Places and Things

'Demon' asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower to zoom past Earth Friday An asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower will zip past Earth Friday (March 5) and be out of our planetary neighborhood until 2029. Continue Reading . . . https://www.livescience.com/apophis-demon-asteroid-last-flyby-until-2029.html

Scientists found an Earth-sized ‘rogue’ planet in the Milky Way Scientists have discovered what they say could be the smallest free-floating planet ever detected. The planet was discovered by University of Warsaw researchers in the middle of the Milky Way, and is estimated to be between the size of Earth and Mars. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/scientists-discover-rogue-planet-milky-way-200824310.html

"Lightning Eclipse from the Planet of the Goats   Image Credit & Copyright:  Chris Kotsiopoulos  ( GreekSky ) Explanation:  Thunderstorms almost spoiled this view of the spectacular  2011 June 15 total lunar eclipse . Instead, storm clouds parted for 10 minutes during the  total eclipse phase  and  lightning bolts  contributed to the dramatic sky. Captured with a 30-second exposure the scene also inspired one of the more memorable titles (thanks to the astrophotographer) in  APOD's now 22-year history . Of course, the lightning reference clearly makes sense, and the  shadow play  of the dark lunar  eclipse  was  widely viewed  across planet Earth in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.  The picture itself , however, was shot from the Greek island of  Ikaria  at  Pezi . That area is known as "the planet of the  goats " because of the  rough terrain  and strange...