Latest news with #HoustonMuseumofNaturalScience
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Science
- New York Post
How to see the six planets hanging out in the morning skies this month
Six planets are hanging out in the sky this month in what's known as a planetary parade. Catch the spectacle while you can because it's the last one of the year. These linkups happen when several planets appear to line up in the night sky at once. Such parades are fairly common, happening around every year depending on the number of planets. 4 In the pre-dawn sky, you can currently see Venus and Jupiter aligned in Oxfordshire, UK, on August 11, 2025. Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock At least one bright planet can be spotted on most nights, weather permitting, according to NASA. Six planets were visible in January skies, and every planet of our solar system was visible in February, but not all could be spotted with the naked eye. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and a faint Mercury are visible this month without any special equipment, and the best chances to spot them are over the next week. Uranus and Neptune can only be glimpsed through binoculars and telescopes. Jupiter and Venus made a close brush earlier this week and are still near each other in the eastern sky, 'close together like cat's eyes,' said Carolyn Sumners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Mercury will be at its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare. 4 Saturn will be visible this month without any special equipment, and the best chances to spot it are over the next week. NASA, ESA, J. Clarke and Z. Levay 4 Mercury will be at its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare. marcel – To catch the planets, go out in the morning shortly before sunrise and look east. Try to find Jupiter and Venus clustered together first. Saturn is off to the side, and Mercury will be close to the horizon, trying to rise before the sun. 4 Uranus and Neptune can only be seen with binoculars and telescopes. AP 'You're looking for little tiny pinpoints of light, but they are the brightest ones,' said Justin Bartel with the Science Museum of Virginia. 'They don't really twinkle like the stars do.' Before heading out, make sure it is a clear, cloudless morning and try to get away from tall buildings that could block the view. Mercury will hide behind the sun again toward the end of the month, but a crescent moon will then join the parade. The next big planetary hangout is in February.
a day ago
- Science
Six planets are hanging out in early morning skies this month. Here's how to spot them
NEW YORK -- Six planets are hanging out in the sky this month in what's known as a planetary parade. Catch the spectacle while you can because it's the last one of the year. These linkups happen when several planets appear to line up in the night sky at once. Such parades are fairly common, happening around every year depending on the number of planets. At least one bright planet can be spotted on most nights, weather permitting, according to NASA. Six planets were visible in January skies and every planet of our solar system was visible in February, but not all could be spotted with the naked eye. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and a faint Mercury are visible this month without any special equipment, and the best chances to spot them are over the next week. Uranus and Neptune can only be glimpsed through binoculars and telescopes. Jupiter and Venus made a close brush earlier this week and are still near each other in the eastern sky, 'close together like cat's eyes,' said Carolyn Sumners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Mercury will be at its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare. To catch the planets, go out in the morning shortly before sunrise and look east. Try to find Jupiter and Venus clustered together first. Saturn is off to the side and Mercury will be close to the horizon, trying to rise before the sun. 'You're looking for little tiny pinpoints of light, but they are the brightest ones,' said Justin Bartel with the Science Museum of Virginia. 'They don't really twinkle like the stars do.' Before heading out, make sure it is a clear, cloudless morning and try to get away from tall buildings that could block the view. Mercury will hide behind the sun again toward the end of the month, but a crescent moon will then join the parade. The next big planetary hangout is in February. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
Six planets are hanging out in early morning skies this month. Here's how to spot them
NEW YORK (AP) — Six planets are hanging out in the sky this month in what's known as a planetary parade. Catch the spectacle while you can because it's the last one of the year. These linkups happen when several planets appear to line up in the night sky at once. Such parades are fairly common, happening around every year depending on the number of planets. At least one bright planet can be spotted on most nights, weather permitting, according to NASA. Six planets were visible in January skies and every planet of our solar system was visible in February, but not all could be spotted with the naked eye. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and a faint Mercury are visible this month without any special equipment, and the best chances to spot them are over the next week. Uranus and Neptune can only be glimpsed through binoculars and telescopes. Jupiter and Venus made a close brush earlier this week and are still near each other in the eastern sky, 'close together like cat's eyes,' said Carolyn Sumners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Mercury will be at its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare. To catch the planets, go out in the morning shortly before sunrise and look east. Try to find Jupiter and Venus clustered together first. Saturn is off to the side and Mercury will be close to the horizon, trying to rise before the sun. 'You're looking for little tiny pinpoints of light, but they are the brightest ones,' said Justin Bartel with the Science Museum of Virginia. 'They don't really twinkle like the stars do.' Before heading out, make sure it is a clear, cloudless morning and try to get away from tall buildings that could block the view. Mercury will hide behind the sun again toward the end of the month, but a crescent moon will then join the parade. The next big planetary hangout is in February. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Science
- Winnipeg Free Press
Six planets are hanging out in early morning skies this month. Here's how to spot them
