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This article from Sky & Telescope discusses the history of astronomers cataloging deep-sky objects in the southern hemisphere. It highlights the contributions of astronomers like Charles Messier, William Herschel, Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille, and James Dunlop to the cataloging of these objects. The document provides information about the work of James Dunlop, who made significant discoveries despite challenges faced while observing in Australia. It also includes a list of some of the finest deep-south objects observed by various astronomers and a table of recommended objects for deep-sky enthusiasts to explore in the southern sky. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a summary of comets, focusing on their origin, composition, structure, and behavior. Comets are ancient objects that formed in the early days of the solar system and hold valuable information about its origins. They have a nucleus made up of ice, rock, and dust, and their composition provides evidence of the solar nebula. Comets can deliver volatiles and prebiotic material to Earth, potentially contributing to the building blocks of life. The article also discusses the formation of cometary tails, which are composed of dust and ionized gas, and how they can be affected by solar wind and other solar events. Comets can lose mass and eventually disintegrate due to the heat of the Sun, but some may be slingshotted out into interstellar space after passing the Sun. The article specifically mentions Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, which will reach perihelion in September and make a close approach to Earth in October, offering an opportunity to study a pristine comet that has never made a close pass by the Sun before. The comet's orbit suggests that it originated from the Oort Cloud, a distant collection of icy bodies that encloses the solar system. However, its future path is uncertain, as it could either make a long loop around the solar system or be ejected into interstellar space. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the scientific study of meteors and their connection to comets and asteroids. It discusses the author's personal experience witnessing a meteor storm and traces the historical development of understanding meteor showers as particles that burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The article also discusses the challenges and advancements in predicting meteor storms, including the use of computer simulations. It concludes by highlighting the valuable information that meteor showers provide about the past activity and evolution of comets, as well as the role of citizen scientists in contributing to meteor research. The article emphasizes the importance of telescopes and space missions in furthering our understanding of comets, asteroids, and the distribution of dust in the solar system. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the idea that history is shaped by waves of creativity and transformative forces. The author shares their personal experience as a film student in the 1960s and the challenges they faced in entering the film industry. They draw parallels between this surge of interest in cinema and historical periods of achievement, such as the construction of the pyramids and the building of gothic cathedrals. The article also discusses the transformative effects of film editing and powered flight, suggesting that these inventions have had a profound impact on society. The author concludes by suggesting that we may be currently experiencing another wave of creativity in the 21st century, driven by rapid advancements in technology and their impact on human concepts of space and time. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the life and accomplishments of Edmond Halley, an influential English astronomer. While he is best known for discovering Halley's Comet, Halley also made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, such as cataloging southern stars and studying tides. The article highlights his involvement with the Royal Society of London and his collaborations with other scientists, including Isaac Newton. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Halley's legacy as a prolific and adventurous scientist endures beyond his famous comet. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the exciting potential for discovery in the field of astronomy through the efforts of amateur astronomers. It highlights the discovery of previously unknown nebulae, such as McNeil's Nebula and the Soap Bubble Nebula, and emphasizes the importance of careful observation and analysis in uncovering these hidden objects. The article also mentions the formation of online communities dedicated to tracking and cataloging amateur discoveries. It shares the experiences of Marcel Drechsler and Xavier Strottner, who have made over 350 scientifically relevant discoveries through collaboration and the use of digital cameras and filters. The article encourages amateur astronomers to engage in the search for new celestial objects and highlights the rewards and challenges of this pursuit. [Extracted from the article]

The war with Spain liberated Cuba from Spanish imperialism, but it also served to cement US control over Cuba's politics and economy. In this way, the US "stacked the deck - not just against a potential British takeover of Cuba, but also against the possibility of a Cuban takeover of Cuba." BOOK & the ARTS EARLY ON IN HER MASTERFUL BOOK CUBA: AN AMERICAN History, Ada Ferrer alludes to a double meaning embedded in her subtitle: "History in the first sense refers to what happened; in the second, to what is said to have happened." Even as Cuba struggled economically and internal dissent was meticulously stifled, the Cuban Revolution's egalitarian spirit went abroad, as Cuba involved itself in the decolonization struggles in Africa, some of which spanned decades. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides information about the discovery and characteristics of Wolf 359, a red dwarf star in the Leo constellation. Discovered by Max Wolf in 1918, it was found to emit less light than any other known star at the time. Although its large proper motion suggests it may be close to our solar system, its dimness indicates it could be far away, similar to another star called Groombridge 1830. The distance to Wolf 359 was measured in the 1920s, and Adriaan van Maanen used the 100-inch Hooker Telescope to determine its proximity to Earth. Despite being close, Wolf 359 appears faint due to its low luminosity. It is classified as a red dwarf, the most common type of star, and emits very little light compared to others. The article also mentions other dim stars, such as Van Biesbroeck's Star, that have been discovered since Wolf 359. The Sun and Wolf 359 have different trajectories within the Milky Way, and in the future, Wolf 359 may be much farther away from Earth. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides a firsthand account of the author's visit to Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona. The author discusses their personal challenges with camping and reflects on the unique landscape of the monument, including the Chiricahua Mountains and diverse habitats. They describe their exploration of the park, hiking to Sugarloaf Mountain, and admiring the volcanic rock formations called hoodoos. The article also mentions the possibility of visiting nearby Fort Bowie National Historic Site. The author appreciates the experience and expresses a desire to return. The article also briefly touches on the history of the area, including conflicts between the Chiricahua Apache and the US government. [Extracted from the article]

