vania-janet/multiturn-rag-retrieval-data huggingface dataset:
Skywatching - NASA Science
> More about the Moon's phasesMeteor showers – Meteors are tiny bits of rock and dust shed by comets and asteroids in debris trails as they orbit our Sun. Every year, at about the same time, our planet passes through the same debris trails, causing the annual named meteor showers. Some of the best known showers, like the Perseids and Geminids, and can wow spectators with dozens of meteors per hour at their peak. Other showers are more tame, and you may only observe a few shooting stars in a couple of hours of staring up at the sky. Showers can be variable from year to year, and the phase of the Moon has a large impact, with a brighter Moon washing out most of the fainter meteors.> More about meteors and meteor showersEclipses – There are two main types of eclipses: solar and lunar. Solar eclipses are observed in the daytime when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, and covers the Sun from our point of view, either partially or totally. Lunar eclipses are observable when the Moon is above the horizon and Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, causing our planet's shadow to fall across the Moon's surface. Lunar eclipses can also be partial, where only part of the Moon falls into shadow, or total. Importantly, solar eclipses should never be viewed with unprotected eyes, while lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.> More about solar eclipses> More about lunar eclipsesComets – Dusty, icy comets hail from the cold depths of the outer solar system, far from the warmth of our Sun. Some, like Comet Halley, are on relatively short orbits of decades to a couple hundred years. Others have orbits that take many thousands of years to circle the Sun. Comets are special, occasional visitors, that don't stick around. They start out faint and distant, requiring a telescope to be seen. But as they come closer to the Sun, they can brighten and form a fuzzy head, called a coma. The most spectacular comets also form long, streamer-like tails.Galaxies – Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, appears as a band of faint light across the night sky in dark locations away from bright city lights.
Skywatching - NASA Science
MaterialsRoboticsScience InstrumentsComputingThe Universe ExoplanetsThe Search for Life in the UniverseStarsGalaxiesBlack HolesThe Big BangDark Matter &amp; Dark EnergyThe Solar System The SunMercuryVenusEarthThe MoonMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePluto &amp; Dwarf PlanetsAsteroids, Comets &amp; MeteorsThe Kuiper BeltThe Oort CloudSkywatchingEspañol CienciaAeronáuticaCiencias TerrestresSistema SolarUniversoScience All NASA ScienceEarth SciencePlanetary ScienceAstrophysics & Space ScienceThe Sun & HeliophysicsBiological & Physical SciencesLunar ScienceCitizen ScienceAstromaterialsAeronautics ResearchHuman Space Travel ResearchExploreSearchSubmitNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+Skywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQExplore This SectionSkywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQSkywatchingDeepening your personal connection to the amazing places NASA explores.ContentsWhat to Look for in the SkyNASA's Eyes: Telescope ModeTools for SkywatchingNASA's Role in SkywatchingSkywatching FAQPeople have always watched the skies. We know that early civilizations tracked the movements of the Sun, Moon, planets, and other objects because they recorded their observations with words and art. Even with our busy modern lives, the night sky is still a wonderful resource. Skywatching is an activity that allows anyone to make a connection with the larger world beyond our planet's atmosphere, just by looking up. Observing the slow, continuous movement of the stars above from night to night, and month to month, is a powerful way to experience the cycle of the seasons, as the same stars and constellations reappear each year at the same time. Meanwhile, the five bright planets visible to the unaided eye – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn – are constantly on the move. Sometimes they appear in the morning, before dawn, and at other times they are visible in the evening sky following sunset.
Skywatching FAQ
