Radiant - Blog Posts

What’s Up - June 2018

What’s Up For June?

Jupiter and Venus at sunset, Mars, Saturn and Vesta until dawn.

First up is Venus. It reaches its highest sunset altitude for the year this month and sets more than two hours after sunset.

You can't miss Jupiter, only a month after its opposition--when Earth was directly between Jupiter and the Sun.

The best time to observe Jupiter through a telescope is 10:30 p.m. at the beginning of the month and as soon as it's dark by the end of the month.  

Just aim your binoculars at the bright planet for a view including the four Galilean moons. Or just enjoy Jupiter with your unaided eye!

Saturn is at opposition June 27th, when it and the Sun are on opposite sides of Earth. It rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Great Saturn viewing will last several more months. The best views this month will be just after midnight.

All year, the rings have been tilted wide open--almost 26 degrees wide this month--giving us a great view of Saturn's distinctive rings.

The tilt offers us a view of the north polar region, so exquisitely imaged by the Cassini spacecraft.

Near Saturn, the brightest asteroid--Vesta--is so bright that it can be seen with your unaided eye. It will be visible for several months.

A detailed star chart will help you pick out the asteroid from the stars. The summer Milky way provides a glittery backdrop.

Finally, Mars grows dramatically in brightness and size this month and is visible by 10:30 p.m. by month end.

The best views are in the early morning hours. Earth's closest approach with Mars is only a month away. It's the closest Mars has been to us since 2003.

Watch the full What’s Up for June Video: 

There are so many sights to see in the sky. To stay informed, subscribe to our What’s Up video series on Facebook. Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.  

What's Up? - May 2018

What’s Up For May?

The Moon and Saturn meet Mars in the morning as our InSight spacecraft launches to the Red Planet on May 5!

You won't want to miss red Mars in the southern morning skies this month.

InSight, our first mission to explore Mars' deep interior, launches on May 5th with a launch window that begins at 4:05 a.m. PDT and lasts for two hours.

Some lucky viewers in central and southern California and even parts of the Mexican Pacific coast will get a chance to see the spacecraft launch with their unaided eyes AND its destination, Mars, at the same time.

Mars shines a little brighter than last month, as it approaches opposition on July 27th. That's when Mars and the Sun will be on opposite sides of the Earth. This will be Mars' closest approach to Earth since 2003! 

Compare the planet's increases in brightness with your own eyes between now and July 27th. 

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will be washed out by the Moon this month, but if you are awake for the InSight launch anyway, have a look. This shower is better viewed from the southern hemisphere, but medium rates of 10 to 30 meteors per hour MAY be seen before dawn.

Of course, you could travel to the South Pacific to see the shower at its best!

There's no sharp peak to this shower--just several nights with good rates, centered on May 6th. 

Jupiter reaches opposition on May 9th, heralding the best Jupiter-observing season, especially for mid-evening viewing. That's because the king of the planets rises at sunset and sets at dawn. 

Wait a few hours after sunset, when Jupiter is higher in the sky, for the best views. If you viewed Jupiter last month, expect the view to be even better this month!

Watch the full What’s Up for May Video: 

There are so many sights to see in the sky. To stay informed, subscribe to our What’s Up video series on Facebook. Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.   

Radiant

It is fear that makes people act the way they do.They're scared of what they don't understand.

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I'm nothing like you, so stop talking like I am!

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The outside world is not a forgiving place, so never start a fight without knowing what you're fighting for and don't forget purpose of your strength.

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Music is a wonderful thing. No matter a person language or culture. A good Melody can consume their heart.

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Know that to fear others for their differences, batrays the lack of strength.

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If you had any strength in you than you wouldn't be afraid of the truth.

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How is acting like the people who hurt you gonna fix anything?

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You can do what's right without chosing a side.

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It's never too late to make a change.

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Execute or be executed.

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There's more prejudice in this world than I can stand.

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I never wanted to believe in someone this badly. If you know that it's real,than keep running. Run till you find your way to radiant.

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As long as you have love you can do anything.

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Don't mourn my death, celebrate my life.

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There are times when if you wish to protect the place you have no choice but to leave it.

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I know that you feel like you have to keep charging forward, it's cause regrets catch up with you when you slow down.

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Nobody's born human. Takes work to become one, right?

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People always believe whatevers most convenient for them.

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Isn't that amusing. You people are quite ridiculous. When something confines you, rather than confess your ignorance about it, you come up with a random explanation.

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You're gonna have to struggle like everyone else does.We all have things we have to push through.

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There are many actions that man are prised for, but when a women behaves the same way she'll be labelled as impertinent.

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Maybe you'll become a knight, maybe you won't. Either way you've done something to be proud of.

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If I do nothing I'll regret it, so I'll think as I move and fight for what feels right.

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Do you think you sound noble as you repeat the lies you've been told?

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It's the fear that gives you power.

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Why can't you let us choose what to do for ourselves. We don't have any interest in becoming slaves. You think we're less than human? You're the real slave, and I'd break your chains if I could, but they're in your heart and your mind and you put them on! You can weigh us down with shackles or toss us into cages, but sooner or later we'll break free of you. And weather you accept us or not we are human.

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I love, my love.

Your beauty is a living frequency ✨