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[sarkasm] 09/3/2020 13:48

There's some good news for astronomy fans! Tonight (9 March) will see this year's second supermoon light up the sky.

This month's full moon is officially known as the 'Worm Moon' and people living in the UK can expect to see it from about 5:35pm onwards.
More moon stories





The Worm Moon is the name given to the first or only full moon in the month of March.

It's given the name "worm moon" because the end of winter is when little creatures like worms first make an appearance. They can often be found squirming out of the ground and getting eaten by birds!

Supermoons happen when the Moon is closest to the Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than normal - up to 15% brighter and 30% bigger than regular full moons.

[ariane] 06/6/2019 10:06

Because of this relative proximity, Jupiter’s atmospheric details and even it moons will be visible with a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars.

And Jupiter’s fiery Great Red Spot can be seen with a larger backyard telescope, weather permitting.

This red spot is in fact a giant storm bigger than Earth that has raged for hundreds of years.

Jupiter will five days later be part of another awe-inspiring spectacle in the night sky.

Shortly after sunset on June 15, you can look towards the southeast side of the sky for the moon, which will be in a triangular formation with Jupiter and Antares.

[grupo guitarlumber] 17/2/2019 09:04

The Supermoon of February 19th, 2019, will be the largest, brightest, closest full Moon that Earth will experience until 2026. If you have clear skies at all before sunrise in the morning or after sunset in the evening on Tuesday, you owe it to yourself to check it out. The wonders of the Universe rarely hit so close to home. Bring your eyes and a sense of wonder, and don't forget to look up.

[grupo] 20/1/2019 11:30

BLOOD MOON

MONDAY MORNING BETWEEN 5 and 6

[grupo] 18/1/2019 12:15

Super Blood Moon eclipse visible in France this Sunday
A "blood moon" happens when light reflecting off the Earth's atmosphere turns the Moon reddish in colour

A total “Super Blood Moon” eclipse will be visible to the naked eye from across Europe on the night of Sunday 20 January, as the Moon crosses the shadow of the Earth.

It will be the last chance to see a total Moon eclipse of this kind from Europe until May 16 2022, and will be one of just three such Moons in January visible this century.

A Moon eclipse comes when the Sun, Earth and Moon are perfectly aligned in space.

This particular event has been dubbed a “Super Blood Moon”, in reference to its “supermoonR21; status, which is what happens when the Moon is closer than normal to Earth, making it look larger and brighter than usual.

It may also appear red in colour at the height of the eclipse, due to sunlight hitting the Earth’s atmosphere.

You will have to be up early to see it: it is expected to begin at around 4h33 French time (GMT+1), with the full eclipse in place from 5h41 to 6h43.

The Moon will be completely out of the Earth’s shadow by 7h50.

As well as Europe, the phenomenon will also be visible from much of west Africa, the Americas, and in French Polynesia.

Sunday’s event comes just over six months after the lining up of the Sun, Earth and Moon in July 2018, which caused a long Moon eclipse, and clear visibility of the planet Mars.

According to the skygazing website Autour du Ciel, from newspaper Le Monde, cold temperatures in January often mean that the sky is exceptionally clear at this time of year, with many constellations and other phenomena very visible to the naked eye (notwithstanding any light pollutions from nearby towns).

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[adrian j boris] 17/1/2019 14:55

China's first plant to grow on the moon is already dead

By Yong Xiong and Ben Westcott, CNN

Updated 1212 GMT (2012 HKT) January 17, 2019
January 7 footage from the moon shows a green leaf that appeared inside China's Chang'e 4 probe.
January 7 footage from the moon shows a green leaf that appeared inside China's Chang'e 4 probe.

Beijing (CNN)The first plant to be grown on the moon by humans is likely dead already, Chinese scientists said Thursday.
Just days after China revealed a cotton seed had sprouted on a lunar lander and become what was possibly the first plant life to grow on Earth's nearest neighbor, scientists ended the experiment when they shut down power remotely.
The seeds were contained inside a special container situated in China's Chang'e 4 probe, which became the first successful mission to the far side of the moon on January 3.

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China might just have grown the first plant ever on the moon
China might just have grown the first plant ever on the moon
Activated on landing, the self-contained biosphere was designed to raise seeds and hatch fruit fly eggs in an attempt to create a tiny ecosystem and assess how it reacted to the high-radiation, low-gravity environment.
Chinese scientists hoped the experiment might help inform future moon colonists' attempts to cultivate food on the desolate body.
But professor Xie Gengxin of Chongqing University, who designed the experiment, told CNN that it ended after nine days when the control team shut down the power.
Xie said temperatures inside the biosphere had grown too erratic and reached extremes that would likely kill all life, including the seeds and eggs.
"Though we have two temperature controlling plates, the temperature was still above 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) around 10.30 a.m. on the moon. As everybody knows, many plants can't sprout with (that) temperature," he said.
China's far side of the moon mission is just the start of its space ambitions
China's far side of the moon mission is just the start of its space ambitions
Xie didn't confirm why temperatures had risen to levels intolerable for the plants despite the measures taken by the research team. Even though the experiment was quickly terminated, Xie said he considered it a success.
An article in state-run media Xinhua said the experiment had originally been intended to last as long as 100 days.
Aside from the apparent failure of the biological experiment, the rest of China's mission to the far side of the moon appeared on track as of Thursday.

