STARSHIP LAUNCH TODAY: SpaceX is targeting Friday, May 22nd, for the launch of its newest Starship design after a scrubbed attempt on Thursday, May 21st. The 90-minute launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. CDT. Built for missions to the Moon and Mars, Starship V3 is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever assembled. So, no matter how you feel about SpaceX, this launch is worth watching. Tune into the live stream ~30 minutes before liftoff. Free: Space Weather Newsletter.
VENUS AND JUPITER ARE CONVERGING: Earlier this week, sky watchers around the world witnessed a beautiful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon in the sunset sky. Marek Nikodem photographed the trio from Szubin, Poland:
"My girlfriend posed beneath the planets for this shot," he says. "The view was magnificent!"
Anyone who observed the scene for a few nights in a row may have noticed something: Venus and Jupiter are converging--so quickly you can see the difference from night to night. At closest approach on June 8-9, they will be only 1.6 degree apart, similar to the great Venus-Jupiter conjunction of June 3, 2002: photo gallery.
Don't wait until next month. The convergence is already beautiful. Starting on May 24th they will fit inside a single constellation (Gemini) and, soon, Mercury will join them as well. Go outside at sunset and enjoy the show! Sky maps: May 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
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ALWAYS AND FOREVER RUBY SPACE PENDANT: Are you looking for a far out gift? Consider the Always and Forever Ruby Space Pendent. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $219.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this sterling silver pendant has a heart-shaped ruby crystal in the middle surrouunded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking necklace perfect for anniversaries and romantic birthdays.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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