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It’s easy to recognize the moon as a silvery orb in the night sky that provides a soft light most evenings. So, have you ever thought about what time it is on the moon?
As many countries race to establish a human presence on the lunar surface, experts say it is time to establish a time scale for Earth’s natural satellite. Otherwise things can get confusing.
Decades ago, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity changed the way we understand time, and time even passes differently depending on where the clock sits on Earth. The lunar time scale will be even more difficult to determine.
The new measurement system, which NASA and its international partners must agree on, will have to take into account the fact that seconds are ticking faster on the moon. Over time, these seconds accumulate.
But this will be crucial for astronauts who live in lunar habitats and travel in lunar buggies and need to know exactly what time it is.
defying gravity
Boeing officials canceled the highly anticipated crewed maiden voyage of the Starliner spacecraft just before liftoff on Saturday.
An automatic hold was triggered by the ground launch sequencer, the computer that launched the rocket, several minutes before the scheduled launch time (12:25 p.m. ET), and mission teams are still assessing the cause of the problem.
If the problem can be easily resolved, it’s possible Starliner could be ready to launch again on Sunday.
Senior NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are safe and have exited the capsule and will be ready for the next Starliner launch attempt when all systems are ready.
To look
The sunspot clusters responsible for the May 10 solar storm that painted skies around the world with colorful auroras are returning.
Experts predict that the aurora borealis could dance over northern and upper Midwestern states on Saturday, but there’s also a chance for more dazzling displays next week because sunspots point directly toward Earth.
Meanwhile, a “planet parade” in which six planets appear aligned in the sky will occur soon, providing prime viewing in North America and Europe just before sunrise on Sunday. Expect to catch glimpses of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, but Uranus, Mercury, and Neptune will probably not be visible to the naked eye.
And the “devil comet” will make its closest approach to Earth on Sunday, but will likely only be visible to those in the Southern Hemisphere with the help of binoculars or a telescope.
we are a family
About 4,000 years ago, a Bronze Age woman in Scotland suffered an accidental blow to the head that caused her death, probably in her 30s.
Now visitors to the Perth Museum and Art Gallery can see craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist Dr. Thanks to Chris Rynn’s recreation, he can see a flashing, immersive digital version of his face.
Other facial reconstructions on display at the museum include an Iron Age man who may have belonged to a group called the Picts, and a young murder victim from medieval Scotland.
Additionally, scientists have uncovered evidence that ancient Egyptian doctors attempted to remove a cancerous tumor from a young man’s skull more than 4,000 years ago.
Long time ago
The remains of 28 horses buried nearly 2,000 years ago at Villedieu-sur-Indre in central France are astonishing archaeologists; especially since the cause of death of the horses is still a mystery.
The nine tombs date back to B.C. It is between 100 BC and 100 AD, and the horses were all left to rest carefully in the same position at the same time.
According to researchers, the adult stallions may have been killed in battle during the Gallic Wars, when Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, or perhaps they were part of a sacrificial ritual.
Separately, an exceptionally complete Stegosaurus fossil is set to go up for auction this summer, but paleontologists have concerns about where it might end up.
fantasy creatures
When people first began observing cats with striking fur patterns living in the Finnish village of Petäjävesi in 2007, scientists took notice.
The cats had ombre fur stripes that were dark at the roots and faded to white. And now researchers know what creates this unusual fur pattern: a mutation affecting the gene that controls hair color, called KIT.
The felines have been called “salty licorice” cats, a name derived from salmiak, a popular Finnish dish made from black licorice flecked with white salt.
curious things
Discover these intriguing new findings:
— Archaeologists excavating at Pompeii in southern Italy uncovered children’s drawings depicting scenes of gladiators and hunters fighting animals; This suggests that young children are watching acts of violence firsthand.
— Observations of asteroid Dinkinesh captured by NASA’s Lucy mission reveal that a solar earthquake may have created a surprising double-lobed moon orbiting the space rock.
— The modern cockroach has a surprising history that began more than 2,000 years ago, and the insect’s path to becoming a pest was by hitching a ride in the lunch baskets of soldiers and travelers.
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