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What Happened to Earth’s Rings?

The existence of evidence for Earth’s past equatorial ring, shown by impact craters, raises questions about its loss. Modeling its effects on Earth's rotation presents challenges. However, current findings indicate minor impacts on day length, with significant stability in the Earth-Moon system over 10,000 years.

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June 2, 1966: Surveyor 1 lands on the Moon

About 63 hours after its launch, Surveyor 1 landed on the Moon on June 2, 1966. The 2,200-pound (998 kilograms) craft touched down inside a 62-mile (100 kilometers) crater north of Flamsteed Crater in Oceanus Procellarum, or the Ocean of Storms. Surveyor 1 took more than 11,000 photos, and measured the Moon’s temperature and theContinue reading "June 2, 1966: Surveyor 1 lands on the Moon"

The post June 2, 1966: Surveyor 1 lands on the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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What is a Blue Moon? When’s the next one?

Blue Moons are known for the folklore surrounding their appearance in the skies. But the real thing has less to do with its color and more with the timing of the year’s Full Moons. The next Blue Moon is May 20, 2027. It will be a seasonal Blue Moon; here’s what that is: There areContinue reading "What is a Blue Moon? When’s the next one?"

The post What is a Blue Moon? When’s the next one? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases

The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

The post 2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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