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Received — 18 August 2026 ⏭

Aug. 18, 1868: Helium is discovered

✇Astronomy Magazine
By: Michael E. Bakich
18 August 2026 at 14:00

During the total solar eclipse of Aug. 18, 1868, two astronomers, Pierre Jules César Janssen of France and J. Norman Lockyer of England, each independently discovered a new line in the Sun’s spectrum. Lockyer thought it showed an undiscovered element, which he named helium. (In Greek mythology, Helios was the Sun god.) Although scientists wouldContinue reading "Aug. 18, 1868: Helium is discovered"

The post Aug. 18, 1868: Helium is discovered appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Received — 2 August 2026 ⏭

Aug. 2, 1133: A total eclipse is misremembered

✇Astronomy Magazine
By: Michael E. Bakich
2 August 2026 at 14:00

Visible in Scotland, the total solar eclipse of Aug. 2, 1133, featured nearly 4½ minutes of totality. This eclipse provides just one of many historical examples of people wrongly associating a celestial spectacle with an earthly event: In his Historia Novella, written between 1140 and 1143, English historian William of Malmesbury linked the eclipse withContinue reading "Aug. 2, 1133: A total eclipse is misremembered"

The post Aug. 2, 1133: A total eclipse is misremembered appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Received — 4 June 2026 ⏭

June 4, 781 B.C.E: A great eclipse in China

✇Astronomy Magazine
By: Michael E. Bakich
4 June 2026 at 14:00

One of the earliest recorded eclipses is found in the Shijing, a collection of ancient poetry whose compilation is credited to Confucius. The eclipse in question occurred during the Zhou dynasty. Though the exact date is uncertain, some astronomers have pointed to the total eclipse of June 4, 781 B.C.E. (though this would have only been aContinue reading "June 4, 781 B.C.E: A great eclipse in China"

The post June 4, 781 B.C.E: A great eclipse in China appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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