Astronomers say the impending encounter between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy is not a sudden crash, but a prolonged, awe-inspiring transformation that will unfold across billions of years—reshaping the local universe and redefining our galaxy’s future. A Gravitational Attraction That Can’t Be Escaped Both the Milky Way and Andromeda are massive spiral galaxies…
Atmospheric turbulence and seeingAstronomical “seeing” describes how steady or distorted celestial objects appear when observed through a telescope. The main factor limiting seeing is turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere. When air layers of different temperatures mix, they bend (refract) incoming starlight unevenly. This causes stars to shimmer and fine details on planets to blur even when…
February’s full moon is more than just a bright presence in the night sky—it carries centuries of history, culture, and storytelling. Traditionally known as the Snow Moon, February’s full moon earned its name from the heavy snowfall that typically blankets much of the Northern Hemisphere during this time of year. The name reflects the deep…
1. Longer Nights:February is still part of winter in the Northern Hemisphere which means nights are relatively long compared to other months. The extended hours of darkness allow for more time to observe the stars, making it easier to see fainter stars and constellations that are otherwise harder to spot during shorter nights in summer….