If you don't have easy access to a safe place for the family to stargaze, most local astronomy clubs host public viewing nights, where children can enjoy telescope views of the sky's wonders.You can also look for astronomy clubs and events in your areas with NASA's Night Sky Network.NASA's Space Place also offers skywatching resources for kids, including these articles:> What are Constellations?> What is a Solar Eclipse?> What is a Meteor Shower?Where do you find the photos and videos featured in the What's Up videos?The photos and video clips featured in What's Up come from a variety of sources. Many are sourced from online photo-sharing communities under Creative Commons licenses. For those that are copyrighted, we request permission directly from the content creators. Some media are night sky images taken by members of our team at NASA as part of their own astrophotography hobbies. We use a variety of other sources as well, such as Wikimedia Commons and the National Park Service. If you'd like to use photos from What's Up or this NASA website, take note of the image credit. Creative Commons licenses are listed at the end of each What's Up video. If a Creative Commons license is not indicated, it's best to assume the image is copyrighted and you would need to contact the owner of that media to ask for permission. For questions, please contact us.Why do you mostly focus on skywatching in the Northern Hemisphere? Why don't you provide more info for the Southern Hemisphere? Being the U.S. space agency, our primary audience is the American public, whose tax dollars fund NASA's work. Thus we tend to focus on skywatching topics that can be observed from there. However, NASA has a global reach, and we do try to note relevant facts for skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere when it's practical to do so. In our videos, sometimes the choice not to include Southern Hemisphere tips is just a matter of keeping them close to our standard runtime.
Skywatching - NASA Science
Just noticing this monthly cycle connects you to the orbit of another world around our own home planet.NASA / Bill DunfordGet involvedWhat's Up May 2024See Mars, Saturn, and Mercury in the May morning sky. Antares slips behind the Moon for East Coast U.S. skywatchers. And the eta Aquariid meteors peak May 6th.Learn MoreSkywatching ActivityHow to Make a Pinhole CameraYou don't need fancy glasses or equipment to enjoy one of the sky's most awesome shows: a solar eclipse. With a few simple supplies, you can make a pinhole camera that lets you watch a solar eclipse safely and easily from anywhere.Learn MoreA pinhole projector is an object with a small hole in it. It projects the image of the Sun onto the ground. In this picture, the Sun is the circle of light in the middle of the shadow on the ground.NASA JPLSkywatching Resources from NASANight Sky NetworkFind astronomy clubs & events in your area.Read MoreEclipsesGet all the details on how to be ready for the next solar eclipse.Read More'What's Up?' This month's skywatching highlightsWhat can you see in the sky this month? Stay up to date with NASA's monthly video series.Read MoreSkywatching Tips and GuidesArticle3 min readMay’s Night Sky Notes: Stargazing for BeginnersImage Article min readAn Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower ‘Triple Play’3 min readWhat is the North Star and How Do You Find It?Article3 years ago2 min readWhat Are Asterisms?Article3 years ago5 min readHow to Partner with Your Local Astronomy ClubArticle5 years agoDaily Skywatching GuideA list of events, including the phases of the Moon, close pairings of planets in the sky, and upcoming meteor showers.Learn MoreNASA Skywatching BlogsWatch the SkiesGet timely updates on meteor showers and other night sky wonders from the Meteor Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.Full Moon BlogA monthly guide to all things lunar, plus daily astronomy highlights.
Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact
Bright surfaces reflect radiation and cool the climate, whereas darker surfaces absorb radiation and produce a warming effect. White sheets of sea ice, for example, reflect a great deal of radiation, whereas darker surfaces, such as the ocean, tend to absorb solar radiation and have a net warming effect.
Aerosols, particularly black carbon, can alter reflectivity by depositing a layer of dark residue on ice and other bright surfaces. In the Arctic especially, aerosols from wildfires and industrial pollution are likely hastening the melting of ice.

