The faint tail of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS pointing away from the setting sun is visible Sunday evening over Taylors Creek in Beaufort. NASA says the “dirty snowball’s” appearance is “a once-in-80,000-years sight.” The comet believed to be from the Oort Cloud at the edge of our Solar System was expected to swing close by at about 44 million miles from Earth — its closest pass — on Saturday. Discovered in 2023, it is named for both China’s Tsuchinshan, or Purple Mountain, Observatory and an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, telescope in South Africa. Photo: Mark Hibbs
astronomy
Northern Lights appear down South
Aurora borealis, the result of an intense solar geomagnetic storm reaching Earth, lights up the skies over Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head late Thursday evening. Photo: Catherine Kozak
Eclipse dims North Carolina coast … only slightly
The North Carolina coast, while far from the path of totality, was treated to a stellar event Monday, nonetheless. The sequence above shows the moon transiting between the sun and Earth from about 2:16 p.m. at the far left until maximum coverage at about 3:18 p.m., as viewed from the Morehead City area. Photo sequence: Mark Hibbs
‘Discover the Night’ during the Crystal Coast Star Party
Cape Lookout National Seashore, the Crystal Coast Stargazers, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center and Island Express Ferry Service to host the party with the theme “Discover the Night” Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4.
Hubble telescope exhibit gives hands-on experience
The immersive “Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe” exhibit will be in Cape Fear Museum of History and Science through June 23.
Crystal Coast, NC SciFest star parties set for April 21-22
Crystal Coast Stargazers, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center and Fort Macon State Park have teamed up to host the two star parties on Harkers Island.
Sea Grant, Space Grant offer research funding
The grant programs are now taking applications for research support, scholarships and fellowships.
Astronomy Days at Natural Sciences museum Jan. 28–29
“Humans in Space: Past, Present and Future,” will feature presentations from NASA astronaut and North Carolina native Christina Koch, astronomy experts, exhibits and activities.
Washing up for the holidays
A strong southeast wind, heavy rains and an especially high tide combine to create a pool reaching from the ocean to the showers on the west side of the Oceanana Fishing Pier Thursday in Atlantic Beach. While not a king tide, which are the highest high- and lowest low-tide events of the year and happen when the Earth, sun and moon are aligned while the moon is at its perigee, or closest point in its elliptical orbit to Earth, Dec. 26-25 is a period of higher- and lower-than-normal tides. The the lunar perigee is Dec. 24. Photo: Dylan Ray
Cape Lookout to host two astronomy nights this month
Two astronomy nights will take place Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 at Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Cape Fear Museum to host international moon viewing
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science is hosting a rain-or-shine event for International Observe the Moon Night Saturday.
Webb telescope the star of this month’s astronomy night
A NASA Solar System Ambassador will talk Saturday night at Cape Lookout National Seashore about about the James Webb Space Telescope.
Mars helicopter engineer to speak on National Aviation Day
Dr. J. “Bob” Balaram, originator of the concept that became NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, served as its chief engineer during its development, test and operations.
Webb telescope the star of Lookout’s July Astronomy Night
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest, most powerful, and complex space telescope ever built and launched into space.
Astronomy Night at Lookout to feature film screening
“Saving the Dark,” directed by Sriram Murali and created in association with the International Dark Sky Association, is to be presented at 8:30 p.m., before the Stargazers club moves outdoors.
Astronomy Night May 6 at Cape Lookout
Cape Lookout National Seashore’s monthly Astronomy Night is set for May 6.
