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Forbes
01-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
From Comet SWAN To Halley's Meteors: May 2025's Stargazing Highlights
May will feature a rare comet brushing past the Pleiades. May 2025 will be packed with spectacular sights for stargazers — and the action gets underway immediately. The final month before dark skies become scarce close to the solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, May will feature a rare comet brushing past the Pleiades, Mars close to the sparkling Beehive Cluster, 'shooting stars' from Halley's Comet, and the rise of the Flower Moon. All some planetary alignments and even a celestial 'smiley face' and the warmer nights and longer twilights are set to stun. Here's everything you need to know about stargazing in May 2025. When: 45 minutes after sunset on Thursday, May 1, 2025 Where: west Following the memorable appearance of NEOWISE in 2020 and A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS late last year, enter C/2025 F2 (SWAN). First spotted in late March, it's now set to put on a brief but spectacular show. Reaching its closest point to the Sun on May 1, this 5th-magnitude comet will glow low in the western sky just after sunset. Adding to the spectacle, it will appear near the Pleiades star cluster that same evening. But hurry because by May 7, this comet will have dipped below the horizon for Northern Hemisphere observers. Saturn in the Beehive Star Cluster, also known as Messier 44 or NGC 2632. When: after dark on Saturday, May 3, 2025 Where: south Although the Moon is just about half-illuminated tonight and not in its most photogenic phase, it's worth finding tonight. Look to the southern sky to find it near both Mars and the Beehive Cluster (M44), one of the closest open star clusters to the solar system. The exact lineup varies by location, but skywatchers across the globe will see this trio impress. When: early hours of Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Where: all-sky Tonight's meteor shower traces its origin to Halley's Comet, which left behind a trail of debris that turns to 'shooting stars' each May. The Eta Aquariids peak in the pre-dawn hours of May 6, with rates of 10 to 20 meteors per hour possible under clear skies. Peaks are broad, so the show could start as early as Monday night, and be patient — meteor watching rewards those who wait. The Flower Moon rises one day after being full above the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World ... More Trade Center in New York City on May 27, 2021 as seen from Verona, New Jersey. (Photo by) When: during dusk on Monday, May 12, 2025 Where: east May's full moon, the 'Flower Moon,' will be best seen this evening as it rises. As dusk settles in, look to the southeastern horizon for a warm orange orb climbing into view. That orange tint, caused by Earth's atmosphere (the physics is just like a sunset), will last only about 15 minutes before becoming too bright to look at as it rises into the sky to shine all night long, setting at sunrise. When: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Where: west-northwest As the crescent moon waxes, it inches eastward in the twilight sky, tonight joining Jupiter. Just 5%-lit, the moon will appear just above the gas giant planet in the west-northwest shortly after sunset. Earthshine may be visible, subtly lighting up the moon's shadowed half. Thursday, May 29: 'Smiley Face' Moon In Gemini When: Thursday, May 29, 2025 Where: west Look west about 45 minutes after sunset for a smiley face in the sky. A slim crescent moon, just 12% lit, forms a curved 'mouth' beneath the twin stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini, creating a nice arrangement that will be very easy to spot. The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
How Miranda Kerr's KORA Organics Redefines Beauty And Skincare
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Miranda Kerr attends the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala at Pacific ... More Design Center on November 09, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) Australian-born Miranda Kerr is the founder and Managing Director of KORA Organics, a certified organic skin care line she launched in 2009. What began in Australia has since gained international recognition, with KORA products now available in over 25 countries worldwide. "From a business perspective, the most important lesson is the power of staying true to the mission," Kerr shared in an interview with Forbes over Zoom. "There are many moments of pressure to cut corners, save costs, or speed up development, but you have to stay firm in maintaining quality and authenticity." This commitment to quality has been her guiding principle throughout KORA's development. The brand originated from Kerr's personal quest for effective skin care products she could confidently use herself and share with loved ones. Kerr's brand was born out of a desire to help people and give them the results they needed without jeopardizing their health. Since founding KORA Organics, Kerr continues to expand her knowledge about skin care while growing both personally and professionally. Her journey demonstrates that building a purposeful brand requires patience, resilience, and unwavering focus while focusing on the needs of an evolving customer base. Kerr built KORA Organics on a foundation of scientific research and genuine customer needs. She invested significant time understanding the science behind her products and personally reviewing the testing results. A cornerstone of KORA's philosophy is challenging industry conventions. While retinol dominates the beauty market as a celebrated anti-aging ingredient, it comes with limitations: pregnant women