the people in the path of totality could see!). In my area, the peak time for the solar eclipse was 2:41 pm EDT, I watched from 2 to 3, and when I looked through my projector again at 4, the sun's image was a complete circle again!

and these three...well...they're just really cool to look at  :)

in these, you can see the sun and moon overlapping

Mercury is on the left, Mars is on the right, and Venus is at the bottom of the last picture

these were taken, respectively at: 12:30, 2:05, 2:15 and 3:15

Don't worry, if you weren't in the path of the total solar eclipse this year in 2017, the next one will be April 8, 2024. Check the map below from NationalEclipse.com to find out if you'll get the chance to see it! I'll be able to see it - will you? (Or will you be lucky enough to be right in that spot where the two paths collide and you get to see it twice?)

Also, check out this map from GreatAmericanEclipse.com to see all the future solar eclipses in the next hundred years

Now I want to hear about what you did and what you saw today! Let me know in the comments down below! I hope everyone had the chance to enjoy such a great phenomena on this exciting day!

💖,
The North Star Gazer 🌟

This Day In Space History: August 18

1686

https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Neith%20(hypothetical%20moon)&uid=1575

Giovanni Cassini (1625-1712) sights what he believes is a natural satellite of Venus. The hypothetical moon is called Neith.

1868

https://www.wired.com/2009/08/dayintech_0818/
In his observation of the spectral lines of a solar eclipse in Guntur, India, French astronomer Pierre Janssen (1824-1907) discovers helium, recognizing that a wavelength didn't match that of any known element.

1960

Discoverer XIV, "the first successful low resolution photo surveillance spacecraft" (nasa.gov) is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. learn more here: https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1960-010A

1976

http://www.onthisday.com/events/august/18

The Soviet spacecraft Luna 24 lands on the moon's surface, ten days after its launch.

1993

http://www.yearinspace.com/the-week-in-space

The first flight of the Delta Clipper (DC-X), a reusable spacecraft.

For a complete list of today’s Space History, see  http://www.astronautix.com/a/august18.html

This Day In Space History: August 11

1960

https://www.space.com/37183-today-in-space.html
The satellite Discoverer 13 becomes the first space capsule to be recovered from Earth's orbit. It landed in the Pacific Ocean, was airlifted by a Navy helicopter to a ship to Pearl Harbor.

1962

http://www.yearinspace.com/the-week-in-space
The USSR launches Vostok 3.

1989

Voyager 2 discovers Neptune's partial rings.

read the news report here: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/08/11/Voyager-2-discovers-partial-rings-around-Neptune/5083618811200/

1999

http://www.onthisday.com/events/august/11

A total solar eclipse is seen in much of the northern hemisphere for a total of 2 minutes and 23 seconds.

For a complete list of today’s Space History, see  http://www.astronautix.com/a/august11.html

What are Solar and Lunar Eclipses?

In anticipation of the solar eclipse that is quickly approaching - just about two weeks, I thought I'd give a really brief explanation of both solar and lunar eclipses.

solar eclipse

When positioned just right, the moon {new moon} will completely block the sun in a total eclipse - this is what we'll see on August 21st. (There are also partial solar eclipses).

lunar eclipse

Now with the earth aligned in the middle, the moon {full moon} will not be exposed to the sun at all, blocked by the earth's shadow. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)  used his observation of a lunar eclipse to prove that the earth was round.