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NASA makes history with closest pass to the sun
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully made the closest approach to the sun, the space agency confirmed Friday. Earlier this week, the spacecraft passed within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the scorching star. NASA received an all-clear message from Parker on Thursday night confirming it survived the journey. LiveNOW from FOX host Carel Lajara spoke to Dr. Grant Mitchell, NASA Research Astrophysicist on the latest.
A rare Black Moon will rise at the end of the year, and it will give both professional and amateur astronomers a great opportunity to view some far-away celestial bodies.
A Black Moon is the term used to describe the second new Moon in the same calendar month, according to TimeAndDate.com. According to NASA, a new Moon is the lunar phase when the illuminated side of the Moon faces the Sun and the night side faces Earth.
The Black Moon, which is also sometimes called an invisible Moon, will rise on Dec. 30. The Moon will gradually become more visible as it heads to the first-quarter stage by Jan. 6.
During a new Moon, the dark side faces Earth because the Moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun. Another example would be during a solar eclipse when a new Moon crosses the face of the sun. During this process, the Moon's shadow is cast over the Earth.
As the bright parts of the Moon appear to change shape during the month, each stage of the change is called a phase, and each phase carries its own name. (Image: NASA/Bill Dunford)
New Moon nights are ideal for astronomers because of the lack of moonlight. It makes objects that are usually difficult to view become much clearer in the sky.