Current Astronomy News
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Peter Higgs
You might not have noticed it, but Peter Higgs passed away at the age of 94. If you don’t know who Peter Higgs is, you might remember the discovery of the Higgs Boson by the Large Hadron Collider back in 2012. The Higgs (the boson and not Peter), also known as the “god particle”, was…
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What is the JWST Looking At?
The folks at BBC Sky at Night Magazine just posted a short article pointing out that we can now find out what the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is looking at. Now, it will not give you the great images we see in the news (and below), but it will show you what astronomers are…
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Comet 12/P Pons-Brooks
The “Devil Comet” is approaching! It is susceptible to flare-ups, which give it a “horned” shape and the nickname “Devil Comet.” 12/P is currently in the constellation Pisces and near Andromeda. It will move over to Aries in late March, and pass on to Taurus just after mid-April. Look low in the horizon to the…
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April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse (and Eclipse Safety)
The last Solar Eclipse visible in the United States until August 2044 will cross the southern and eastern part of the country on Monday, April 8, 2024. Below is a handout with information about the eclipse and eclipse safety. You can also find information about eclipses, the April eclipse, and eclipse safety on our website.…
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Happy Pi Day 2024
Yes, it’s Pi Day! No not Pie Day – Pi Day. March 14, 3/14 or 3.14. Yes, Pi is the number 3.14… . It goes on forever. You can find the first million digits here: One Million Digits of Pi On One Page. Pi is defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its…
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Space Science: Introduction to Stars (Crash Course Kids)
The folks from Crash Course Kids have a great series of videos about the stars and constellations. Check it out!
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A Black Hole in Sagittarius
The folks at Astronomy Magazine published an article a short time ago reminding us that the black hole at the center of our galaxy (Sagittarius A*) was discovered 50 years ago this year. A Few Articles About Black Holes
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The Triad Starfest (*Tri*Star*)
The Greensboro Astronomy Club and GTCC will be hosting the 2024 edition of The Triad Starfest (*Tri*Star*) this Saturday, March 2. It will be held at the Koury Hospitality Careers Center on the campus of Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown N.C.
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A Quick Introduction to the Night Sky
One of the challenges for beginning astronomers is learning how to navigate the night sky. Before buying your first telescope, you should familiarize yourself with the stars and constellations. To start, try to become familiar with just a few constellations that are visible to the south over the course of a year. To the north…