While watching the four Galilean moons of Jupiter buzzing around the planet recently, I was reminded of the historical role they have played in the advancement of science over the last 400 years. Starting with their discovery by Galileo in 1610, their existence helped prove that the sun was the center of the solar system not the earth.
Truth be told, it is human to look up at the night skies and wonder if the movement, presence or absence of certain objects mean something to the terrestrials looking at them. Though the Indian civilization happens to be one of the earliest and oldest, it is interesting to see how the math and knowledge that was passed down orally had only very small errors considering the precision we have today.
As the cold winds of December gently blow, and the holiday season impinges upon us, we are reminded of one of the greatest adventures ever taken by the human race- Apollo 8 and Christmas at the Moon.
“Ladies and gentlemen, here is the latest bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. It is reported that at 8:50 P. M. a huge, flaming object, believed to be a meteorite, fell on a farm in the neighborhood of Grovers Mill, New Jersey, twenty-two miles from Trenton.” News flashes, like this one were being broadcast over the speaker provided by HighLine’s Tim Morales. “Both the observations of science and the evidence of our eyes lead to the inescapable assumption that those strange beings who landed in the Jersey farmlands tonight,” the announcements continued, “are a vanguard of an invading army from Mars!”
After around 7 months and 301 million miles, NASA’s InSight probe had successfully landed on Mars on November 26, 2018.
What’s in a name? On Friday evening, October 5, at Columbia University’s Pupin Hall, Paige Godfrey gave some answers to that question, along with a
50 years ago, in October of 1968, Apollo VII carried the first three-man crew launched by the United States, in its bid to put a
What is astronomy? I think deeply about this question as I write my second column for Eyepiece, now as a board-member of the Amateur Astronomers
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” – Arthur C. Clarke It is a
Eyepiece, the Amateur Astronomers Association monthly newsletter, covers lectures and other astronomy events in New York City; offers commentary, tips on observing and equipment and summarizes astronomy discoveries and other general news in astronomy and astrophysics. Each month, our “What’s Up in the Sky” column discusses what can be seen in the skies during the upcoming month. Members do all the writing for Eyepiece, and new contributors are always welcome. Submit today!
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