Comet of the Week: Hyakutake C/1996 B2
Perihelion: 1996 May 1.40, q = 0.230 AU Following the discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp in mid-1995, the entire world was awaiting its expected good show in 1997. But while we were waiting, another comet came by and provided another stunning show. This object was discovered on January 30, 1996 by a Japanese amateur astronomer, Yuji …
Special Topic: “Small Bodies” and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
The “visible” light that our eyes see, and that most of our telescopes detect, is only a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The full EM spectrum encompasses everything from the long-wavelength, low-frequency, low-energy radio waves, on down through infrared, then “visible” or optical light, and then into the shorter-wavelength, higher-frequency, and higher-energy ultraviolet, …
QuizMe: Jupiter
The planet Jupiter is the second featured topic in our new QuizMe series of educational content. Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions about the planet. If you would like to brush up on your knowledge about the Jovian system before taking the quiz, we suggest reading this article.
QuizMe: Mercury
The planet Mercury is the first featured topic in our new QuizMe series of educational content. Put your knowledge to the test with these 10 questions about the planet. If you would like to brush up on your knowledge about the Jovian system before taking the quiz, we suggest reading this article.
This Week in History: March 15-21
MARCH 15, 2020: Comet ATLAS C/2019 Y1 will pass through perihelion at a heliocentric distance of 0.838 AU. This is the fourth known member of a “group” of comets, the first of which appeared in 1988; this, and other comet “groups,” are discussed in a future “Special Topics” presentation. Comet ATLAS has become bright enough …
Comet of the Week: The Great Comet of 1843
Perihelion: 1843 February 27.91, q = 0.006 AU For the first time in “Ice and Stone 2020,” a Kreutz sungrazer is my “Comet of the Week.” Some of the members of this group of comets have been among the brightest and most spectacular comets in all of recorded history, and as a group they are …