Yuri ’ s Night celebrates space exploration
When it comes to space exploration , April 12th has long held profound significance . It was on that date in 1961 that cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space after he blasted off for a 108-minute flight aboard the Soviet space program ’ s Vostok 1 spacecraft . Although brief , this journey
On May 29 , 2011 , a crew member on the Space Shuttle
Endeavour captured this photo of the International Space Station following undocking procedures .
The International Space Station has been a fixture in the sky since its first component was launched in 1998 , and it is a bright sight to behold if you can catch it . Depending on your location , you may be able to witness the ISS blazing a path across the sky several times a week , or it may only appear once or twice a month if that . To take the guesswork out of your search for the space station , NASA has a handy Spot the Station service available at spotthestation . nasa . gov /. Visitors to the site can get a list of upcoming sightings for a location they specify .
10 was a monumental milestone that ignited an international passion for space exploration . To commemorate this historic event and ensure that passion continues to thrive , organizers held the first Yuri ’ s Night on April 12 ,
2001 , and , it has grown every year since . Dubbed a World Space Party , the event is a “ global celebration of
COURTESY OF NASA
NASA makes it easier to spot space station
Visitors can also sign up to receive email or text alerts that will let them know when an opportunity to view the station is near for their specified location . The alerts will include the time of the sighting , how long the ISS will be visible , the height at which it can be seen in degrees , where it will appear and where it will disappear . Bright enough to be seen even with city light pollution , the ISS looks like a fast-moving plane or star . The station is the size of a football field and is the largest manmade object in space . It has more livable area than an average sixbedroom house . humanity ’ s past , present and future in space .” Although the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin ’ s flight is the foundation of the celebration , it also coincides with another April 12th milestone - the 1981 inaugural launch of NASA ’ s Space Shuttle , which was the world ’ s first reusable spacecraft and a catalyst for international cooperation . For more information or a schedule of the hundreds of related parties across the globe , visit www . yurisnight . net .
International Dark Sky Week begins April 22
Perfectly timed to coincide with Earth Day , the International Dark-Sky Association will kick off its annual campaign to shine a figurative light on the very real problem of light pollution . Held each year since 2003 , International Dark Sky Week is an awareness event that was the brainchild of Jennifer Barlow , a high school student on a mission to preserve the wonder of the night sky for future generations . The goals for the week are fairly simple : Celebrate the beauty of the stars , raise awareness about the negative effects of light pollution and embolden people to act to reduce the problem . Organizers encourage individuals around the globe to mark the week in a range of ways such as hosting star parties , sharing their thoughts about the issue on social media , participating in an IDSW activity or simply visiting the website to find out more about the topic and what changes they can make . For more information , click here .
Sky ’ s Up