astronomy

Animation of orbital paths taken by Spacecraft Cassini before it entered Saturn's atmosphere

Missing Cassini already

By tigtog on 2017-09-17

Farewell, Cassini – the Little Spacecraft That Could.

a photograph of Earth's moon showing a brightly sunlit crescent contrasted against the finally earthlit rest of the surface

ObEquinox: Happy Turn Of The Seasons To You

By tigtog on 2015-03-21 • ( 1 )

The March equinox happened a little over an hour ago here in Sydney, at 9:45am AEST. APOD, of course, has an informative image for us today, and a London headmaster showed us what not to do when a few voices complain about a school taking note of a once in a lifetime event.

Tyrrhenian Sea and Solstice Sky | Credit & Copyright: Danilo Pivato

December Solstice

By tigtog on 2014-12-22

This post was scheduled to go up at the exact minute of today’s solstice, but Things Happened.

Solstice Whimsy: Megalithic Mini-gardening

By tigtog on 2014-06-21 • ( 5 )

Happy June Solstice! Merry Yule/Litha to those who celebrate the circling of the seasons. This solstice whimsy post features an example from the hobby world of miniature gardens: behold the Teacup Stonehenge! Please share any bits and pieces you have come across recently that have surprised, delighted, intrigued or otherwise positively engaged you.

Cosmos Wars

By tigtog on 2014-04-03 • ( 3 )

Dana Hunter thoughtfully put together a links roundup (so I didn’t have to) on the many many creationists who are very cross with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson right now because he’s talking science on TV.

sun and star trails photographed over the equator at Ecuador

repost: I ♥ axial tilt and elliptical orbits

By tigtog on 2013-09-23 • ( 5 )

Because without them we wouldn’t have seasons. Happy September equinox, all.

the stone megaliths of Stonehenge host a crowd of people watching the sun rise between two verticals

The solstice swung by again

By tigtog on 2012-12-22 • ( 4 )

Several hours before the official solstice time of 11:12 amUTC* on December 21st 2012, this was what the sun looked like rising over Stonehenge.

ObEquinox Photo: Happy Spring, fellow Southrons!

By tigtog on 2012-09-23 • ( 6 )

Scheduled for the exact minute of the September Equinox BECAUSE I CAN.

It’s been a sad few months for space fans

By tigtog on 2012-08-26

NASA’s astronaut corps is losing its pioneers. First Sally Ride died in July, now Neil Armstrong has died as well. Of course the celebration for the success of the new Mars Rover mission has been a huge boost for astro… Read More ›

New Mars rover Curiosity landing today

By tigtog on 2012-08-06 • ( 6 )

Today the Mars Science Laboratory mission finds out whether they made all the calculations correctly as the delivery vehicle targets Gale Crater for Curiosity’s landing. Landing should be at 15:31 AEST.