Dark aerosols dramatically change the reflectivity of the Earth’s surface when they land on snow. Black ash covered the summit of New Zealand’s Mount Ruapehu after an eruption in 2007, but was soon covered by fresh snow. Long-term accumulation of black carbon aerosols in the Arctic and Himalaya is leading to increased melting of snow. (Photograph ©2007, New Zealand GeoNet.)

Scientists believe the cooling from sulfates and other reflective aerosols overwhelms the warming effect of black carbon and other absorbing aerosols over the planet. Models estimate that aerosols have had a cooling effect that has counteracted about half of the warming caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases since the 1880s. However, unlike many greenhouse gases, aerosols are not distributed evenly around the planet, so their impacts are most strongly felt on a regional scale.
Despite considerable advances in recent decades, estimating the direct climate impacts of aerosols remains an immature science. Of the 25 climate models considered by the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), only a handful considered the direct effects of aerosol types other than sulfates.

Aerosols and Clouds (Indirect Effects)
Whereas aerosols can influence climate by scattering light and changing Earth’s reflectivity, they can also alter the climate via clouds. On a global scale, these aerosol “indirect effects” typically work in opposition to greenhouse gases and cause cooling. While greenhouse gases disperse widely and have a fairly consistent impact from region to region, aerosol effects are less consistent, partly because of how the particles affect clouds.
Most elementary school students learn that clouds form when enough water vapor condenses.
Skywatching | Tips & Guides - NASA Science
Article1 month agoInfiniscope and Eclipse Soundscapes Collaboration Reaches 1,766 Middle School Students3 min readArizona State University’s (ASU) Center for Education Through Exploration, in collaboration with Eclipse Soundscapes, a NASA Citizen Science initiative based at Advanced Research in Inclusion & STEAM Accessibility (ARISA) Lab, came together to empower a cohort of enthusiastic science educators…Article1 month agoNASA’s LRO Observes 2024 Solar Eclipse Shadow2 min readEditor’s Note, April 16, 2024: This story has been updated to remove an unclear secondary image and caption. As the Moon blotted out the Sun to viewers across the United States during the April 8 solar eclipse, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance…Article1 month agoCitizen Science Resources2 min readWe continue Citizen Science Month with these ongoing NASA projects! Remember: everybody can participate in science – not just professional scientists. Although it is referred to as citizen science, people from around the globe can participate. In fact, many valuable…Article1 month agoThe April 8 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA5 min readOn April 8, 2024, the Moon’s shadow swept across North America, treating millions to a breathtaking view of a total solar eclipse. As the Moon passed in front of the Sun, it revealed the Sun’s wispy white outer atmosphere —…Article1 month agoPrevious12345…24NextKeep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASASunPlanetsAsteroids, Comets & MeteorsKuiper BeltReturn to topThe National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.About NASA's MissionJoin UsHomeNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+MissionsHumans in SpaceEarth & ClimateThe Solar SystemThe UniverseScienceAeronauticsTechnologyLearning ResourcesAbout NASANASA en EspañolFollow NASAMore NASA Social AccountsNASA NewslettersSitemapFor MediaPrivacy PolicyFOIANo FEAR ActOffice of the IGBudget & Annual ReportsAgency Financial ReportsContact NASAAccessibilityPage Last Updated:5 months agoPage Editor:SMD Content EditorsResponsible NASA Official for Science:Dana Bolles
Skywatching | Tips & Guides - NASA Science
MaterialsRoboticsScience InstrumentsComputingThe Universe ExoplanetsThe Search for Life in the UniverseStarsGalaxiesBlack HolesThe Big BangDark Matter &amp; Dark EnergyThe Solar System The SunMercuryVenusEarthThe MoonMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePluto &amp; Dwarf PlanetsAsteroids, Comets &amp; MeteorsThe Kuiper BeltThe Oort CloudSkywatchingEspañol CienciaAeronáuticaCiencias TerrestresSistema SolarUniversoScience All NASA ScienceEarth SciencePlanetary ScienceAstrophysics & Space ScienceThe Sun & HeliophysicsBiological & Physical SciencesLunar ScienceCitizen ScienceAstromaterialsAeronautics ResearchHuman Space Travel ResearchExploreSearchSubmitNews & EventsMultimediaNASA+…SkywatchingTips &...Skywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQExplore This SectionSkywatching HomeEclipsesWhat’s UpDaily GuideNight Sky NetworkTips and GuidesFAQTips & GuidesDaily GuideHow to Photograph the MoonCapturing the Moon with a camera is one of the most satisfying – and challenging – projects available to an outdoor photographer. Here are some suggestions for making the most of a moonlit night with your camera.Learn MoreAn aircraft taking off from Ronald Reagan National Airport is seen passing in front of the Moon as it rises, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Washington. Today's full Moon is the first of three consecutive supermoons. The two will occur on Jan. 1 and Jan. 31, 2018.
Skywatching - NASA Science
And with missions that explore the Sun and its family of planets and other small worlds, we actually take you there.While stargazing and marveling at the beauty of the night sky is an ancient activity, it's only in the past few centuries that humans have had an opportunity to understand what they are looking at in the heavens above. And since its founding in 1958, NASA has endeavored to contribute to that shared understanding of our planet's place in the universe, through our scientific exploration. For example, today we know Mars not just as a wandering, reddish point of light, but as a living world with a complex history, thanks in part to the many spacecraft NASA has sent to explore the Red Planet. We now know that most stars in the sky have systems of planets, with thousands of these exoplanets being added to the known worlds, in part thanks to NASA's exoplanet research. And with NASA's space telescopes, scientists have peered into the hearts of distant nebulas to reveal the stellar nurseries where baby stars are born.NASA's skywatching resources are shared in that same spirit of exploration. We recognize that there's an explorer in each of us, and we want you to remember that the wonders of space are not something separate from our everyday lives – the universe is right above our heads, and beneath our feet. Through our skywatching resources, we hope to help you feel more connected to the astounding wonders that we're exploring in the larger world beyond Earth. And we hope that gazing at the stars above leads you to a more personal connection with our scientific quest to understand our place in the cosmos.Skywatching FAQQ: What is skywatching?Skywatching refers to observing the ever-changing variety of sights in the sky, at night in particular, but also in the day. Skywatching can be as casual as enjoying a couple of minutes of stargazing, and as serious as using a telescope to take images of deep sky objects. When you notice the changing position and phases of the Moon over a few days, or you search for Jupiter or Venus in the twilight sky, or you notice a constellation like Orion is visible for the first time in a few months, you're skywatching.
Collection - Earth at Night
The aurora australis fluttered north and south of the Antarctic Circle on several nights in July.
Published Jul 25, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Atmosphere
Land
Snow and Ice
Remote Sensing

