China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. It is the latest advance in China’s increasingly sophisticated space exploration program, which is now competing with the U.S., still … Read more
MORE IN STORE In the later part of the year, stargazers can look forward to the Perseids and Geminids. The Perseids – known for being one of the brighter annual meteor showers – will peak over Singapore between Aug 12 and Aug 13, said SCOB. The Perseids gets its name as it comes from the same … Read more
Thousands of people flocked to parts of Eastern Canada and the United States this week to catch a glimpse of Monday’s total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocked out the sun. For 11-year-old Julian Falkin, who traveled with his family from Vancouver to Cleveland, Ohio, to view the event, it was well worth the trip. … Read more
During next Monday’s solar eclipse, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy will celebrate the once in a lifetime event as the anniversary of its founding. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, is composed of the Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk and Tuscarora nations. A total solar eclipse played an important role in its history. On the … Read more
Astronomer David Lane, who created the world’s first telescope controlled by social media at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, died late last month following a nine-month battle with brain cancer. Lane was born in Germany in 1963 before moving to Hebbville, N.S., where he grew up, according to his obituary. He worked at Saint Mary’s University for 29 years, starting … Read more
You may have heard the joke by now: “How do you organize a solar eclipse party? You planet.” But you could also let someone plan it for you. And throughout the Hamilton-Niagara region — home to some of the best areas in Canada to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 — there are plenty of options. That … Read more
The Current10:20The case for a ‘leap minute’ The leap year is the most famous of the leap family, keeping our calendars right every year, while behind the scenes, with little fanfare, the leap second has been doing its part. But global stakeholders believe it’s time for a change — the leap minute. “Ever since we’ve … Read more
The first private spacecraft to softly land on the moon carries a Canadian instrument that will test the possibility of building an observatory at the Lunar south pole. The phone booth-sized lander by Intuitive Machines, named Odysseus, launched on Feb. 15 and touched down on Thursday near a small impact crater about 300 kilometers from the moon’s south … Read more
This year, outer space is going to be a busy place. We’ve got the launch of the Europa Clipper, which will orbit one of Jupiter’s enigmatic moons and investigate whether it could harbour conditions suitable for life; we could cheer on the first Canadian to orbit the moon; and we’re getting a total solar eclipse that … Read more
At 30 years old, Michelle Kunimoto already has more than 3,000 planet candidates under her belt. Inspired by science fiction and curiosity, the University of British Columbia astronomy graduate is passionate about searching for exoplanets — bodies orbiting stars outside our own solar system. She’s currently leading a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) hunting for them. … Read more
