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Collins Astronomy

What is a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse?

by Harper Collins

What is a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse?

This Saturday (14th October), an annular or ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse will be visible across North and South America. Solar eclipses occur as th...
Posted in astronomy, solar eclipse, space, sun

Three surprising findings about our mysterious cosmos

by Harper Collins

Three surprising findings about our mysterious cosmos

You are living through a monumental period of astronomical science. Just over four centuries ago, a handful of pioneering explorers first turned their telescopes – a novel invention at the time – toward the sky. On the grand scale of the human timeline, almost nothing separates us from them, but today our collective understanding of the Universe is developing at an astonishing pace. 
Posted in astronomy, Astronomy week, Space, stars, Tom Kerss

Eight incredible images from Webb’s first year

by Harper Collins

Eight incredible images from Webb’s first year

All image credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI On Christmas Day in 2021, astronomers around the world watched with bated breath as the James Webb Space T...
Posted in astronomy, Tom Kerss

Exploring Sun Mythology: From Ancient Egypt to the Aztec Empire

by Harper Collins

Exploring Sun Mythology: From Ancient Egypt to the Aztec Empire

Since the dawn of the modern human, mankind has recognised the importance of the Sun and its varying location on the daytime sky.
Posted in astronomy

The Sun we see, the Sun we don’t

by Harper Collins

The Sun we see, the Sun we don’t

The human eyes can only see a tiny fraction of the light around us. Light travels as a wave, covering the full spectrum of gamma rays, X-rays, ultr...
Posted in astronomy

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here…” – The Apollo 13 Mission

by Harper Collins

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here…” – The Apollo 13 Mission

This month marks the 53rd anniversary of the Apollo 13. Read on to learn all about this mission – what it set out to do, and what went wrong – in this extract from Night Sky Almanac 2023.
Posted in astronomy

The Mythology of the Northern Lights

by Harper Collins

The Mythology of the Northern Lights

If you have read the news over the past few days – or, if you’re lucky, if you have looked up at the northern horizon – you won’t have missed the breath-taking view of the aurora borealis. Over the past couple of days, moderately strong geomagnetic storms have made the northern lights visible as far south as Cornwall.
Posted in astronomy

What are the names of the full moons?

by Harper Collins

What are the names of the full moons?

Many different cultures had specific names for the Full Moon, depending on the time of the year. The interval between successive Full Moons is known as the synodic month and it is, on average, 29.53 days – so the names have come to be associated with modern calendar months.

These names have been passed down through the centuries, having been used by the various tribes in North America and dating back, in some cases, to the Anglo-Saxon lunar calendar. Read on to discover the names of each of these moons, their meanings, and their origins.

Posted in astronomy

Make this winter a season of astrophotography. How to start capturing the stars of Orion.

by Harper Collins

Make this winter a season of astrophotography. How to start capturing the stars of Orion.

Most people reel at the end of the daylight-saving period, as the clocks go back and the nights seem to suddenly draw in. It hardly even seems worth the extra hour in bed when the workday ends in darkness for the rest of the year. But for stargazers, the change represents opportunity. The earlier sunsets call to us, inviting us to seize the night and reacquaint ourselves with the unique splendour of the winter night sky.
Posted in astronomy, Photography

Standing in the shadow of the Moon: How to safely enjoy October’s Partial Solar Eclipse

by Harper Collins

Standing in the shadow of the Moon: How to safely enjoy October’s Partial Solar Eclipse

On 25th October, we’ll have the opportunity to see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena: The New Moon passing in front of the Sun to create a solar eclipse. 

Destination Future? The Solar System is waiting

by Harper Collins

Destination Future? The Solar System is waiting

In August this year, we passed the 45th anniversary of the launch of NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft – the sister of Voyager 1, which also launched in 1977. The Voyager probes, and particularly Voyager 2, were transformative to the way we view the Solar System.
Posted in Tom Kerss

The Sun: Fascinating facts about our incredible star

by Harper Collins

The Sun: Fascinating facts about our incredible star

We humans really love the Sun. The long history of sun-worship throughout cultures across the world is a testament to that. Yet the steady progress of science has provided us with a much deeper view of our neighbouring star, that seldom crosses the minds of most people.
Posted in Tom Kerss