David Dickinson
@astrodave.bsky.social
Writer, Space pundit, Skywatcher
The X-59 will eventually test ‘quiet’ supersonic flight technologies, using a unique and innovative design. Plans are to eventually reach Mach 1.4 (925 mph) at 55,000 feet on later tests. Just watching it on takeoff and in flight, it must be an ungainly aircraft for the pilot to fly.
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The X-59 will eventually test ‘quiet’ supersonic flight technologies, using a unique and innovative design. Plans are to eventually reach Mach 1.4 (925 mph) at 55,000 feet on later tests. Just watching it on takeoff and in flight, it must be an ungainly aircraft for the pilot to fly.
Addendum: said Tiangong pass for the US SE early tomorrow morning occurs at 6:42 AM EST. They must've done a periodic reboost.
November 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Addendum: said Tiangong pass for the US SE early tomorrow morning occurs at 6:42 AM EST. They must've done a periodic reboost.
Shenzhou-22 will launch from Jiuquan Space Center tonight at 4:11UT. Watch for a possible live webcast to pop up near launch time. Shenzhou-22 will dock to the Tiangong Space Station tomorrow, and the US SE has a visible low pass early tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM EST.
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Shenzhou-22 will launch from Jiuquan Space Center tonight at 4:11UT. Watch for a possible live webcast to pop up near launch time. Shenzhou-22 will dock to the Tiangong Space Station tomorrow, and the US SE has a visible low pass early tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM EST.
Mercury passes <1º from Venus on Nov 25th, making it a good guidepost to spy both if skies are clear. Venus shines at an easy -4th magnitude, while Mercury is ~250 times fainter at +2nd magnitude. Mercury reaches greatest elongation 21 degrees east of the Sun one last time for 2025 on December 8th.
November 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Mercury passes <1º from Venus on Nov 25th, making it a good guidepost to spy both if skies are clear. Venus shines at an easy -4th magnitude, while Mercury is ~250 times fainter at +2nd magnitude. Mercury reaches greatest elongation 21 degrees east of the Sun one last time for 2025 on December 8th.
3I/ATLAS visits some pretty photogenic environs this week as it crosses the Bowl of Virgo asterism, and transits in front of the NGC 4454 and NGC 4202 galaxies on the 23rd, and the 26th respectively. astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/3I
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
3I/ATLAS visits some pretty photogenic environs this week as it crosses the Bowl of Virgo asterism, and transits in front of the NGC 4454 and NGC 4202 galaxies on the 23rd, and the 26th respectively. astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/3I
Also Jaeger caught a fine image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Also outbound, you can see the dust tail unfurling ahead of the comet, with a spiky sunward anti-tail, as the comet heads towards ecliptic crossing on Dec 10. The green is the glow of cyanogen gas. Just a comet, doing comet-y things.
November 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Also Jaeger caught a fine image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Also outbound, you can see the dust tail unfurling ahead of the comet, with a spiky sunward anti-tail, as the comet heads towards ecliptic crossing on Dec 10. The green is the glow of cyanogen gas. Just a comet, doing comet-y things.
Uranus has 29 moons, four of which are within grasp of amateur telescopes: +14th magnitude Ariel, Umbriel, Oberon and Titania.
November 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Uranus has 29 moons, four of which are within grasp of amateur telescopes: +14th magnitude Ariel, Umbriel, Oberon and Titania.
Orbiting the Sun every 84 years, Uranus will in 2033 have only completed 3 circuits since discovery. The planet’s tilt means that the moons only appear edge-on to us once every 42 years. This last occurred in 2006, when Hubble nabbed a transit of a Uranian moon: science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Orbiting the Sun every 84 years, Uranus will in 2033 have only completed 3 circuits since discovery. The planet’s tilt means that the moons only appear edge-on to us once every 42 years. This last occurred in 2006, when Hubble nabbed a transit of a Uranian moon: science.nasa.gov/missions/hub...
The event favors Africa and European longitudes. You can really see the differences between outer Galilean moon Callisto’s wide diffuse shadow, and innermost Io’s inky black dot of a shadow. It’s rare that a multi-shadow event involves Callisto… though Io is definitely a ‘frequent flyer.’
November 20, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The event favors Africa and European longitudes. You can really see the differences between outer Galilean moon Callisto’s wide diffuse shadow, and innermost Io’s inky black dot of a shadow. It’s rare that a multi-shadow event involves Callisto… though Io is definitely a ‘frequent flyer.’