Latest news with #Schmoll
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look for the Northern Lights Tonight: Aurora Borealis Has a Season, and It Just Started
Aurora borealis is one of the coolest astronomical events that we can see with the naked eye. It makes the sky glow beautiful colors, and auroras are just random enough to be exciting occurrences. But they may not be as random as we all think: Historical data suggests that aurora borealis has seasons where they are more likely to occur than other times of the year. The spring equinox is one of those times, and it's right around the corner. Read more: Spring Equinox Is Almost Here: Have You Heard the Egg-Balancing Myth? The idea that aurora borealis has "seasons" comes from data compiled by NASA astrophysicist, Dr. David Hathaway. According to the data, the northern lights are more likely to show up in March, April, September, and October. Those are the months closest to the spring and autumn equinoxes -- the time of year when the sun crosses the equator and delivers almost equal amounts of daylight to the entire planet. Hathaway's data is the latest, but it's not the first. Per Earth Sky, Aloysius Cortie, an English Jesuit astronomer, published research on the link between equinoxes and auroras in 1912. Later, Sydney Chapman and Julius Bartels included the idea of a twice-yearly aurora borealis season in their book Geomagnetism, which was the de facto textbook on the topic for decades. Read more: Check Out These Breathtaking Northern Lights Photos From Aurora Watchers That means over a century of scientific consensus says that the northern lights are more likely to show up over the next couple of months as we reach the spring equinox, and then again in September and October as the seasons change again. The key to the whole thing seems to be how equinoxes work. During the winter and summer months, half of the Earth is tilted away from the sun, therefore making aurora borealis less likely (unless the geomagnetic storm is particularly strong). "The equinoxes are the transition points between which hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun," Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium, told CNET in an email. "At this point, the Earth's magnetic field is at a more favorable angle, closer to perpendicular, that allows easier interaction of the charged solar particles with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere." Read more: Why Is The Aurora Borealis More Frequent All of a Sudden? According to Dr. Schmoll, the Earth's magnetic field has a north and south pole, just like any magnet. The sun does as well. Dr. Schmoll says that science is still figuring out the specifics, but in short, the poles of the sun and Earth line up better during the equinox, which is conducive to more frequent auroras. "The relative positions of all the magnetic field lines around this time make it easier for Earth to interact with the sun's charged solar wind, resulting in aurora," Schmoll says. The equinox effect -- also known as the Russell-McPherron effect -- is also entirely separate from the 11-year solar cycle that the sun runs through. Currently, the sun is at its maximum for this cycle, which increases the odds of aurora borealis showing up even more. The sun's increased activity and the equinox effect have already been observed recently. Late in 2024, aurora borealis lit up the night sky for much of September and October, with some being visible way further into the US than is typical. 'Tis the season, as they say, and aurora borealis is already making its presence known. Per the Space Weather Prediction Center, an aurora is happening Tuesday, March 4, for one night only. It won't reach down as far as Texas like some of the more epic auroras did last year, but it should be a pretty good display for folks in the northern US. The aurora is predicted to reach as far south as Iowa, with people in Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota getting the best views. It'll also be partially visible in Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Maine, Michigan and parts of New York, New Hampshire and Vermont.
