Mars Opposition Is Coming! Prepare For A Celestial Show This Winter!

Today at 1:21 in the morning, we welcomed the winter solstice, marking the longest night of the year. As the Earth tilts its furthest from the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere, we are reminded of the beauty and mystery of our cosmos.

This celestial event has been celebrated across cultures for centuries, symbolizing renewal and the gradual return of light. As we gaze up at the starry sky tonight, let's embrace the magic of the universe and allow the festive spirit to illuminate our hearts, just like the twinkling lights above.

Wishing you all a joyful winter season filled with wonder and warmth!

Have you ever walked on a volcano?

Yesterday I did! The otherworldly landscape was incredible.

I had an amazing hike with Mom exploring the breathtaking volcanic landscapes of Little Hebe Crater and Ubehebe Crater! The highlight of the day was descending into the Ubehebe caldera to capture an impressive selfie and panoramic view.

We were blessed with perfect weather, allowing us to fully appreciate the vastness of the Ubehebe Crater, which is a staggering 600 feet deep and half a mile across.Walking on the sandy volcanic rocks was a unique experience, and in several spots, I sank up to my ankles!

Nature never ceases to amaze me with its wonders. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting these incredible craters.

Epic Journey Across America!

We passed through the majestic mountains of Colorado, the vast plains of Kansas, the lush Hoosier forests, and the breathtaking Appalachian scenery. Every moment was an adventure, filled with awe-inspiring landscapes and unforgettable experiences.

Here's to new beginnings and the road ahead!

From the high deserts of Nevada to the rolling hills of Virginia, we made an incredible trek! In just 3 days, we covered 2,311 miles in 37 hours and 26 minutes of just driving, witnessing the diverse beauty of this country.

I captured the magic of the full moon through the telescope tonight!

Isn't it amazing how the universe reveals its wonders when we take a closer look? This lunar beauty never ceases to mesmerize me.

Exciting Discovery Alert!

Hey space enthusiasts, did you know that NASA's TESS has just uncovered a cosmic wonder?

NASA's exoplanet hunter just discovered a "weird" world named Phoenix that's defying expectations! This hot Neptune-sized planet is surprisingly small, old, and hot - and it's still got an atmosphere despite being super close to its red giant star.

According to the scientists, Phoenix should be a bare rock due to its proximity to the star, but instead, it is emerged from the flames with a nice and puffy atmosphere. It's a real mystery how it's managed to hang on!

Phoenix is part of a rare class of planets that orbit close to their stars, and its discovery shows just how diverse exoplanets can be. The team predicts that Phoenix will eventually spiral into its star in about 100 million years.

What can we learn from this peculiar planet? For one, it's giving us new insights on the late-stage evolution of planetary systems - including our own Earth! Who knows what secrets Phoenix holds about our planet's future?

So, let's get excited about this cosmic discovery and see what other mysteries NASA's TESS spacecraft will uncover!

I left an illustration shows the exoplanet Phoenix in the glare of its red giant parent star. (Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa/Johns Hopkins University)

A second amazing day presenting at Career Day to a 5 to 8 K group of enthusiastic kids who are eager to explore the mysteries of living on the Moon or Mars!

Their curiosity and insightful questions about space exploration and interplanetary living.

It's incredible to see the next generation so excited about the possibilities beyond our world.

Keep reaching for the stars, young explorers!

#SpaceExploration #MarsColonization #MoonMission #FutureAstronauts #careerdayfun

Today, I had going to Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival: Haru Matsuri, and it was absolutely amazing! 🌸

It was a true journey into Japanese culture, filled with incredible arts, activities, and performances. I shared a special moment with my mom during the Japanese Tea Ceremony, marveling at the meticulous beauty of this tradition. I also discovered something new—the refreshing ice yuzu tea, which I absolutely loved trying.

I love the calligraphic and origami, ikebana, taiko drumming, koto music, yosakoi dancing, martial arts, delicious food.

It was a day brimming with culture and joy!

Did you know that the Milky Way has over 150 globular clusters?

One of the most striking globular clusters in our Milky Way is Messier 3 (M3) I came across an amazing image of the globular cluster M3 taken with the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. For comparison, I share a photo that I have taken through the DWARF II.

Did you know that M3 is a collection of several thousand to millions of stars, all gravitationally bound?

It's approximately 34,000 light-years distant and contains around 500,000 stars!

You can spot it high above the disk of the Milky Way after sunset and before sunrise. Take a look with binoculars or a telescope and see if you can spot T Cor Bor (which is about to go nova, one of these days!)

Tonight, we had an incredible discussion about living in space, focusing on the Moon and Mars! The highlight was getting to peek through my telescope, we look at Caldwell 14, Saturn and the Moon. Although clouds played a bit of a trick on us, making Jupiter a little hard to see, the kids and groups still had a blast exploring the cosmos!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this cosmic adventure. Here’s to more nights filled with stargazing and learning!

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Interview with Univision Nevada about the parcial solar eclipse event 2024