Space Encounters

Extra close, extra big full Moon rising this Saturday. Higher tides, possible increased quake activity. Photo Opportunity - Enjoy.

Eclipse of the Moon - Rare Solstice Eclipse. Early hours 20/21 Dec. Just before sunrise in UK. As sun rises, moon reddens... Good luck.

See Jupiter at its best tonight. Earth and Jupiter will not be this close together again for many years.. very close to Moon in sky.

Next the few nights Jupiter is close to the Moon in sky. Also Jupiter at closest to Earth in decades... Best mid to late evening. Enjoy

Days without sunspots - 2009 (71%), 2010 (17% so far). Things may be finally improving. A longterm quiet sun can be bad news on Earth..

Apparently the Earth has had the warmest June on record. This is a global average, Some places up to 5C warmer, others some 3C cooler.

20 July 1969 - the day Neil Armstrong stepped on the Moon... 41 yrs ago and pretty much all for nothing - Pity.

Interested in satellites, or just seen a faint star-like dot of light slowly cross the night sky? Check here http://www.heavens-above.com

If you live in high northern latitudes. Regardless of the bright nights keep a look out for Aurora (northern lights) more are due.

As of today (1 July 10) 1138 asteroids threaten to impact out planet - sizes from 10m to kilometers across. None are immediate dangers...

Spread all the water on Earth evenly across its surface it would be a layer 3km deep - do same with Venus water & layer would be 3cm deep,

We are getting really close to discovering the first Earth-like planet orbiting another star thanks to new instruments..

In the UK & Ireland the long range weather forecast is for another 3 months of this excellent weather...

At 11:28 GMT the Summer Solstice occurs. Yes folks, This is the longest day of the year. From tomorrow onward.. Here comes Winter! :-(

1st solar Sail space craft is departing for Venus. Propelled only by sunlight - which pushes the craft through space.. slowly gaining speed

The gas clouds that fill the voids between the stars have been found to be full of important, pre-life chemicals. Some very complex too.

Look to the skies about 30-60 mins after sunset. Do you see bright silver or electric-blue whispy clouds? Noctilucent clouds - June & July

As of this moments there are 1133 officially recognised potentially Earth threatening asteroids in the solar system - from 10m to 10km wide

The Hubble Space Telescope has examined planet Jupiter after apparent 3 June impact - it found no debris, just undisturbed clouds - strange!

Guess what - there are NO sunspots on the sun today.. Is the minimum continuing? If so will it result in an extremely cold 2010-11 winter?