CNN
28-02-2025
- Science
- CNN
How to spot February's parade of 7 planets, according to astronomers
February ends with a treat for sky-gazers: a parade of seven planets across the night sky, including Mercury, Uranus and Neptune alongside typically bright planets such as Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. But glimpsing all seven won't be easy, astronomers say. While the seven planets will all be above the horizon just after sunset, Mercury and Saturn will be more difficult to spot Thursday and Friday evenings. 'Mercury and Saturn are particularly close to the sun and will be lost in the sun's glare, though Mercury will get higher and higher each day and easier to spot,' said Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in a statement.'To have a chance, you will need a clear view of the western horizon and maybe binoculars to spot them after the sun sets.' Venus and Jupiter will be easier to spot thanks to their brightness, and Mars will stand out with its telltale reddish-orange hue, Schmoll said. However, Neptune and Uranus are not typically visible to the naked eye and will likely require a telescope or binoculars to see, she said. Here's why there are suddenly so many planets visible in the night sky and how long you can look forward to seeing them. How to spot the seven planets Saturn and Mercury are going to be 'horizon huggers,' likely only visible in twilight or the illumination in the sky after the sun has dipped below the horizon, with Venus visible at the same time, said EarthSky editor Marcy Curran in a recent YouTube video. 'Uranus and Neptune, of course, are there, but you need optical aid to see them, and you'll probably not catch Jupiter and Mars, which are higher in the sky, until at least darkness starts to fall,' she said. Curran advised looking for Mercury and Saturn, which will be low on the western horizon, about 30 minutes after sunset, with the aid of binoculars. 'The planets will be in the southern half of the sky,' said Emily Elizondo, a doctoral student of physics and astrophysics at Michigan State, in a statement. 'Toward the southwest is where Saturn and Mercury are going to be, and then toward the southeast is where Mars and Jupiter will be, and then Neptune, Venus and Uranus will be in between. There are apps that use motion-sensing technology, so you can type in the planet's name, and it'll show you where that planet is in the sky.' Let Venus help Not sure where to look? When in doubt, look for Venus. It will be at its brightest, but the planet will be low in the western sky and dropping closer to the horizon each night before it disappears from the night sky by mid-March, said EarthSky contributor John Goss. Venus will reappear in the morning sky in April, according to NASA. Unlike stars, which appear to twinkle, Venus will remain a steady bright light high above in the sky. When evening twilight ends at 6:58 p.m. ET Friday, the Cheshire moon will appear, according to the space agency. Around this time of year, the celestial object has earned this name because the thin sliver of the waxing crescent moon resembles the grin of the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' Hawaiian mythology also refers to this phase as the wet moon because it resembles a bowl that could contain liquid, according to NASA. The crescent moon will briefly appear just above the western horizon and set about two minutes later. Mercury, which will continue to climb higher into the sky after sunset in the coming days, will be a few degrees above the moon. Venus will be above both Mercury and the moon, according to EarthSky. The crescent moon, Venus and Mercury will continue to appear in a line through Sunday, according to EarthSky. 'Let bright Venus be your guide, it's going to show up first because it's higher in the sky, it's obviously brighter,' Curran said. 'So once you find Venus, below it towards the horizon look for a skinny little moon and Mercury.' Goss predicts that Jupiter will be high in the southern sky and remain visible for another couple of months, while Mars, high in the eastern sky, will be observable for another three to four months. If clouds or inclement weather obscure your view, the Virtual Telescope Project will share a live stream captured by its robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, located in Tuscany under dark skies. A string of planets The reason all the planets seem aligned in the night sky is because of their orbits around the sun. 'All of our planets go around the sun in a flat disk,' Schmoll said. 'From our perspective on Earth, that disk looks like a curved line across the sky stretching from east to the west. As a result, all our planets will always be seen along this line. When we have multiple planets visible, that line can look quite spectacular.' Typically, the planets are spread along the plane they orbit around the sun, called the ecliptic, because of their separate motions. But in February, the planets are all on the same side of the sun from our perspective on Earth, causing them to appear together in the night sky. 'This February is special because instead of being spaced far apart, they happen to be found along just a part of the path, so they all show up in the sky at the same time,' said Seth Jacobson, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Science's department of Earth and environmental sciences at Michigan State University.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How to spot February's parade of 7 planets, according to astronomers