Image

Tracking Night Lights in Ukraine
The data are useful for researchers and relief agencies because they provide estimates of where and how many people have lost access to basic services.
Published Jun 29, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Land
Unique Imagery
Human Presence
Remote Sensing

Image

Winnipeg at Night
Situated at the confluence of three rivers and a railroad hub in Manitoba, the city stands out from the fertile farmland of the region.
Published Jun 5, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Human Presence

Image

West Virginia’s Dark, Starry Parks
Located in the highlands of the Allegheny Mountains, three new "dark sky parks" are far from the glow of major cities.
Published Jun 6, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Land
Human Presence
Remote Sensing

Image

Wildfires Scorch Northern New Mexico
Strong, gusty winds and an exceedingly dry landscape fueled an early and severe outbreak of fire.
Published Apr 25, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Atmosphere
Heat
Land
Drought
Fires
Human Presence
Remote Sensing

Image

Bathed in a Sea of Artificial Light
A new global atlas extends measurements of nighttime lights to the sea, revealing marine ecosystems affected by light pollution.
Published Mar 2, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Water
Human Presence
Remote Sensing

Image

Brilliant Borealis
A blast of high-speed solar wind provoked dancing auroras in early February.
Published Feb 8, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Atmosphere
Remote Sensing

Image

A Wolf Awakens at Night
Incandescent lava erupts from a volcano in the Galápagos Islands.
Published Jan 7, 2022
 

Image of the Day
Atmosphere
Land
Volcanoes
Remote Sensing

Image

Seeing Suomi
Reindeer, indigenous people, and modern meteorology converge in a winter scene from Nordic Europe.
Skywatching - NASA Science
Stay up to date with NASA's monthly video series.Read MoreSkywatching Tips and GuidesArticle3 min readMay’s Night Sky Notes: Stargazing for BeginnersImage Article min readAn Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower ‘Triple Play’3 min readWhat is the North Star and How Do You Find It?Article3 years ago2 min readWhat Are Asterisms?Article3 years ago5 min readHow to Partner with Your Local Astronomy ClubArticle5 years agoDaily Skywatching GuideA list of events, including the phases of the Moon, close pairings of planets in the sky, and upcoming meteor showers.Learn MoreNASA Skywatching BlogsWatch the SkiesGet timely updates on meteor showers and other night sky wonders from the Meteor Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.Full Moon BlogA monthly guide to all things lunar, plus daily astronomy highlights. Spot the StationFind out when and where you can see the International Space Station pass overhead from several thousand worldwide locationsVisit siteWhat to Look for in the SkyThere is so much variety in the sights you can enjoy when skywatching. Many are easily observable with the unaided eye, though a pair of binoculars or a small telescope open up even more possibilities. And because what's up in the sky changes from month to month, there's always something special to experience at any time of year. Here are a few of the most common skywatching sights to check out. Planets – Five planets in our solar system are easily observed without a telescope: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Uranus is just barely visible for those with excellent eyesight under dark-sky conditions, provided you know where to look. The planets appear to move across the sky, against the background of the much more distant stars. Planets appear as bright or brighter than most stars, and unlike stars, they tend to glow with a steady light, where stars often flicker.Stars – Most of the brightest stars are relatively nearby in space – that is, within a few hundred light years of the solar system. While there are a couple hundred billion stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, we only see a few thousand of the nearer ones when we look into the night sky with our eyes.
STEREO
atmosphere and create the bright aurora. If viewed from high above 
Earth, these regions appear as ovals. Images taken by astronauts in the
space shuttles show the depth of aurora. Other impacts from space
weather include short-circuiting power grids that cause blackouts,
disrupting communications, damaging satellites, and endangering
astronauts with radiation.

