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Category Archives: Astronomy 101

One of my main goals is to try and share a bit of knowledge and understanding about the incredible universe. I have been steadily writing and posting various articles to explain and educate the masses (that’s you, dear reader!) a bit more about some of the science behind the hobby. An urban astronomer might never see most of the things we talk about here, but it’s still good to know about them.

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What is a Blood Moon?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 24 Mar, 2014 by Allen Versfeld15 Dec, 2021
Lunar eclipse, also known as a "Blood Moon"

A few days ago, I was asked on facebook to explain what a Blood Moon was.  I’d heard the term before, but never as an astronomical term so I went online and googled it.  It seems that they are supposed to be incredibly rare events, but that according to the “Blood Moon Prophecy”, there will be a tetrad of them of them in 2014.  This is considered to be a hugely significant thing, and is being used to sell a … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Astronomy 101, Questions and Answers | Leave a reply

What is the temperature of Space?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 19 Mar, 2014 by Allen Versfeld4 Jun, 2016

Dear Urban Astronomer So, my good friend and I were talking about the temperature in space. He thinks it must be hot in space, since there is no atmosphere to absorb sunlight. I disagreed. I think that the fact that there is no air in space, means there is nothing to heat up. That’s how temperature on earth works. So, surely it must be cold in space. Can you shed light (excuse the pun) on this debate? Can you answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Questions and Answers | Tagged Physics, Q&A | Leave a reply

How long is a year on Jupiter?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 22 Feb, 2014 by Allen Versfeld

The planet Jupiter takes 4331.6 earth days to orbit around the Sun. This means than one Jupiter year equals almost 11.9 Earth years. Because Jupiter rotates so rapidly around its axis, its year lasts 10,501 of its own days. Jupiter has such a long year because it is quite far from the Sun. Not only does this mean it has a longer path to travel on its orbit, but the Sun’s gravity is much weaker at that distance, requiring it … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Astronomy 101, Questions and Answers, Short Questions | Leave a reply

How long is a year on Mars?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 22 Feb, 2014 by Allen Versfeld5 Jul, 2016

The planet Mars takes 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun. This means that a martian year lasts 22.9 months, or almost two full Earth years. A martian day is only very slightly longer than an Earth day, so that Mars’ year is 670 martian days long. Mars’s year is longer than Earth’s because it is further from the Sun than Earth is, so that it feels the Sun’s gravity more weakly than the Earth does. This means that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Astronomy 101, Questions and Answers, Short Questions | Leave a reply

How long is a year on Venus?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 22 Feb, 2014 by Allen Versfeld

The planet Venus takes 224.7 Earth days to orbit the Sun. This means than a Venus year is a little more than seven months long. Interestingly, Venus’ day is slightly longer than its year, and the planet revolves around its axis backwards compared to all the other planets in the Solar System, so that Venus is very close to being tidally locked. In a few hundred million years, that process will complete as tidal forces gradually slow Venus’s rotation enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Astronomy 101, Questions and Answers, Short Questions | Leave a reply

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