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. February ends with a treat for sky-gazers: a parade of seven planets across the night sky, including Mercury, Uranus and Neptune alongside typically bright planets such as Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. But glimpsing all seven won't be easy, astronomers say. While the seven planets will all be above the horizon just after sunset, Mercury and Saturn will be more difficult to spot Thursday and Friday evenings. 'Mercury and Saturn are particularly close to the sun and will be lost in the sun's glare, though Mercury will get higher and higher each day and easier to spot,' said Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in a statement.'To have a chance, you will need a clear view of the western horizon and maybe binoculars to spot them after the sun sets.' Venus and Jupiter will be easier to spot thanks to their brightness, and Mars will stand out with its telltale reddish-orange hue, Schmoll said. However, Neptune and Uranus are not typically visible to the naked eye and will likely require a telescope or binoculars to see, she said. Here's why there are suddenly so many planets visible in the night sky and how long you can look forward to seeing them. Saturn and Mercury are going to be 'horizon huggers,' likely only visible in twilight or the illumination in the sky after the sun has dipped below the horizon, with Venus visible at the same time, said EarthSky editor Marcy Curran in a recent YouTube video. 'Uranus and Neptune, of course, are there, but you need optical aid to see them, and you'll probably not catch Jupiter and Mars, which are higher in the sky, until at least darkness starts to fall,' she said. Curran advised looking for Mercury and Saturn, which will be low on the western horizon, about 30 minutes after sunset, with the aid of binoculars. 'The planets will be in the southern half of the sky,' said Emily Elizondo, a doctoral student of physics and astrophysics at Michigan State, in a statement. 'Toward the southwest is where Saturn and Mercury are going to be, and then toward the southeast is where Mars and Jupiter will be, and then Neptune, Venus and Uranus will be in between. There are apps that use motion-sensing technology, so you can type in the planet's name, and it'll show you where that planet is in the sky.' Not sure where to look? When in doubt, look for Venus. It will be at its brightest, but the planet will be low in the western sky and dropping closer to the horizon each night before it disappears from the night sky by mid-March, said EarthSky contributor John Goss. Venus will reappear in the morning sky in April, according to NASA. Unlike stars, which appear to twinkle, Venus will remain a steady bright light high above in the sky. When evening twilight ends at 6:58 p.m. ET Friday, the Cheshire moon will appear, according to the space agency. Around this time of year, the celestial object has earned this name because the thin sliver of the waxing crescent moon resembles the grin of the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' Hawaiian mythology also refers to this phase as the wet moon because it resembles a bowl that could contain liquid, according to NASA. The crescent moon will briefly appear just above the western horizon and set about two minutes later. Mercury, which will continue to climb higher into the sky after sunset in the coming days, will be a few degrees above the moon. Venus will be above both Mercury and the moon, according to EarthSky. The crescent moon, Venus and Mercury will continue to appear in a line through Sunday, according to EarthSky. 'Let bright Venus be your guide, it's going to show up first because it's higher in the sky, it's obviously brighter,' Curran said. 'So once you find Venus, below it towards the horizon look for a skinny little moon and Mercury.' Goss predicts that Jupiter will be high in the southern sky and remain visible for another couple of months, while Mars, high in the eastern sky, will be observable for another three to four months. If clouds or inclement weather obscure your view, the Virtual Telescope Project will share a live stream captured by its robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, located in Tuscany under dark skies. The reason all the planets seem aligned in the night sky is because of their orbits around the sun. 'All of our planets go around the sun in a flat disk,' Schmoll said. 'From our perspective on Earth, that disk looks like a curved line across the sky stretching from east to the west. As a result, all our planets will always be seen along this line. When we have multiple planets visible, that line can look quite spectacular.' Typically, the planets are spread along the plane they orbit around the sun, called the ecliptic, because of their separate motions. But in February, the planets are all on the same side of the sun from our perspective on Earth, causing them to appear together in the night sky. 'This February is special because instead of being spaced far apart, they happen to be found along just a part of the path, so they all show up in the sky at the same time,' said Seth Jacobson, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Science's department of Earth and environmental sciences at Michigan State University.