This article from All About Space focuses on the tragic moments and disasters that have occurred throughout the history of space exploration. It highlights incidents such as the Challenger disaster in 1986, the Soyuz 1 mission in 1967, the Liberty Bell 7 incident in 1961, the X-15 crash in 1967, the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, the Soyuz 11 deaths in 1971, the Mariner 1 failure in 1962, the Soyuz 5 near-disaster in 1969, the Mir fire in 1997, the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, the Soyuz T-10A explosion in 1983, and the Columbia disaster in 2003. The article also mentions instances where disasters were averted, such as the Gemini 8 mission, the Apollo 12 lightning strike, the ISS Expedition 36 water leak, and the Soyuz 18A mission failure. [Extracted from the article]

The article provides a list of 25 cultural recommendations for the period of May 22 to June 5. The recommendations include TV shows, theater performances, movies, classical music concerts, art exhibitions, podcasts, and live music events. The article highlights various genres and themes, such as Star Wars TV, historical drama, documentaries, punk rock, classical music, abstract art, and rap. The recommendations are diverse and cater to different interests and age groups. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES An annular eclipse of the Sun on Oct. 14 is the big event this month, with most of the U.S. seeing a partial eclipse. WHEN TO VIEW THE PLANETS EVENING SKY Saturn (southeast) Jupiter (east) Uranus (east) Neptune (east) MIDNIGHT Saturn (southwest) Jupiter (southeast) Uranus (east) Neptune (south) MORNING SKY Mercury (east) Venus (east) Jupiter (west) Uranus (west) span of 49" and a magnitude of -2.9, its most brilliant of the year. Venus is a brilliant morning star, starting the month 7° west of Regulus, Leo's brightest star. Saturn's ring system remains more than 41" wide from its distance of over 9 astronomical units (837 million miles; 1 astronomical unit, or AU, is the average Earth-Sun distance). [Extracted from the article]

Phenomena of Jupiter's Moons, August 2023 Every day, interesting events happen between Jupiter's satellites and the planet's disk or shadow. OBSERVING The timing for this year's Perseid meteor shower is almost as good as it gets. Jupiter's Moons The wavy lines represent Jupiter's four big satellites. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the significance of comets and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. It delves into the historical connection between comets and significant events, as well as the human inclination to seek meaning during uncertain times. The divisive nature of mask-wearing is explored, with various beliefs and conspiracy theories emerging. The author shares personal experiences with individuals who refuse to wear masks, highlighting the challenges of bridging different perspectives. The article concludes by discussing the historical development of understanding infectious diseases and the importance of rational intervention. Additionally, it addresses the prevalence of conspiracy theories and misinformation surrounding the pandemic, particularly in relation to mask-wearing. The role of storytelling in times of crisis and the impact of the internet and social media platforms in spreading misinformation are also discussed. The article emphasizes the importance of scientific evidence and warns against prioritizing storytelling over truth. [Extracted from the article]

Scientists came up with an apparently sound theory: Comets from the outer solar system delivered water to the inner solar system after the planets formed, crashing into the rocky planets. PHOTO (COLOR): COMET 67P Material shed by Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its trip past the Sun doesn't match the isotopic levels in Earth's water, suggesting comets have contributed little to our planet's overall composition. But beyond the snow line - the boundary where the temperature was low enough for water to condense into ice - frozen water could readily mix with the rocky bits that would eventually merge to form the outer solar system bodies, producing planets, asteroids, and comets teeming with water and other volatiles. Other, Earth-based observations showed that many comets have much higher D/H ratios than Earth's oceans, dampening the prospect that they delivered most of our planet's water. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the impact of the massive sunspot 3668/3664, which led to one of the most intense geomagnetic storms in recent history. Topics include the significant aurora activity on various frequencies, the effects of the storm on radio communications, and the Perseid meteor shower's impact on radio operations.