can't use it, and it often causes dryness. Kerr saw an opportunity to innovate. "If you look at the before and after pictures, the results speak for themselves," Kerr explains. "For example, our retinol alternative moisturizer impressed 90% of dedicated retinol users, who reported better results for fine lines and wrinkles compared to traditional retinol." At the heart of KORA's formulations is noni extract, an ingredient with personal significance for Kerr. "I have been drinking noni juice since I was young for both its internal and external benefits," she shares. "My grandmother introduced it to me when I was 13 and would suggest applying it directly to treat my acne I had through my teenage years." Noni extract is a key ingredient in KORA Organic's range of products. This Southeast Asian fruit, native to Tahiti but also grown in Australia, is packed with vitamin C and contains over 100 antioxidants. It works at the cellular level to support skin rejuvenation, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce inflammation, delivering the radiant complexion KORA customers seek. It's been Kerr's 'hero ingredient' since day one and every single product contains it, she adds, drawing from her studies in Nutrition and Health Psychology at Australia's Academy of Natural Living and her certification as a health coach. Her commitment to organic ingredients intensified after her mother's cancer diagnosis. "What we realized is that what you put on your skin goes in," Kerr reflects. "We were horrified to discover potentially carcinogenic ingredients in mainstream products, which strengthened our dedication to certified organic formulations." Given that clean beauty is a trend that has become mainstream, Kerr draws a crucial distinction between "clean beauty" and "certified organic" - a difference that defines KORA Organics' unique market position. "Certified organic means you're avoiding pesticides and unnecessary chemicals while getting 60% more antioxidants," Kerr explains. "When you have clean beauty, you're not getting those three things because it's very different." This commitment to certification has established KORA as the only certified organic brand stocked by Sephora worldwide, creating a distinctive niche in a crowded market. The rigorous certification process involves meeting the strictest industry standards, positioning KORA at the forefront as consumers become increasingly conscious about chemical-free products and wellness-oriented skincare. One fascinating trend Kerr has observed is the shifting demographics of her customer base. "Gen Z is incredibly ingredient savvy," she notes, highlighting how younger consumers demand both sustainability and efficacy without compromise. Research backs Kerr's observation; one study notes that 81% of the demographic note that ingredient transparency influences their purchasing decisions and they are opting for fragrance-free skincare and 33% are preferring paraben-free formulations. KORA Organics focuses on sustainability and creating products that are appealing across different ... More demographics and age groups. This evolution in consumer priorities has shaped KORA's approach to business. As a carbon-neutral and climate-neutral brand, KORA offsets its environmental impact through tree planting, water infiltration projects, and renewable energy investments. This commitment extends to their innovative approach to packaging updates. Rather than following industry norms of discarding old inventory when updating packaging designs, KORA launched an archival sale. "I don't want anything to go to waste," Kerr states. "Instead of discarding, we're giving the community a chance to stock up on moisturizers, sleeping masks, exfoliating masks and more at 20% off until they sell through." This strategy represents a win-win scenario: preventing waste while offering value to customers without compromising on the formula. After all, it's the same high performing formula that customers love, while the brand moves forward with its packaging evolution without compromising its sustainability principles. As a mother of four children (Flynn, Hart, Miles, and Pierre), Miranda Kerr has discovered that parenthood offers valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, though balancing family and career presents its challenges. "I need to stop micromanaging and need to step back," Kerr admits. She emphasizes the importance of establishing routines and building trust in her team, empowering them to advance the company's mission while she balances her responsibilities. Kerr has observed how parenthood naturally draws customers to KORA Organics. "When you become a parent, you want the best for yourself in those postpartum days and for your children," she explains. This awareness has influenced KORA's development as a family-friendly brand. The universal appeal of KORA products transcends gender boundaries. "More and more men are embracing it," Kerr notes, mentioning that her husband is "obsessed with" the turmeric brightening and exfoliating mask. Beyond adult use, she applies the brand's body oil and lotion on her children, finding them particularly beneficial during teething. This turmeric moisturizer is a personal favorite of Kerr's husband, representing that the brand aims ... More to be gender neutral and appeal to everyone. "This is what we all use in our house," she shares proudly. 'I want this to be a unisex product that every member in your household can benefit from. That's how we build repeat customers who understand that health is wealth.' This holistic approach to family wellness reflects Kerr's commitment to creating products that nurture both body and business and prove that when personal values align with professional vision, both can flourish together.
