Jul 14, 2024 | Focal Plane
Every year, the Naperville Astronomical Association hosts Family Night during one of our fundamentals in the summer. This year’s Family Night will be held on Tuesday, July 16th! What can you expect during our Family Fun(damentals) Night? We will have hands-on...
Jul 14, 2024 | Focal Plane
Space Elevators appear in many science fiction novels, but they may not be as much fiction as faster than light warp or hyperdrive. Space elevators may become science fact. The cost to move objects into space is the main obstacle, and why we currently are striving for...
Jun 17, 2024 | Focal Plane
Scientists are using several methods to determine the nature of dark matter, indirect searches, laboratory experiments, and direct searches. Indirect and direct detection search for dark matter particles. Laboratory experiments use colliders to generate dark matter...
May 27, 2024 | Focal Plane
The earliest record of an eclipse in human history may have been from around 3,340 B.C.E. The consistent record of eclipses over the years has allowed astronomers to study Earth’s past. Scribes in Anyang, China, recorded eclipses on animal bones and tortoise shells as...
Mar 29, 2024 | Focal Plane
Celestial events have long been associated as harbingers of doom. In the past, comet sightings were associated with change or seen as a bad omen. Today, we know that comets are left over from the formation of our solar system. Short period comets that have orbits less...
Mar 28, 2024 | Focal Plane
The Universe continues to expand, defying Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which would have gravity slowing the cosmic expansion. Since 1998, observations have confirmed that expansion is speeding up. Cosmic expansion is believed to be caused by Dark Energy. Currently...
