Astronomy

Astronomy

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NASA | One man in Arizona works to defend Earth from catastrophic space rocks | 1440
NASA | One man in Arizona works to defend Earth from catastrophic space rocks | 1440

/View article by sharing to Brave Browser/ David Rankin, an observer and operations engineer at the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey, spends his days scanning for solar system objects that could collide with our planet. The job requires employees to work long shifts to help prevent asteroids from destroying our planet.

#astronomy#smithsonian
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NASA | One man in Arizona works to defend Earth from catastrophic space rocks | 1440
From a Remote Observatory, He's Defending Our Planet. Get a Glimpse Inside the Life of a Doomsday Asteroid Hunter
From a Remote Observatory, He's Defending Our Planet. Get a Glimpse Inside the Life of a Doomsday Asteroid Hunter
David Rankin of the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona spends nights scanning the solar system for potentially catastrophic space rocks. Here’s what he has to say about that “high consequence” work, an interstellar comet and living with uncertainty
·smithsonianmag.com·
From a Remote Observatory, He's Defending Our Planet. Get a Glimpse Inside the Life of a Doomsday Asteroid Hunter
9 night sky events to see in December, from a supermoon to a once-in-a-lifetime interstellar comet | National Geographic 2025 Dec 13-14
9 night sky events to see in December, from a supermoon to a once-in-a-lifetime interstellar comet | National Geographic 2025 Dec 13-14

Geminid meteor shower—December 13–14 Expect heaps of sky confetti during the Geminids’ peak from December 13–14. It’s historically one of the most prolific and reliable annual showers, producing anywhere from 60 to 120 meteors per hour during peak under pristine conditions. This year’s setup is exceptionally favorable.

The shower becomes visible around 10 p.m.; the peak night’s roughly 30-percent illuminated waning crescent moon won’t rise until around 2 a.m. That means, with clear, dark skies, astronomy enthusiasts can enjoy hours of uninterrupted meteor-scouting. Watch for the spectacle’s yellow-tinged streaks and especially bright flashes, known as fireballs, which can appear anywhere in the sky.

Orion rises above Haleakalā Crater in Hawai‘i, with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel marking the constellation’s shoulders and foot. BABAK TAFRESHI, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

#astronomy#meteor#natgeo
·nationalgeographic.com·
9 night sky events to see in December, from a supermoon to a once-in-a-lifetime interstellar comet | National Geographic 2025 Dec 13-14