Jan 242024
 
Uranus from Voyager 2

Uranus from Voyager 2

Voyager 2 sailed past Uranus in 1986. It discovered eleven new moons and two new rings. Voyager 2 collected data on one of the moons, Miranda. Miranda, named after a character in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, is gouged by deep craters and sharp cliffs. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977, and it still sends back data about deep space! Idea: Children could find out how newly discovered objects in space are named. Children can learn more, including a great mission time elapsed clock, at: Voyager 2.

Mar 102024
 
Uranus with Rings

Uranus and Rings

Rings around Uranus were discovered in 1977. James L. Elliot, Edward W. Dunham, and Doulas J. Mink discovered the rings while they were using the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. They actually discovered five rings by accident; they were trying to learn more about the atmosphere on Uranus. Some strange observations led them to the idea of rings. Today thirteen rings around Uranus have been documented. Children can learn more about Uranus, its rings, and its moons by visiting: Uranus and Rings.

Apr 012024
 

John Morton died in 1777. His date of birth is unknown. Active in politics, he was elected from Pennsylvania to serve in both the First Continental Congress and the Second Continental Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence, and he was part of the committee that wrote the Articles of Confederation. He was the first Declaration of Independence signer to die. Children could learn more at: John Morton.

Jun 272024
 

Flag of Djibouti

Djibouti celebrates Independence Day. It declared its independence from France in 1977. Located in northeastern Africa, Djibouti is a bit smaller than Massachusetts. The capital is named Djibouti as well. According to the CIA World Factbook, most of the country is a desert, and natural resources include gold, limestone, and marble. About 800,000 people live in Djibouti. Children can learn more at: Djibouti.

Aug 202024
 
Voyager 2

Voyager 2

Voyager 2 was launched in 1977. It traveled near Jupiter in 1979, Saturn in 1981, Uranus in 1986, and Neptune in 1989. It transmitted photographs and data back to earth. It continues in its space travels, sending back weak radio signals. Children can visit an INTERESTING website, including data on the spacecraft’s distance from earth, at: Voyager 2.

Aug 252024
 
Voyager 2

Voyager 2

Voyager 2 made its closest approach to Saturn in 1981 and to Neptune in 1989. Launched August 20, 1977, Voyager 2 investigated Saturn’s atmosphere. It also researched Neptune’s atmosphere and checked out one of Neptune’s moons, Triton. The spacecraft continues to travel and send back data. Children can keep up to date with that data at: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/