Tag: Stargazing

Aurora alert: Giant ‘hole’ in sun and strong geomagnetic storm converge to supercharge northern lights this weekend

NeRD

A massive eruption on the sun that flung solar plasma toward Earth on Friday may trigger a strong geomagnetic storm this weekend that could supercharge auroras across the northern United States. The solar eruption, called a coronal mass ejection (or CME), exploded on Friday (March 21) even as a so-called “coronal hole” opened on the sun to unleash a separate high-speed stream of solar particles toward Earth. The result: A tag-team of solar material that should reach Earth this weekend to amplify northern lights displays late Saturday and early Sunday…

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Dark skies and epic Winter Star Party — why the Florida Keys are more than just a Spring Break destination

NeRD

If you’re looking for the best locations for astrophotography and skywatching, look no further than the Florida Keys. A 125-mile string of tropical coral islands linked by bridges that stretches into the shallow waters of the Florida Straits and the Gulf of Mexico, it’s home to fishing, boating and snorkeling, but also stargazing. Related: Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening’s sky As well as some of the darkest skies on the U.S. East Coast, it’s also the nation’s southernmost point. At 24.5 degrees north,…

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The MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for astronomers and it’s just hit its lowest-ever price

NeRD

The MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for astronomers, delivering processing power, portability, and incredible display quality. For professional and amateur stargazers it’s an invaluable asset offering some of the best-in-class image processing, data analysis, and telescope control. Save $200 and buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch for just $1,399 at Amazon. Regardless of the model, the MacBook Pro is always in demand but it comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re looking to upgrade your current laptop or a Mac is on your wishlist, then this…

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Where will the partial solar eclipse be visible in March 2025?

NeRD

Although it won’t be as spectacular as North America’s April 2024 total solar eclipse, the first solar eclipse since the “ring of fire” eclipse in October 2024 is set to bring stunning views to some lucky eclipse chasers. Just two weeks after a stunning total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025, skywatchers across the western Northern Hemisphere will see at least a partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025. For some observers, an eclipsed sun will appear on the eastern horizon at sunrise — if skies are clear — as…

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There’s a total lunar eclipse coming. How will these 2 solar-powered moon probes survive the darkness?

NeRD

When the moon falls into Earth’s shadow Thursday night into Friday (March 13-14), observers will be treated to views of a “blood moon” total lunar eclipse. But given that lunar spacecraft are solar-powered, how do they survive when they’re cut off from the sun? For NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been orbiting the moon since 2009, it will be time to batten down the hatches. “LRO’s science instruments and some components not needed by the spacecraft will be powered off during the total lunar eclipse,” Noah Petro, project…

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Pikoy Galaxy Projector review

NeRD

We test all sorts of star projectors, and with so many coming to the market now (thanks to TikTok and Instagram campaigns), it’s hard to know what to choose. Specifications Size: 4.1 x 4.1 x 3.9 inches (105 x 105 x 100 millimeters) Weight: 0.95 pound (430 grams) Laser: Yes, Class 1 Control: On-body, remote control Rotation: Yes Sleep timer: Yes Speaker: Yes (built-in sounds only) Projection surface: Not specified (but large) Although we have compiled a guide of the best star projectors, new models crop up all the time.…

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Govee Star Light Projector review

NeRD

We have reviewed countless star projectors and are always excited to see new arrivals in the market. There are literally hundreds of star projectors available, so we keep an eye out for models that have unique or different functionality than those we have reviewed. Specifications Size: ‎6 x 6.3 x 8.6 inches (15.2 x 16 x 21.8 centimeters) Weight: 2.8 pounds (1.3 kilograms) Laser: Yes, Class 2 Control: On-body, app, voice Rotation: Yes Sleep timer: Yes Speaker: Yes Projection surface: 650 square feet (60 square meters) The Govee Star Light…

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SpaceX Starlink satellite sparks brilliant fireball as it falls from space over US (videos)

NeRD

A SpaceX Starlink internet satellite fell from space in a blaze of glory overnight, lighting up the Midwest U.S. sky with a brilliant fireball. Stargazers across parts of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois witnessed the Starlink satellite’s fiery demise as it burned up in Earth’s atmosphere late Tuesday (Jan. 28) and were quick to share videos of the sight. “WOAH. Something big just broke apart over Northern Illinois. What a sight!” a skywatcher with the username boinksi wrote on the social media site X. A video with the post shows a…

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Astrophotographer captures a ‘Great Dragon’ in the Pelican Nebula (photo)

NeRD

Miguel Claro is a professional photographer, author and science communicator based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular images of the night sky. As a European Southern Observatory Photo Ambassador and member of The World At Night and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, he specializes in astronomical “Skyscapes” that connect both Earth and the night sky. The image features a dark region of space found between the Pelican Nebula and the Cygnus Wall, which are both part of the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. This…

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Nikon 5×15 HG monocular review

NeRD

With the promise of its stablemates, the Nikon 5×15 HG Monocular has a lot to live up to. We were amazed by the quality of this little monocular’s images, which were clear and very sharp. The chassis is very solidly made and feels very comfortable. Although the unit isn’t waterproof, it’s so tiny that it can be stowed in a plastic bag and placed in a pocket, where it will be safe on beaches and long walks. With a magnification of 5x, the Nikon 5×15 HG is more for casual…

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