Back in 1995, astronomers had detected a planet orbiting around a Sun-like star. This was a huge deal. And today, we have discovered more than 4000 extrasolar planets. They come in a wide variety of sizes and characteristics. By the most optimistic projections, only about 50 are habitable, and only 20 have Earth-like temperatures. So, if we were to send off a probe to explore some of these worlds, what would be the top 5 nearest choices to visit?
As Covid-19 spreads across the globe, it’s interesting to think about how NASA would handle a viral outbreak in space. In fact, there have been rare occasions that astronauts have fallen ill while on a mission. The question is, how did NASA handle these situations, what’s changed since then, and how will this affect future missions in space?
The March equinox occurs at 03:50 UTC (9:50pm Central time). The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear.
This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon. This is also the second of four supermoons for 2020.
The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
Irene W. Pennington Planetarium 