What Is the Universe? The Universe is a very big place that contains everything—including the things we can and cannot see. The Earth, Sun, Milky Way, black holes, and other stars and galaxies are all part of the Universe. And since our home planet is part of the Universe, we are, of course, in it too! When we talk about the Universe, we do not just mean the visible … [Read more...]
How Big is the Universe?
How Far Is The Moon?
The Moon: Earth’s Only Natural Satellite The Earth is the closest planet to the Sun with a natural satellite. Mercury and Venus have none while its neighbor, Mars, has two moons. It is far cry from Saturn which has 82 moons and counting! The Moon shines with an apparent magnitude of −2.5 to −12.9 and is the brightest object in our night sky. However, it is important to note … [Read more...]
How Many Galaxies Are There in the Universe?
What is a Galaxy? Before we begin to handle such a question as how many galaxies are there in the Universe, let's first define what a galaxy is. A galaxy is a system of dust, gas, stars, and dark matter held together by gravity. The word “galaxy” is from the Greek word galaxias which means “milky.” This is a reference to our own Milky Way—the first galaxy that we knew. … [Read more...]
How Long Does It Take To Get Dark After Sunset?
So What Exactly Is True Darkness? and How Long Does It Take To Get Dark After Sunset? To answer the question " how long does it take to get dark after sunset", we first need to be exactly clear around what me mean by 'dark'. We need to understand why location matters and what true darkness is. True darkness begins after twilight. Twilight is the light that we see when the … [Read more...]
What Is A Wolf Moon?
Full moons are nothing new. They occur every 28 days like clockwork! A full moon happens when the sun and the moon are directly opposite of one another. As a result, the sun can cast its light on the entire lunar surface we see. It creates a bright and intense glow that lasts for two or three days. Everyone can enjoy the same full moon thanks to its synchronous rotation! Most … [Read more...]