     

     

Aurora
Aurora appear from Earth as shimmering, dancing lights in the night 
sky. Only 100 years ago did scientists discover that the Sun was ultimately the 
cause of these mysterious lights. Although green is the most common 
color, red and yellow hues are also observed. The most powerful 
displays occur when large clouds of particles from CMEs slam into our 
magnetosphere, but the constant outpouring of solar particles (called 
the solar wind) can cause them as well.

     

     

Video Clips and Animations

Overview animation of solar storm and its impact on Earth
    

Extreme close-up of a sunspot in action, Swedish Solar Telescope large (QT, 3.9M), small (QT, 403k)
    

A particle blast close-up, EIT 304. large (QT, 2.2M), small (QT, 717k)

Flares and solar activity from late 2003 storms, EIT 195. large (QT, 10.4M), small (QT, 2.6M)
    

Close-up of a CME blasting off, EIT 195. large (QT, 1.9M), small (QT, 246k)
    

A busy week of solar activity, LASCO C2 large (QT, 7.2M), small (QT, 2.7M)

Weeks of solar activity from late 2003 storms, LASCO C3 large (QT, 7.7M), small (QT, 3.8M)
    

A light-bulb shaped CME, LASCO C3. large (QT, 1.6M), small (QT, 640k)
    

Solar streaming and CMEs from the Solarmax IMAX film. large (QT, 4.7M), small (QT, 821k)
Good Light, Good Night Activity [Activity - Big Astronomy] (English and Spanish) | Night Sky Network
in-list

 

Good Light, Good Night Activity [Activity - Big Astronomy] (English and Spanish) | Night Sky Network

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology

JPL HOME
EARTH
SOLAR SYSTEM
STARS & GALAXIES
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

BRING THE UNIVERSE TO YOU
facebook
twitter

Skip Navigation


 
 Astronomy clubs bringing the wonders of the universe to the public
 
 


 In partnership with theAstronomical Society of the Pacific
 

Log in to Night Sky Network

Username

Password

Forgot your password?

LOGIN

CLUBS & EVENTS

NIGHT SKY PLANNER

NEWS

OUTREACH RESOURCES

ABOUT THE NETWORK

Join the Network

FAQ

Guidelines & Privacy Policies

SITE SEARCH

FOLLOW US

Facebook

Twitter

Outreach Resources

Good Light, Good Night Activity [Activity - Big Astronomy] (English and Spanish)

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	Child, Teen, Adult
	

	
	Shielding lights improves our safety and visibility, along with improving our view of the night sky. Light pollution has health effects on animals, including people! This activity explores light pollution and its effects on our vision, and showcases how to use light wisely by using proper shielding to direct light to where it needs to be. Learning Goals1. Understand that well-directed light makes it easier to see, rather than using brighter light.2. Understand the impact of lighting on our ability to see the night sky.3. Notice lights around us and the effects of light on the environment.This resource is part of the Big Astronomy Toolkit.Last updated March 25, 2021 
	
	 

Download Good Light Good Night Activity
	
	
	(PDF, 1.19 MB)
	
	
Download Buena Luz, Buenas Noches - en español
	
	
	(PDF, 809 KB)
	
	
Globe at Night Citizen Science Activity
Use the Dark Sky Wheel to measure your sky brightness
Find more activities from the Big Astronomy Toolkit

Video
Shielding Demonstration

	Show how proper shielding of lights can not only allow you to see more stars, but make you safer too! 
	
	 

Find Activities & Resources

Choose Keyword
Asteroids
Astrobiology
Astronomy Club
Black Holes