The article provides an overview of the Messier Catalog, a list of celestial objects compiled by 18th-century French astronomer Charles Messier. Messier initially became interested in astronomy after witnessing a comet as a teenager and went on to discover and co-discover numerous comets throughout his career. In order to systematize his comet-hunting efforts, Messier began cataloging other celestial objects, such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. His final catalog, published in 1781, listed 103 objects, with additional targets added by later astronomers. The Messier Catalog is still used today as a reference for amateur astronomers. [Extracted from the article]

"Those little pieces, which could be the size of mountains, become the comets that we know today", says Amy Mainzer, an astronomer at the University of Arizona. In September, NASA's DART spacecraft struck the asteroid Dimorphos with a projectile, demonstrating the feasibility of deflecting an asteroid or comet, should it ever be necessary. Whereas asteroids tend to live in the inner solar system, jostling with one another and with the planets "like a bag of marbles", as Mainzer puts it, comets are pristine objects. In 1995, Congress charged NASA with identifying 90 percent of all asteroids, comets and other near- earth objects bigger than one kilometer in diameter. [Extracted from the article]

J. LINDER/ESO 5 Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) The magnificent Comet Hale-Bopp was already visible to the naked eye in May 1996, nearly a year before it reached perihelion. While astronomers debate whether NEOWISE qualifies as a great comet, we can all agree on one thing: Hopefully, the next great comet will arrive amid more auspicious circumstances. FEATURES COMETS PROVIDE PHOTOGRAPHERS with endless possibilities. [Extracted from the article]

Comet Bennett (C/1969 Y1) Comet Bennett, the brightest comet seen after Ikeya-Seki, was a magnitude 8.5 object when South African amateur astronomer John Caister Bennett discovered it Dec. 28, 1969. P. STÄTTMAYER/ESO gl Comet Kohoutek (C/1973 E1) Let me be honest: The only reason Comet Kohoutek ranks as "great" is because the media hyped it as the "comet of the century." GLO:ast/01jan23:38n1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): COMET KOHOUTEK (C/1973 E1) • Comet Kohoutek was the great comet that never delivered. Comet West (C/1975 V1) GLO:ast/01jan23:39n1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): COMET IRASARAKI-ALCOCK (C/1983 H1) • This 15-minute exposure shows clearly how Comet IRAS-ArakiAlcock didn't look like a "normal" comet, thanks to its distinct lack of a tail. [Extracted from the article]

INSIDE COMETS IN THE RUBBLE-PILE MODEL of comet nuclei, the fragments of the comet are held together by little more than the extremely weak gravity between them. GLO:ast/01jan23:14n1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): COMPLEX WORLD • LEFT: The comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has cliffs, boulders, pits, and pock-marks - all on a "dirty snowball" just 2.7 miles (4.3 km) across. gl It also marked a turning point in the study of comets. GLO:ast/01jan23:17n3.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 67P • 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko vents into space in this single frame taken by Rosetta at a distance of 96 miles (154 km) from the comet. GLO:ast/01jan23:15n1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): Gas and dust stream away from 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in this mosaic created from four panels taken by Rosetta at a distance of 17 miles (28 km) from the comet. gl GLO:ast/01jan23:16n1.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): COMET CRESCENT Comet 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko releases streams of gas and dust into space in this false-color image taken by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft. [Extracted from the article]

Around the same time that Whipple proposed his model of the comet's nucleus, the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort was carefully analyzing the orbits of long-period comets. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who was working at the Paris Observatory, told Halley that he thought comets like this orbited the Sun with predictable accuracy. FEATURES "OF ALL THE HEAVENLY BODIES, comets are assuredly those whose appearance strikes most forcibly the attention of mortals", wrote French astronomer Camille Flammarion in his book Popular Astronomy (1894). [Extracted from the article]

The article presents Celestial almanac events in the year 2023. Topics include Crux and the Pointers are high up in the south-east while Canopus dominates the view to the south-west in February; and March will show star disappearance will be visible across southern Africa, but the Moon will have set by the time the star reappears.

The article, titled "Folks Back East," tells the story of Margaret Coakley, a girl with an evil eye, who joins W.C. Pickerel on his buckboard. Pickerel is a photographer who takes pictures of orphans meeting their new families. Margaret initially hesitates but eventually accepts Pickerel's invitation. They discuss various topics and head towards a coal mine explosion, where Pickerel plans to take photographs. Margaret tries using a blowgun to catch dinner, and they talk about the significance of Halley's comet. They arrive at a mining camp at night and witness a scene with a preacher and a healer attending to injured miners. Margaret is given a camera and instructed to take pictures. The preacher is revealed to be manipulative, and Margaret takes action to stop him. The crowd then turns their attention to a supposed comet in the sky, and Pickerel captures photographs of the scene. [Extracted from the article]