logo
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
2020 probably wasn't anybody's favorite year. But there was a lot to celebrate of astronomical interest. It was so hard to choose a top ten, some similar events were grouped together. Asteroids, the Moon, Mars and the Sun all feature, and there were two splendid skywatching events.

Top Ten Astronomy Stories of 2020


Mona Evans
For news, activities, pictures and more, sign up to the Astronomy Newsletter!

http://www.bellaonline.com/newsletter/astronomy
Sponsored Post Advertisement
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
The Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, for over half a century the world's largest radio telescope, was damaged beyond repair. It had had a glorious run, but defeated by a failure of ageing structures.

The telescope featured in the movie Contact, starring Jody Foster as a young astronomer. It was based on the book by Carl Sagan.


Mona Evans
For news, activities, pictures and more, sign up to the Astronomy Newsletter!

http://www.bellaonline.com/newsletter/astronomy
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30

In August, wildfire burned its way from San Francisco's East Bay area, through the Central Valley, and beyond. Outside San Jose, it came close to Lick Observatory. How close? You can see the domes to the right of center. [Linked Image from skyandtelescope.org] Firefighters saved the observatory and kept a watch on it. All the vegetation on one side of it was gone, but there was plenty of fuel elsewhere. If the wind shifted, it would be in danger again. Fortunately, that didn't happen, though unfortunately for others, around 400,000 acres were burned.

Lick Observatory lies on a mountaintop overlooking Silicon Valley. Known for major contributions to astronomy, it also has some unique features. Its benefactor James Lick is buried under one of the main telescopes, and it displays original seismogram taken during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Lick Observatory - 10 Fascinating Facts


Mona Evans
For news, activities, pictures and more, sign up to the Astronomy Newsletter!

http://www.bellaonline.com/newsletter/astronomy
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,890
Likes: 30

Mount Wilson Observatory is located high in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena in Los Angeles County. Its 100-inch Hooker Telescope was the largest in the world for over thirty years. It's where Edwin Hubble made the observations that changed pur view of the Universe. He showed that the Milky Way wasn't the whole Universe by showing that the "Andromeda nebula" was a distant galaxy, not part of the Milky Way.

In September the Bobcat Fire - one of the biggest in Los Angeles history - was headed for Mount Wilson. It burned within 500 ft of the observatory where firefighters checked it. Overall, the fire burned over 100,000 acres.

In 2009, the observatory was threatened by wildfire and escaped with smoke damage. Since then they have prepared for the California’s yearly wildfire season. Last year, they cut trees, installed new high-flow hydrants, and topped off the 530,000-gallon water reservoir, which supplies 33 hydrants across the site and is supported by an additional 270,000-gallon water tank just outside the main gate.


Mona Evans
For news, activities, pictures and more, sign up to the Astronomy Newsletter!

http://www.bellaonline.com/newsletter/astronomy

Moderated by  Mona - Astronomy 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Brand New Posts
MyHeritage & OldNews
by Angie - 03/16/24 09:15 AM
Psalm for the day
by Angie - 03/16/24 08:27 AM
Denmark's Oscar Entry "The Promised Land"
by Angela - Drama Movies - 03/15/24 08:51 PM
Stunning jewelry by Devon Leigh
by sarae - 03/15/24 12:58 PM
From Candlemas to March Equinox
by Mona - Astronomy - 03/14/24 07:35 PM
2024 - on this day in the past ...
by Mona - Astronomy - 03/14/24 07:12 PM
A Lenten Reflection
by Angie - 03/13/24 09:24 PM
Stitching by Hand
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 03/13/24 04:21 PM
Lucy Lawless Directs New Documentary
by Angela - Drama Movies - 03/12/24 05:47 PM
Inspiration Quote
by Angie - 03/10/24 03:09 PM
Sponsor
Safety
We take forum safety very seriously here at BellaOnline. Please be sure to read through our Forum Guidelines. Let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Privacy
This forum uses cookies to ensure smooth navigation from page to page of a thread. If you choose to register and provide your email, that email is solely used to get your password to you and updates on any topics you choose to watch. Nothing else. Ask with any questions!


| About BellaOnline | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Become an Editor |
Website copyright © 2022 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5