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Tag Space & astronomy

Clocking the mosh pit of interstellar space

October 5, 2011

The space between the stars in the Milky Way and all other galaxies is full of dust and gas, the raw materials from which stars and planets are made. Read More

Astronomy technique could help assess deadly melanomas

April 26, 2011

As a young graduate student with a passion for surfing, Andy Sheinis soaked up a lot of California sun. Read More

Dec. 21 total lunar eclipse and UW Space Place eclipse party planned

December 17, 2010

Clear skies permitting, an extraordinary lunar eclipse will be visible from Wisconsin in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 21. Read More

Curiosities: Why is Pluto not considered a planet?

November 15, 2010

Until 2006, astronomers had not carefully defined “planet,” says James Lattis, director of the UW Space Place. Asteroids were not considered planets because… Read More

Curiosities: Why do stars appear to twinkle in the night sky?

November 1, 2010

Courtesy European Space Agency (ESA/Hubble). Stars twinkle because we view them through our atmosphere, says James Lattis, director of University of Wisconsin–Madison… Read More

Curiosities: Why do some planets have rings?

October 18, 2010

Saturn imaged by the Cassini Orbiter. Image: courtesy Jet Propulsion Lab Planetary ring systems are complicated, notes UW Space Place… Read More

Recent sightings: Nighttime fireball

April 15, 2010

Moments before bursting in a dazzling fireball over southwestern Wisconsin, a likely meteor appears as a bright dot in the Wednesday night sky. This… Read More

Stellar mosh pit, complete with crashing stars, resolves a mystery

December 23, 2009

For almost 50 years, astronomers have puzzled over the youthful appearance of stars known as blue stragglers. Read More

Satellite anniversary marks 50 years of studying climate from space

October 13, 2009

On Oct. 13, 1959, University of Wisconsin–Madison professors Verner Suomi and Robert Parent crouched in a bunker at Cape Canaveral, sweating through the countdown for the Juno II rocket perched on its launching pad 150 yards away. Read More

Scientists hope to mimic nature’s dynamos

October 9, 2009

In the cosmos, all celestial objects - planets, stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies - have magnetic fields. On Earth, the magnetic field of our home planet is most easily observed in a compass where the needle points north. Read More

Historic Washburn Observatory prepares to reopen

September 3, 2009

The Washburn Observatory, the University of Wisconsin–Madison's gate to the heavens, will open later this month following a careful two-year renovation that preserved its hilltop charm and historic significance. Read More

Slide show: Starry Night

August 24, 2009

Curiosities: How big is space?

August 17, 2009

Space is probably infinite, but we can see only the part that contains stars or galaxies whose light has been able to reach us, says… Read More

Curiosities: How many galaxies have humans discovered?

August 3, 2009

“We don’t know,” says Ed Churchwell, professor of astronomy. “We know it’s a very large number.” It’s in the hundreds of billions, Churchwell… Read More

From Earth to the universe to Capitol Square

June 24, 2009

On Saturday, June 27, wonders from the far reaches of the universe will be brought down to Earth on the Capitol Square. Read More

‘Planet Trek’ offers chance to walk or bike scale model of solar system

June 19, 2009

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Space Place and the Monona Terrace invite the public to Planet Trek Fest at Monona Terrace on Saturday, June 20. Read More

‘Galileo Under Wisconsin Skies’ to celebrate astronomy at UW–Madison

June 8, 2009

"Galileo Under Wisconsin Skies," a series of special events presented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Astronomy July 19-22, will commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope, the International Year of Astronomy and the renovation of Washburn Observatory at UW–Madison. Read More

Planet Trek offers chance to bike or walk through scaled-down solar system

May 1, 2009

Dane County residents have a new way to appreciate the solar system, thanks to Planet Trek Dane County, which offers pedestrians and bikers a chance to discover the 11 biggest objects in the solar system at the correct scale of size and distance. Read More

Space Place, MMSD plan celebration of 100 Hours of Astronomy

March 31, 2009

Few areas of science enchant us as much as astronomy. We view the stars each night; we make connections between astronomy and many other scientific fields. Rarely, though, do we get a chance to explore the heavens through organized events. Read More

Arthur D. Code, pioneering space astronomer, dies

March 16, 2009

Arthur D. Code, whose lifelong love of the stars and the night sky led to a meteoric career in astrophysics, died in Madison, Wis., on March 11 after a long illness. He was 85. Read More