Martz-Kohl Observatory

Martz-Kohl Observatory

2 weeks ago

The full Beaver Moon passed through Earth's shadow in a partial lunar eclipse this morning, Friday, Nov. 19 in what was the longest eclipse of its kind in 580 years. The eclipse lasted over 6 hours. The Beaver Moon is a native American name for the November full moon. Tom Traub captured this image. ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

4 weeks ago

While Mercury is not as bright as Venus, you can’t miss it - if you get up early -this week.Early risers get to see the Crescent Moon above Mercury! Moonrise is around
3:25am on Monday, 4:40 on Tuesday, and 5:55 on Wednesday. Mercury rises around 6:15. ... See MoreSee Less

Martz-Kohl Observatory

1 month ago

Did you know that NASA has a Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO)? Planetary defense is the term used to encompass all the capabilities needed to detect the possibility and warn of potential asteroid or comet impacts with Earth, and then either prevent them or mitigate their possible effects. Planetary defense involves finding, tracking and categorizing near-Earth objects that pose a hazard of impacting Earth. Part of the office's mission is the planning and implementation of measures to deflect or disrupt an object on an impact course with Earth, or to mitigate the effects of an impact that cannot be prevented.

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft launch window begins November 24, 2021. The spacecraft is designed to impact an asteroid as a test of technology. DART’s target asteroid is NOT a threat to Earth. This asteroid system is a perfect testing ground to see if intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future. While no known asteroid larger than 140 meters in size has a significant chance to hit Earth for the next 100 years, only about 40 percent of those asteroids have been found as of October 2021.

More info on NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office: www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/overview and info on DART (spacecraft image, below): www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/dart 👍🔭✨ ... See MoreSee Less