This Sunday, May 20, the Moon moves directly between the Earth and Sun, blocking out the Sun’s rays and turning day into night for nearly five minutes. An eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, with our satellite in the middle. If the three align exactly while the Moon lies closer [...]
Celebrate Life
The loss of a loved one makes a dramatic impact on our lives. Their place in the world significantly changes us and when they’re gone, we change again. When my grandmother passed away, I knew it was her time and thus didn’t realize it would have such an impact on me. Don’t get me wrong, [...]
Gift a Star this Mother’s Day
It’s just around the corner, and still time to claim a star for your Mom. I love Mother’s Day because it causes me to reflect on the special role of a mother. Now that I’m so lucky to be a mother myself, I can even more so appreciate what my Mom did—and does—for me. Isn’t [...]
Young Galileos
Give a child a book, and give them the cosmos. If you’re like me, you probably gazed at the night sky as a child and thought about what was out there, how to get there, and if the moon was made of green cheese. As we grew older, the cow jumping over the moon became [...]
Black Hole Sighting!
You might be familiar with the “Black Hole” (Disney, 1979) in which Dr. Hans Reinhart wants to enter a Black Hole for scientific purposes. Black holes have been the subject of several science fiction films, and the phrase, “black hole” has become cliché for “disappearing into oblivion”. In the world of astronomy, they’re real and [...]
Van Gogh the Star Gazer
For someone who knew little professional “success” in terms of sold paintings, Vincent van Gogh created works of art for generations to admire, worth millions today. I’d like to take particular notice of his work that involves an appreciation of the night sky. Starry Night, put on canvas in 1889, was presented to me in [...]
A Star is Born!
This little angel took her time, and I am so happy to welcome Emilia Rose to the world! It’s exciting to see her little face for the first time, and to claim her star. Emilia has three older siblings to gush over her, and generous friends and family to give her blankets, clothes, and toys. [...]
Discovery Checks In at Smithsonian
The space shuttle Discovery, NASA’s longest-serving crewed spaceship, made its final flight this week. Hitching a ride, it traveled from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. By way of the Washington-Dulles International Airport, of course. If you’re in Virginia, visit the Smithsonian for the Welcome Discovery Celebration. [...]
The Scale of the Universe
A friend sent this very cool link to the Scale of the Universe, and admittedly, I’ve lost track of time while I pan in and out. Enjoy the detail of what they chose to profile, and the subtle animation. Read carefully and find some humor sprinkled in, but most of all, enjoy orienting yourself with [...]
Yours for the Claiming: Astronomy at Your Fingertips
It’s Global Astronomy Month, and technologies bring us so many powerful ways to see the stars. Recently, I blogged about both El Cielo en tus Manos–The Sky in Your Hands (a program that brings hands-on contact with the cosmos to the blind), and the powerful telescopes that introduce us to views beyond our comprehension. Claim [...]
Claim Your Star
Launch Your realistic, 3D space travel experience by Claiming your star.