Sept 17 - Imaging Earth-like Exoplanets

September 17 Imaging Earth-like Exoplanets by:

Good morning!   Report calls for direct images of Earth-like exoplanets We now know of more than 6,000 exoplanets and exoplanet candidates - worlds and possible worlds orbiting distant suns. But we have direct images for fewer than two dozen of them. This month, a congressionally-mandated report recommended that NASA lead efforts to obtain direct images of Earth-like exoplanets. A major goal is finding habitable - maybe even inhabited - worlds. Read more. Sunspot Solar Observatory will re-open this week AURA said the decision was made to shut down the Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico on September 6 because of "criminal activity" and concern about a possible threat to the safety of local staff and residents. Read more. Stop sign and yellow crime scene tape at the entrance to the Sunspot Solar Observatory in New Mexico. Image via Dylan Taylor-Lehman/Daily News. This week … Moon sweeps near Saturn and Mars The moon is waxing larger, continuing its eastward arc in front of the stars from night to night. This week - as darkness falls - let the moon guide you to 2 bright and beautiful planets, Saturn and Mars. Read more. The September equinox is coming We have an equinox coming up on September 23 at 1:54 UTC. That's September 22 for clocks in North America; translate UTC to your time. Happy almost-autumn (or spring)!  Details here. Equinoxes and solstices. In each of the images, Earth's rotational axis is perpendicular (straight up and down), with the North Pole at top and South Pole at bottom. Earth at the equinoxes shown at right; Earth at solstices shown at left. Images via Geosync.

SHOP THE EARTHSKY STORE TODAY! Your support means the world to us and allows us to keep going. At our store you'll find astronomy tools, EarthSky tees, hats, cool gadgets and even toys! Click here to shop

This week … Moon sweeps near Saturn and Mars Mars is the brighter of these 2 planets, its ruddy color contrasting beautifully with the golden hue of Saturn. Read more.

Last night's 1st quarter moon Last night's moon (48.3 percent), with a robin singing, as captured from Dublin, Ireland, by our friend Deirdre Horan.  Submit your photo to EarthSky here! Did a friend forward EarthSkyNews to you? Click here to get your own subscription!

by:

update your profile | unsubscribe