The historic mission is intended to accomplish a range of tasks, including conducting the first lunar low-frequency radio astronomy experiment and exploring whether there is water at the moon's poles.
A rover, named Yutu 2 or Jade Rabbit 2, is helping Chinese researchers explore the previously unseen surface of the moon.

CNN's Yong Xiong reported from Beijing, and Ben Westcott wrote from Hong Kong.

[waldron] 15/1/2019 17:46

China becomes the first country to grow plants on the Moon

By Paul Hill · Jan 15, 2019 11:24 EST 1

China has become the first country to grow plants on the Moon. The country’s Chang’e-4 mission that landed on the far-side of the Moon recently has successfully carried out its first biological experiment. Scientists at the Chongqing University released photos of cotton seeds beginning to sprout, but it’s just one of several items the Chinese have delivered to the Moon.

Also included in the biological experiment payload are potato seeds, arabidopsis seeds, rapeseed, fruit fly pupae, and some yeast. With these items, scientists have created a micro-biosphere where the plants produce oxygen, the yeast regulates carbon dioxide and oxygen, and the fruit flies are "the consumers of the photosynthesis process.”

Some have questioned whether this experiment could contaminate the Moon; Chinese scientists say this is impossible because the payload is sealed and measures have been taken to prevent any leaks. Additionally, the harsh Lunar conditions would mean any biological matter that leaked “would have no chance of survival” and “would be decomposed to harmless organics with no pollution on the Moon.”

This mission is a vital step forward for future manned missions to the Moon. The scientists suggested cotton could be used for clothes manufacture while potatoes could be grown and used as a staple food for astronauts deployed to the satellite.

Source: CGTN

[florenceorbis] 12/1/2019 13:46

BLOODY HELL AND OR HAPPY DAYS

[maywillow] 21/10/2018 08:04

Chinese City Wants To Launch Artificial Moon To Light Up Streets
By Tsvetana Paraskova - Oct 19, 2018, 6:00 PM CDT Satellite

China wants to launch a world-first ‘man-made moon’ over the southwestern city of Chengdu by 2020 to help illuminate the city at night.

If the first artificial moon experiment is successful, China will launch three more ‘moons’ in space in 2022, potentially saving electricity and conserving energy, China Daily reports.

The man-made moon that will be orbiting the Earth will have a reflective coating designed to deflect sunlight back to the earth’s surface similar to the shining of the Moon, Wu Chunfeng, head of Tian Fu New Area Science Society in Chengdu, told China Daily in an interview.

The “artificial moon” will actually be an illumination satellite that will complement the shining of the Moon at night. But the man-made moon is expected to be eight times brighter than the Moon, Wu told China Daily.

The brighter shining will be due to the much closer orbit at which the illumination satellite will stay—around 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Earth, compared to the average distance of the Moon to the Earth of 380,000 kilometers (236,120 miles), the scientist said.

“But this is not enough to light up the entire night sky,” Wu told China Daily. “Its expected brightness, in the eyes of humans, is around one-fifth of normal streetlights,” he noted.

The scientists behind the project expect that the artificial moon could replace some street lights in the urban area in Chengdu.

According to Wu, the city of Chengdu could save US$173 million (1.2 billion yuan) every year if its artificial moon illuminates 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) of the city.

The ‘moon’ may also be turned off, if needed, the scientists expect.

However, a lot of work and testing on this man-made moon still need to be done, including in the scientific feasibility and business model departments, Wu told China Daily. There are also concerns about how a new moon hanging up in the sky would affect people and animals’ day and night routines, including sleep.

“When the satellite is in operation, people will see only a bright star above, and not a giant moon as imagined,” Wu told China Daily.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

[maywillow] 21/10/2018 08:04

Chinese City Wants To Launch Artificial Moon To Light Up Streets
By Tsvetana Paraskova - Oct 19, 2018, 6:00 PM CDT Satellite

China wants to launch a world-first ‘man-made moon’ over the southwestern city of Chengdu by 2020 to help illuminate the city at night.

If the first artificial moon experiment is successful, China will launch three more ‘moons’ in space in 2022, potentially saving electricity and conserving energy, China Daily reports.

