The sky: February 4-11; Subtle sights in the mid-winter nights

The sky: February 4-11; Subtle sights in the mid-winter nights

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 4, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Today is the center of winter; we cross the midpoint between the December solstice and the March equinox at 10:16 a.m. EST (15:16 UT). That minute is the very bottom of the wheel of the year, astronomically speaking. In ancient Gaelic cultures this day […]

The sky: January 29-February 4; Center of winter

The sky: January 29-February 4; Center of winter

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 29, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, JANUARY 29 ■ After dark the Great Square of Pegasus sinks low in the west, balancing on one corner. Meanwhile, the Big Dipper climbs up in the north-northeast, tipping up on its handle. ■ Algol shines at its minimum light, magnitude 3.4 instead of its usual […]

The sky: January 22-28; Full moon and springtime Leo in the East

The sky: January 22-28; Full moon and springtime Leo in the East

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 22, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, JANUARY 22 ■ The gibbous Moon shines in a starry area of the winter sky. Face east in early evening. Upper left of the Moon sparkles bright Capella. A little farther upper right of the Moon is orange Aldebaran. Lower left of the Moon are Castor […]

China floats date for manned Moon landing; U.S. launches unmanned Moon probe

China floats date for manned Moon landing; U.S. launches unmanned Moon probe

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 10, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher A major Chinese aerospace journal has “suggested” a date for China’s first manned Moon landing while on Jan. 8, the United States launched the Perigrine-1 commercial robotic Moon lander built by the Astrobotic Corporation, due to reach the Moon in February. The December 2023 issue […]

The sky: January 7-14; Featuring the Milky Way this week

The sky: January 7-14; Featuring the Milky Way this week

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 8, 2024 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 ■ Sirius and Procyon in the balance. Sirius, the Dog Star, sparkles low in the east-southeast after dinnertime. Procyon, the Little Dog Star, shines in the east about two fists at arm’s length to Sirius’s left. ■ On Monday morning the 8th, the waning crescent […]

In 2023, China prioritized deep space to secure hegemony

In 2023, China prioritized deep space to secure hegemony

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 3, 2024 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher The year 2023 was significant for China’s space program on a number of levels, starting with the largest number of space launches — 65 — one more than 2022, while 17 were from new “commercial” space companies (CAS Space, Galactic Energy, Landspace, Space Pioneer, Expace, […]

China fights to control ‘Very Low Earth Orbit’ mega-sat constellation market

China fights to control ‘Very Low Earth Orbit’ mega-sat constellation market

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 13, 2023 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher China has tried mightily in the last decade to control emerging 5G digital communication networks by using Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controlled companies like Huawei and ZTE to gain access and then to try to dominate market share in both Western and developing countries But […]

The sky: December 11-17; Geminid meteor shower is year’s best

The sky: December 11-17; Geminid meteor shower is year’s best

Special to CosmicTribune.com, Decemer 11, 2023, 2023 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 ■ Tonight, the brilliant orange-red supergiant Betelgeuse will be covered by a faint little asteroid, 319 Leona, for up to a second or two. But only if you’re located near the middle of the narrow occultation track. It runs from central Asia across the […]

The sky: December 4-10; Earliest sunset on December 7

The sky: December 4-10; Earliest sunset on December 7

Special to CosmicTribune.com, December 4, 2023, 2023 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 ■ Last-quarter Moon tonight (exact at 12:49 a.m. EST). The Moon rises around 11 or midnight local time. By the time Tuesday’s dawn begins to break the Moon is high in the south. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 ■ At this time of year the Big Dipper […]

The sky: November 28-December 3: Spotlight on M31, the Andromeda Galaxy

The sky: November 28-December 3: Spotlight on M31, the Andromeda Galaxy

Special to CosmicTribune.com, November 28, 2023, 2023 Excerpts from weekly Sky&Telescope report. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 ■ The Moon, just past full, rises in the northeast in mid-twilight. Bright Capella, magnitude 0, sparkles about two fists to the Moon’s upper left. As night deepens, watch for Beta Tauri, magnitude 1.6, to come into view only about a fifth as […]