Sky Watch: Star Clusters and a Meteor Shower

The last chance to see a few star clusters before they set is quickly approaching. Click here to read this week's Sky Watch.

Seeing (Sun) Spots

This is from the Associated Press:

"The peak of the next sunspot cycle is expected in late 2011 or mid-2012 -- potentially affecting airline flights, communications satellites and electrical transmissions....

During an active solar period, violent eruptions occur more often on the sun, the agency said. Solar flares and vast explosions, known as coronal mass ejections, shoot highly charged matter toward Earth."

To read more about it, click here.

Earth-like Planet Discovered

An Earth-like planet, possibly capable of sustaining life, has been discovered around the red dwarf star Gilese 581 C. The star is about 20.5 light years away from Earth. You can read more about it here.

NASA recently demonstrated a method of detecting Earth-like planets. You can find out more about that here.

Sky Watch: April 22 - 28

The planet Venus is increasing in brightness. Learn how to find this and other jewels in the sky by reading this week's Sky Watch in the Tulsa World.

Shuttle Launch Schedule

In what-we're-sending-into space news, NASA has updated the shuttle launch schedule. As of today, Atlantis is scheduled to launch no earlier than June 8.

Sky Watch: April 15 - 21

Stargazers are in for a treat this week: the Lyrid meteor shower. Read about this and find out what else you can see in the current night sky in The Tulsa World.

Sky Watch: April 8 - 14

With a pair of binoculars, you can spot a comet this week. Read about this and other amazing objects in the current night sky in The Tulsa World.

Sky Watch: April 1 - 7

Spot the International Space Station in the night sky this week. Read about this and other amazing objects in the current night sky in The Tulsa World.