The man-made moon that will be orbiting the Earth will have a reflective coating designed to deflect sunlight back to the earth’s surface similar to the shining of the Moon, Wu Chunfeng, head of Tian Fu New Area Science Society in Chengdu, told China Daily in an interview.

The “artificial moon” will actually be an illumination satellite that will complement the shining of the Moon at night. But the man-made moon is expected to be eight times brighter than the Moon, Wu told China Daily.

The brighter shining will be due to the much closer orbit at which the illumination satellite will stay—around 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Earth, compared to the average distance of the Moon to the Earth of 380,000 kilometers (236,120 miles), the scientist said.

“But this is not enough to light up the entire night sky,” Wu told China Daily. “Its expected brightness, in the eyes of humans, is around one-fifth of normal streetlights,” he noted.

The scientists behind the project expect that the artificial moon could replace some street lights in the urban area in Chengdu.

According to Wu, the city of Chengdu could save US$173 million (1.2 billion yuan) every year if its artificial moon illuminates 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) of the city.

The ‘moon’ may also be turned off, if needed, the scientists expect.

However, a lot of work and testing on this man-made moon still need to be done, including in the scientific feasibility and business model departments, Wu told China Daily. There are also concerns about how a new moon hanging up in the sky would affect people and animals’ day and night routines, including sleep.

“When the satellite is in operation, people will see only a bright star above, and not a giant moon as imagined,” Wu told China Daily.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

[maywillow] 21/10/2018 08:02

Chinese City Wants To Launch Artificial Moon To Light Up Streets
By Tsvetana Paraskova - Oct 19, 2018, 6:00 PM CDT Satellite

China wants to launch a world-first ‘man-made moon’ over the southwestern city of Chengdu by 2020 to help illuminate the city at night.

If the first artificial moon experiment is successful, China will launch three more ‘moons’ in space in 2022, potentially saving electricity and conserving energy, China Daily reports.

The man-made moon that will be orbiting the Earth will have a reflective coating designed to deflect sunlight back to the earth’s surface similar to the shining of the Moon, Wu Chunfeng, head of Tian Fu New Area Science Society in Chengdu, told China Daily in an interview.

The “artificial moon” will actually be an illumination satellite that will complement the shining of the Moon at night. But the man-made moon is expected to be eight times brighter than the Moon, Wu told China Daily.

The brighter shining will be due to the much closer orbit at which the illumination satellite will stay—around 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Earth, compared to the average distance of the Moon to the Earth of 380,000 kilometers (236,120 miles), the scientist said.

“But this is not enough to light up the entire night sky,” Wu told China Daily. “Its expected brightness, in the eyes of humans, is around one-fifth of normal streetlights,” he noted.

The scientists behind the project expect that the artificial moon could replace some street lights in the urban area in Chengdu.

According to Wu, the city of Chengdu could save US$173 million (1.2 billion yuan) every year if its artificial moon illuminates 50 square kilometers (19 square miles) of the city.

The ‘moon’ may also be turned off, if needed, the scientists expect.

However, a lot of work and testing on this man-made moon still need to be done, including in the scientific feasibility and business model departments, Wu told China Daily. There are also concerns about how a new moon hanging up in the sky would affect people and animals’ day and night routines, including sleep.

“When the satellite is in operation, people will see only a bright star above, and not a giant moon as imagined,” Wu told China Daily.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

[adrian j boris] 27/7/2018 07:28

LUNAR ECLIPSE

[la forge] 04/7/2018 10:47

Longest lunar eclipse of century visible across France
Wladows / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 A lunar eclipse of this kind can cause a "Blood Moon", where the Moon appears coppery-red

The longest lunar eclipse of the century so far is to take place this month, with the 103-minute spectacle set to be visible across the whole of France.

The eclipse, which will take place overnight from July 27 to 28, will occur during the next full moon.

Should skies remain clear, the event will be visible from everywhere in France, with the total eclipse set to be visible from Paris from 22h20.

It will last a full one hour, 42 minutes and 57 seconds, making it the longest eclipse of its kind this century.

The last lunar eclipse took place on January 31 2018, lasting almost one hour and 16 minutes.

As with previous similar eclipses, the Moon will take on a coppery-orange colour before disappearing completely into the shadow of the Earth. This is often called a “Blood Moon eclipse” (Lune Rousse or Lune de Sang in French).

Lunar eclipses take place when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned, meaning that our planet projects a direct shadow onto our satellite.

The length of an eclipse is calculated according to the speed at which the Moon will travel across the Earth’s shadow, so the further away the Moon is from Earth at the point of eclipse, the longer the eclipse itself.

Coincidentally, Planet Mars will be the closest it has been to Earth in 15 years on the same night.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France