NEW YORK (AP) — Six planets are hanging out in the sky this month in what's known as a planetary parade. Catch the spectacle while you can because it's the last one of the year. These linkups happen when several planets appear to line up in the night sky at once. Such parades are fairly common, happening around every year depending on the number of planets. At least one bright planet can be spotted on most nights, weather permitting, according to NASA. Six planets were visible in January skies and every planet of our solar system was visible in February, but not all could be spotted with the naked eye. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and a faint Mercury are visible this month without any special equipment, and the best chances to spot them are over the next week. Uranus and Neptune can only be glimpsed through binoculars and telescopes. Jupiter and Venus made a close brush earlier this week and are still near each other in the eastern sky, 'close together like cat's eyes,' said Carolyn Sumners at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Mercury will be at its farthest point from the sun on Tuesday morning, making it easier to spot before it disappears into the sun's glare. To catch the planets, go out in the morning shortly before sunrise and look east. Try to find Jupiter and Venus clustered together first. Saturn is off to the side and Mercury will be close to the horizon, trying to rise before the sun. 'You're looking for little tiny pinpoints of light, but they are the brightest ones,' said Justin Bartel with the Science Museum of Virginia. 'They don't really twinkle like the stars do.' Before heading out, make sure it is a clear, cloudless morning and try to get away from tall buildings that could block the view. Mercury will hide behind the sun again toward the end of the month, but a crescent moon will then join the parade. The next big planetary hangout is in February. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
POW! KRAK! ZOOM! Witness Earth's Mightiest Creatures with Extreme Animals Alive
Discover the incredible adaptations that make animals living legends in our world. Eustace the six-banded armadillo in Extreme Animals Alive at HMNS Pop-Tart the panther chamelion in Extreme Animals Alive at HMNS HOUSTON, TX, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Points: Extreme Animals Alive opens May 24 at HMNS (members see it first May 23), and invites guests to investigate the stunning variety of animal adaptations found in the natural world. Animals within the exhibit include vinegaroons, Savannah monitors, axolotls, fennec foxes, and many more. Visitors learn about animal adaptations, including those that allow animals to shape-shift, glow, endure extreme temperatures, or even control the minds of other animals. Meet Eustace. Eustace is a six-banded armadillo; cute and shy, but a skilled digger with a keen sense of smell, Eustace carries his armor with him. He uses his flexible shell, made of overlapping bony plates, as well as his claws and teeth to defend himself from predators if necessary. And he just happens to be one of the superheroes of the natural world bursting onto the scene in the Houston Museum of Natural Science's (HMNS) newest exhibition Extreme Animals Alive, opening May 24 (members see it first May 23). Step into a graphic novel aiming to reveal the strange and wonderful specializations animals exhibit to escape danger and prove themselves supreme. Extreme Animals Alive invites guests to meet some of the champions of the animal kingdom, both famous and hidden gems, that showcase unique characteristics designed for survival over the competition. From super speed to super stealth, these exceptional beasts have sensational 'superpowers' that allow them to shape-shift, glow, or control the minds of other animals. In addition to Eustace, visitors can observe the surprising defense mechanisms of the vinegaroon, the incredible regenerative power of tokay geckos, the peculiar eating habits of prehensile porcupines, the sly and desert-defying survival skills of fennec foxes, and a whole host of other incredible animals. The exhibition allows guests to get up close with a variety of critters, both familiar and fantastic. In fact, opportunities to interact with live animals occur daily. "Extreme Animals Alive isn't just a display of creatures; it's a window into the sheer ingenuity of nature,' said Nicole Temple, VP of Education for HMNS. 'We've carefully curated a collection that highlights the extraordinary adaptations that organisms have evolved to survive and thrive. From the microscopic to the majestic, and from the prehistoric to the present day, visitors witness firsthand the remarkable 'superpowers' that have allowed these critters to conquer their environments, showcasing the breathtaking diversity and resilience of life on Earth." Explore topics like biofluorescence and learn about how a surprising number of animals glow under UV light, like corals, arthropods, insects, fishes, mammals and more. But why do they fluoresce? Communication, camouflage, to attract prey, and to avoid predators are all theories; but, in reality, we don't fully know. Investigate how some animals can beat both the extreme heat and the extreme cold of the Sahara Desert. Clever, physical adaptations help animals like the Bactrian camel, the fennec fox, and the Savannah monitor cope with blistering days in the desert where temperatures can reach over 115°F. But when the sun goes down, the temperature may drop by 75 degrees and these same animals must also be able to survive the night in near freezing conditions. Discover 'living fossils' among us, such as the dragonfly and shark, that have evolved very slightly, if at all, from their ancient ancestors. They thrive today just as they did in the geologic past – perfectly adapted and successful for hundreds of millions of years. Get ready to plunge into a world where animal adaptations are nothing short of spectacular, with Extreme Animals Alive. Extreme Animals Alive is on display at HMNS beginning May 24 (members see it first May 23). For ticket prices or more information, visit our website at or call (713) 639-4629. Extreme Animals Alive is organized by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. About Houston Museum of Natural Science The Houston Museum of Natural Science—one of the nation's most heavily attended museums—is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory, and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure. ### Contact Info Sami Mesarwismesarwi@ 281-684-0430 Attachments Eustace the six-banded armadillo in Extreme Animals Alive at HMNS Pop-Tart the panther chamelion in Extreme Animals Alive at HMNS
