Setting out to get one of the best lightsabers in the galaxy feels like a right of passage for Star Wars fans of any age, but there are many things to consider before you buy. While many of us fondly remember our first pop-up plastic toy, it may not surprise you to know that some of the best lightsabers are better used as displayed props and therefore unsuitable for dancing around the yard and smacking any unsuspecting trees…ahem, stormtroopers with. As so many of us have grown alongside the original…
Read MoreMonth: October 2021
Best telescopes for beginners 2021: Top budget-friendly picks for viewing the planets, galaxies and more
Telescope glossary Aperture: Diameter of the primary mirror or lens, which allows a telescope to collect light.Field of view: Area of sky visible through the eyepiece.Focal length: A telescope’s tube length. Short focal lengths offer a wide field of view and a small image.Focal ratio: Also known as the telescope’s speed. Small focal ratios provide lower magnifications, wide field of view and a brighter image.Magnification: Relationship between the telescope’s optical system and the eyepiece. For the uninitiated, choosing the best telescope for a beginner can be a confusing affair —…
Read MoreBest telescopes 2021: Top picks for viewing planets, galaxies, stars and more
There’s something for everyone in our guide to the best telescopes of 2021. Whether you’re a keen amateur astronomer who wants to gaze deep into star clusters and nebulas, or you’re a beginner who wants to take their first step into stargazing, you’ll find a telescope that suits your needs in the list below. And while telescope prices can be quite high, we’ve picked a selection of models from the most reliable manufacturers to suit most budgets. When you’re choosing the best telescope for you, it’s important to consider exactly…
Read MoreHalloween on the Space Station
Although no trick-or-treaters come knocking at the International Space Station’s (ISS) front hatch, crew members aboard the orbiting facility still like to get in the Halloween spirit.
Read MoreNorthern lights (aurora borealis): What they are & how to see them
The northern lights, or the aurora borealis, are the beautiful dancing waves of light that have captivated people for millennia. But for all its beauty, this spectacular light show is a rather violent event. Energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 million mph (72 million km/h), but our planet’s magnetic field protects us from the onslaught. As Earth’s magnetic field redirects the particles toward the North Pole, the dramatic process transforms into a cinematic atmospheric phenomenon that dazzles and fascinates scientists…
Read MoreSpaceX’s Dragon space toilet is off limits for astronauts returning to Earth soon
The next astronauts to return to Earth on a SpaceX Dragon won’t be able use a crucial system on their trip home next month: the space potty. SpaceX’s toilet on its Crew Dragon Endeavour will be off limits for the four Crew-2 mission astronauts once they leave the International Space Station in early November, NASA officials said late Friday (Oct. 29). That’s because of a possible urine leak in the toilet like one seen on SpaceX’s all-civilian Inspiration4 flight in September. SpaceX has since redesigned its toilet to avoid leaks…
Read MoreCoverage Update for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-3 Briefings, Events, Broadcasts
NASA is updating its coverage of the upcoming launch and docking activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew-3 mission with astronauts to the International Space Station.
Read MoreElon Musk: Revolutionary private space entrepreneur
Elon Musk is an entrepreneur who is best known in space circles for launching SpaceX, a private aerospace design and manufacturing company. His company became the first private one to ship cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2012. Among SpaceX’s many accomplishments is its development of a self-landing version of their Falcon 9 rocket, a heavy-lift rocket called the Falcon Heavy, and the Crew Dragon, a crewed spaceship that became the first private, crewed spacecraft to reach the ISS in 2020. A long-time advocate of Mars exploration, Musk…
Read MoreRussian cargo ship delivers early Halloween treats to International Space Station
An uncrewed Russian cargo ship linked up with the International Space Station late Friday (Oct. 29) to deliver nearly 3 tons of supplies and some treats just ahead of Halloween. The supply ship, called Progress 79, docked at the space station Friday two days after launching into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The two ships met at 9:31 p.m. EDT (131 Oct. 30 GMT) as they sailed 258 miles over Argentina, just south of Buenos Aires. “It doesn’t get much smoother than that,” NASA spokesperson Rob Navias said of…
Read MoreMajor solar flare won’t delay SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut launch on Halloween, NASA says
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA officials said today that the SpaceX’s Halloween astronaut launch for the agency will not be affected by a massive solar flare that’s scheduled to reach Earth this weekend. The launch is set to blast off at 2:21 a.m. EDT (0621 GMT) on Sunday (Oct. 31), and you can watch the launch and prelaunch action live at Space.com. As part of the mission, four astronauts — NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron along with European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer — will…
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