CNN
27-02-2025
- Science
- CNN
How to spot February's parade of 7 planets, according to astronomers
February ends with a treat for sky-gazers: a parade of seven planets across the night sky, including Mercury, Uranus and Neptune alongside typically bright planets such as Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. But glimpsing all seven won't be easy, astronomers say. While the seven planets will all be above the horizon just after sunset, Mercury and Saturn will be more difficult to spot Thursday and Friday evenings. 'Mercury and Saturn are particularly close to the sun and will be lost in the sun's glare, though Mercury will get higher and higher each day and easier to spot,' said Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in a statement.'To have a chance, you will need a clear view of the western horizon and maybe binoculars to spot them after the sun sets.' Venus and Jupiter will be easier to spot thanks to their brightness, and Mars will stand out with its telltale reddish-orange hue, Schmoll said. However, Neptune and Uranus are not typically visible to the naked eye and will likely require a telescope or binoculars to see, she said. Here's why there are suddenly so many planets visible in the night sky and how long you can look forward to seeing them. How to spot the seven planets Saturn and Mercury are going to be 'horizon huggers,' likely only visible in twilight or the illumination in the sky after the sun has dipped below the horizon, with Venus visible at the same time, said EarthSky editor Marcy Curran in a recent YouTube video. 'Uranus and Neptune, of course, are there, but you need optical aid to see them, and you'll probably not catch Jupiter and Mars, which are higher in the sky, until at least darkness starts to fall,' she said. Curran advised looking for Mercury and Saturn, which will be low on the western horizon, about 30 minutes after sunset, with the aid of binoculars. 'The planets will be in the southern half of the sky,' said Emily Elizondo, a doctoral student of physics and astrophysics at Michigan State, in a statement. 'Toward the southwest is where Saturn and Mercury are going to be, and then toward the southeast is where Mars and Jupiter will be, and then Neptune, Venus and Uranus will be in between. There are apps that use motion-sensing technology, so you can type in the planet's name, and it'll show you where that planet is in the sky.' Let Venus help Not sure where to look? When in doubt, look for Venus. It will be at its brightest, but the planet will be low in the western sky and dropping closer to the horizon each night before it disappears from the night sky by mid-March, said EarthSky contributor John Goss. Venus will reappear in the morning sky in April, according to NASA. Unlike stars, which appear to twinkle, Venus will remain a steady bright light high above in the sky. When evening twilight ends at 6:58 p.m. ET Friday, the Cheshire moon will appear, according to the space agency. Around this time of year, the celestial object has earned this name because the thin sliver of the waxing crescent moon resembles the grin of the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' Hawaiian mythology also refers to this phase as the wet moon because it resembles a bowl that could contain liquid, according to NASA. The crescent moon will briefly appear just above the western horizon and set about two minutes later. Mercury, which will continue to climb higher into the sky after sunset in the coming days, will be a few degrees above the moon. Venus will be above both Mercury and the moon, according to EarthSky. The crescent moon, Venus and Mercury will continue to appear in a line through Sunday, according to EarthSky. 'Let bright Venus be your guide, it's going to show up first because it's higher in the sky, it's obviously brighter,' Curran said. 'So once you find Venus, below it towards the horizon look for a skinny little moon and Mercury.' Goss predicts that Jupiter will be high in the southern sky and remain visible for another couple of months, while Mars, high in the eastern sky, will be observable for another three to four months. If clouds or inclement weather obscure your view, the Virtual Telescope Project will share a live stream captured by its robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, located in Tuscany under dark skies. A string of planets The reason all the planets seem aligned in the night sky is because of their orbits around the sun. 'All of our planets go around the sun in a flat disk,' Schmoll said. 'From our perspective on Earth, that disk looks like a curved line across the sky stretching from east to the west. As a result, all our planets will always be seen along this line. When we have multiple planets visible, that line can look quite spectacular.' Typically, the planets are spread along the plane they orbit around the sun, called the ecliptic, because of their separate motions. But in February, the planets are all on the same side of the sun from our perspective on Earth, causing them to appear together in the night sky. 'This February is special because instead of being spaced far apart, they happen to be found along just a part of the path, so they all show up in the sky at the same time,' said Seth Jacobson, an assistant professor in the College of Natural Science's department of Earth and environmental sciences at Michigan State University.
