ForĀ revised post containing more tips on how to view the Perseids see The Perseids 2021. Anyone who is disappointed that they will be missing the total eclipse can console themselves with another astronomical event - providing that they live in the northern hemisphere, that the weather is favourable (no clouds, please) and that they… Continue reading 12-13 August 2017 – the Perseids
Tag: Space
Voyager 40th anniversary
Nearly 40 years ago, on 20 August 1977, the Voyager 2 space probe was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to study the Solar System's four outermost planets. It was followed 15 days later by the launch of an identical spacecraft, Voyager 1. The Voyager spacecraft -Image from NASA Although Voyager 1 was… Continue reading Voyager 40th anniversary
Life in our galaxy?
With the recent discovery of three planets orbiting theĀ red dwarf star Trappist-1 which have aĀ similar size, mass and average surface temperature as the Earth, there has been considerable speculation as to whether one or more of these planets supports life. What the surface of Trappist 1f, one of the planets orbiting Trappist 1, might look… Continue reading Life in our galaxy?
The Trappist-1 system.
Revised 12 December 2025 Many of youĀ will be aware of the discovery announced back in February 2017 of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a small cool star known as Trappist-1. (Gillon et al 2017). In this post I'll talk about this exciting finding and the possibility that some of these planets mightĀ support life. The planet around… Continue reading The Trappist-1 system.
Satellite navigation – the next ten years
Satellite navigation is such a vital part of day-to-day life thatĀ other countries of the world are planning to build up their own network of navigation satellitesĀ and move away from total reliance on the American system, GPS. America As mentioned in my previous post,Ā the GPS system is operated and funded by the US government. The first… Continue reading Satellite navigation – the next ten years
Explaining Science 