November can be made a dreary month, with the awful societal act of Daylight Saving causing dark afternoons and darker moods. So, here are a few things that have sparked joy for me lately from the cosmos to tiny anchovies. X-Class Solar Flares Creating Incredible Auroras With the Sun being in the most active phase …
I had the best intentions of doing a wrap-up post of 2024 highlights before the end of the year, but the holiday lethargy/turkey coma set in and I didn’t feel particularly inspired to spend more time on the computer. Instead, I squirrelled into books, went on outdoor adventures, played guitar, and spent time with the …
The Great Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 has come and gone, and even for experiencing it “by proxy”, it was quite an emotional experience. As with so many wondrous celestial events that happen overhead here – it was cloudy – and I didn’t see any noticeable change to the light levels beyond that of a …
On April 8, 2024, parts of North America will be plunged into darkness for the longest total solar eclipse to hit our continent in around 100 years. A total eclipse itself is only possible by sheer cosmic coincidence – with the Sun’s diameter being 400 times larger than the Moon’s and the Sun being almost …
In Grade 4, I remember my Australian exchange teacher, Mr. Cooper, delightedly asking us how old we thought he would be turning on his next birthday. I’m sure the guesses ranged from 15-75 based on how bad children seem to be about guessing the age of an adult. Once the guesses were done, he delightedly …
Yesterday, I finally realized my dreams of being an astronaut. And there was no battery of medical testing, psych evaluations, exceptional military service or academic accomplishments, or underwater training required. Simply an Oculus Quest 2 headset and a willingness to embrace a new reality for 40 mins. Space Explorers: THE INFINITE provides an opportunity to …
Almost three years ago, I wrote about “The Little Helicopter That Could” – Ingenuity – the first rotocopter to fly on another planet. The mission would have been considered a success if it just got off the ground (and more ideally performed 5 experimental test flights following), and instead it lasted for nearly 3 years …
Another successful orbit of the Sun has been completed! Each year brings unforeseen challenges, and likely some foreseen ones, too. But, each year a lot of good does happen too, even if it is does sometimes grow from uncomfortable change or even sadness. In the spirit of that, here are some of my favourite memories …
A Supermoon is when a full Moon coincides with being at, or near, its closest to Earth. The Moon orbits Earth in an elliptical shape – not circular – so there are times when the Moon is closer to the Earth than others. When it is at its closest, it is known as being at …
There was plenty of exciting space news this week from the announcement of the Artemis II crew to a rare glimpse at the faint rings of an ice giant. Learn more below and see some stunning new images from the James Webb Space Telescope. Artemis II Crew Announced The Artemis II crew was announced this …