Tag: astronomy
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Featured constellations: Eridanus, Lepus and Monoceros
As we round out the year of constellations, we will focus on some of the fainter ones seen at this time of the year. As they are faint, one must travel to pristine dark skies — such as those in provincial parks — to see them well.
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Comparing the speeds of light and sound
Did you know that the speeds of sound and light can provide us with a lot of useful information?
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How to see better in the dark
We all crave the peace and quiet of a moment in the darkness, gazing up at the beauty of the night sky. But sometimes it’s hard to make out things in the pure darkness of provincial parks. Did you know you can actually improve your ability to see in the dark? Most people do not…
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Summer meteor showers
Is there anything more peaceful than lying on your back on a warm summer night, gazing up at the stars, and seeing a meteor fly past you? You can see this phenomenon for yourself this summer during the Perseid Meteor Shower on the nights of August 12-13.
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The lunar calendar on a turtle’s back
Many First Nations teachings, including those of the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee people, use the back of a turtle’s shell as a lunar calendar.
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Why do some sunsets appear red?
The answer has nothing to do with the sun, but everything to do with the sky and our atmosphere.
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The Goldilocks Zone
Did you know that the habitable zone of a solar system is the range of distance from sun that is “not too hot, not too cold, but just right” for life? It’s also known as the Goldilocks Zone!
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Does the darkness need our protection?
Today’s post comes from our Natural Heritage Education Coordinator Brad Steinberg. Not many researchers like being kept in the dark… …except, that is, for scotobiologists! Scotobiology is the science of darkness, a research topic that is growing in importance. Many birds, amphibians, insects and plants (and us!) have evolved to rely on uninterrupted periods of…