Astronomers Unravel Marathon Mystery
Runners at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, will retrace one of the most famous runs in history. But when did the Battle of Marathon and the ensuing race really occur?
Astronomers Unravel Marathon Mystery
If you received a press release concerning the date of the Battle of Marathon and the ensuing run to Athens, please be advised that the online version of the release — complete with two publication-quality illustrations and captions — will appear here at 2 a.m. EDT on July 19th, when…
Two Comets Head North
Early in June midnorthern observers can see Comet NEAT high in the western evening sky at about 4th magnitude and LINEAR emerging low in the west-southwest a little past its prime.
Worldwide Astronomical Community Expresses Sympathy for September 11th Tragedy
Letters from around the globe.
199th American Astronomical Society Meeting Begins
Astronomers from across the globe have gathered in Washington, D.C. this week for the 199th meeting of the American Astronomical Society. This year's event, the second largest gathering of professional astronomers ever, includes more than 2,200 scientists and participants, presenting the latest astronomical news and findings in 154 different oral…
Five Planets In a Twilight Sky
Until early April, all five planets that are ever visible to the unaided eye shine at once during dusk.
Solstice Signals a New Season
On Sunday evening, June 20th, the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky for the year, marking the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
Astro Image in the News:
Venus Transit in a New Light
Hydrogen-alpha light provided a new view of the Venus transit.
Venus Has Its Day in the Sun
A fog bank created a natural solar filter for this image of the just-risen Sun over Cambridge, Massachusetts. Venus is clearly visible under the clouds, as seen in this image taken through a 70-millimeter refractor.Courtesy Jessica Dawn Tytell. People all over the world watched Venus pass in front of the…
Venus to "Eclipse" Sun for First Time in 122 Years
On June 8th the planet Venus will pass directly across the face of the Sun. It's an astronomical event so rare that no one now alive has ever seen one.
Astro News Briefs: April 1925
Second annual National Dark Sky Week celebrated.
Spring Begins on March 20th...or Is It the 19th?
The coming of spring in 2004 will pose a bit of a quandary for weather announcers and others in the news media. Does it happen on March 19th or 20th?
The Double Comet Show of 2004
Comets NEAT and LINEAR may reach modest naked-eye brightness in April and May.
Astro Image in the News:
Opportunity Reaches Endurance Crater
NASA's Mars rover stands poised to make new discoveries.
Two Comets to Glow in the Spring Sky
Two new comets are heading into springtime view. Both could reach naked-eye visibility for observers in North America and Europe.
Astro News Briefs: April 1218
Mars Rover Missions Extended April 12, 2004 | On April 5th the rover Spirit celebrated its 90th day on Martian terrain. On April 26th Opportunity will do the same. These birthdays are particularly poignant as they represent the end of the rovers' primary missions. Due to the missions' tremendous success,…
Sky & Telescope Launches Wireless Sky Chart
New product offers portable view of constellations, stars, and planets on BREWTM enabled cellular phones.
New Magazine for Beginning Stargazers Makes Astronomy Fun and Easy
The marketplace of astronomy information is about to be transformed by the debut of a magazine unlike any now available. Night Sky, which debuts in April, is designed especially for entry-level stargazers.