Astronomy Magazine

In March of 1899, William Pickering discovered Phoebe, a moon of Saturn, on photographic plates taken on Aug. 16, 1898, by DeLisle Stewart. It was the first moon to be discovered photographically, rather than observationally, and over a hundred years later, it would be the first target of the Cassini spacecraft. Phoebe orbits at aContinue reading "Aug. 16, 1898: Phoebe makes an appearance" The post Aug. 16, 1898: Phoebe makes an appearance appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. August 15: A conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter The Moon passes 2° south of Venus at 5 A.M. EDT, although neither is visible at that time. Instead, the Moon rises around midmorning and remains visible until after sunset. By evening, it standsContinue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, August 16: The Moon hangs with Venus" The post The Sky Today on Sunday, August 16: The Moon hangs with Venus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

On Aug. 15, 1977, a narrowband radio signal was detected by the Big Ear Radio Telescope at Ohio State. The signal was powerful, lasted for 72 seconds, and was picked up on only 1 of 50 possible channels. It also showed a distinct pattern – starting low, growing, and then decreasing again – suggesting itContinue reading "Aug. 15, 1977: The Wow! Signal arrives" The post Aug. 15, 1977: The Wow! Signal arrives appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. August 14: Mars meets M35 Mercury and Jupiter meet in a close conjunction this morning, as Mercury passes just 0.6° north of Jupiter at 5 A.M. EDT. The pair rises an hour before the Sun, some 3° southeast of open cluster M44,Continue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, August 15: A conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter" The post The Sky Today on Saturday, August 15: A conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

NASA’s Explorer 6 satellite was launched Aug. 7, 1959, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft’s mission was to study Earth’s magnetic fields and radiation, as well as cosmic rays, geomagnetism, and micrometeorites. It also carried a photocell scanner, an instrument intended to photograph Earth’s cloud cover. A complication with one of its solar cells leftContinue reading "Aug. 14, 1959: Explorer 6 images Earth" The post Aug. 14, 1959: Explorer 6 images Earth appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.