Comet of the Century

Ever since Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) became breaking news as the ‘comet of the century’ nearly a year ago, there has been plenty of speculation by the media on the current state of the comet.

Perseid Meteor Shower

Every year, the Earth passes through debris paths left by comets hurtling past the Sun. Tiny particles burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. We see them as bright streaks across the night sky and name them “shooting stars,” intense streaks of light across the night sky, caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids. Traveling at thousands of miles an hour, meteoroids quickly ignite, searing in the atmosphere’s friction, 30 to 80 miles above the ground. Most are destroyed during entry; the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

The Mysterious Moon

Why do we only see one side of the moon?

What is it about the moon? Why does it only present one face? These questions are part of the most popular myth in astronomy. Whenever you take a look at the moon, you will always see the same side. Aside from its familiar phases, it looks as if the moon doesn't rotate! This is a difficult concept for many people to understand.

Celebrate Astronomy Day at OMSI

On Saturday, August 5, OMSI will present a full day-into-night festival of all things celestial, with opportunities for starry-eyed guests to learn little-known facts about the universe, constellations, stars and planets. Representatives from local clubs and organizations will be on hand to answer questions, lead hands-on activities, and discuss space science until 4:00 p.m. Guests can also get a look at an inflatable life-sized model of the NASA Mars Rover, Curiosity.


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