Williamina Fleming, The Onetime Maid Who Became A Legendary Astronomer
Today in 1857, the birthday of Williamina Fleming, a big name in the world of astronomy but one who had a pretty low-profile start.
Happy New Year, Happy Same Galactic Year
Today marks the start of another Earth orbit around the sun, but there's also something called the galactic year, and that one just keeps going and going and going.
The Leonid Meteor Storm Of 1833 Was “The Night The Stars Fell”
Tonight in 1833, the beginning of a bright show in the evening sky, one that was so bright and so busy, some people started to freak out about it.
It’s Astronomy Week on Cool Weird Awesome
This week we’re replaying some of our favorite shows about planets and stars and galaxies and the people who have studied them.
The Sun Would Be Very Loud If You Could Hear In Space
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has revealed some new details about our solar system’s top star, including that it’s very loud (!)
It’s Planet Week on Cool Weird Awesome
This week we’re replaying some of our finest episodes about our neighbors in the solar system.
Uranus Was Originally Going To Be Named “George”
Today in 1781 astronomer William Herschel pointed his telescope toward Uranus. But long before the internet’s favorite planet got its very pun-filled name, an astronomer wanted to give it a much more chill one.
Hisako Koyama Tracked Sunspots For Almost Half A Century
International Astronomy Day is coming up this weekend, so we’re talking about Hisako Koyama, an astronomer who hand-drew tens of thousands of daily observations of the sun and its spots.
The Carrington Event, A Huge Magnetic Storm That Let Telegraph Operators Send Messages Through The Air
Today in 1859 the night sky was about as bright as it's ever been, thanks to a massive geomagnetic storm known today as the Carrington Event.
At Age 11, Venetia Burney Named Pluto
Today in 1918, the birthday of Venetia Burney, who at age eleven, did something few people have done: she named a planet!