In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 3 as International World Bicycle Day. The resolution for World Bicycle Day recognizes "the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport." Read More: https://www.un.org/en/observances/bicycle-day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bicycle_Day
Venus's 225-day orbit around the Sun will carry it to its furthest point to the Sun – its aphelion – at a distance of 0.73 AU.
Charles Babbage (1791-1871), computer pioneer, designed two classes of engine, Difference Engines, and Analytical Engines. Difference engines are so called because of the mathematical principle on which they are based, namely, the method of finite differences. The beauty of the method is that it uses only arithmetical addition and removes the need for multiplication and […]
The summer solstice is the day when the Sun appears to reach its highest point in the sky during the year - it marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
International Asteroid Day is a United Nations-recognized day observed each year on the anniversary of the Tunguska impact event of June 30, 1908.
Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of July 1, 1867, the effective date of the Constitution Act, 1867 (then called the British North America Act, 1867), which united the three separate colonies of the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single Dominion within the British Empire […]
Thomas Harriot was an English astronomer, mathematician, ethnographer and translator who made advances within the scientific field. Thomas Harriot was recognized for his contributions in astronomy, mathematics, and navigational techniques. Harriot worked closely with John White to create advanced maps for navigation. While Harriot worked extensively on numerous papers on the subjects of astronomy, mathematics and navigation, the amount of work that he actually […]
Earth will be at the farthest point in its orbit around the Sun on this date
Independence Day is a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776.
Mars Pathfinder was launched December 4, 1996 and landed on Mars' Ares Vallis on July 4, 1997.
Join us on July 10th for our next Full Moon-th On-line Meetup! Our guest will be Sean van Staden SJ., a Jesuit scholastic about to begin his Theology studies at Hekima College in Nairobi, Kenya. He was one of the participants of the 2025 Vatican Observatory Summer School in Castel Gandolfo. Click Here to read post with more […]
Mercury's 88-day orbit around the Sun will carry it to its furthest point to the Sun – its aphelion – at a distance of 0.47 AU.
Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1922–1996) is one of the most influential philosophers of science of the twentieth century,
Gregor Johann Mendel (1822– 1884) was a biologist, meteorologist, mathematician, Augustinian friar and abbot of St. Thomas' Abbey in Brünn (Brno), Margraviate of Moravia.
Ignatius of Loyola (Basque: Ignazio Loiolakoa; Spanish: Ignacio de Loyola; Latin: Ignatius de Loyola; c. 23 October 1491 – 31 July 1556) was a Spanish Basque Catholic priest and theologian, who co-founded the religious order called the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and became its first Superior General at Paris in 1541. The Jesuit order served the Pope as missionaries, and they were bound by a vow of special obedience to the sovereign pontiff in […]
The Moon is at First quarter on this date -it will be visible high in the southern sky in early evening.
The liturgical celebration of St Dominic is on August 6 which is his deathday, in 1221 - his birthday is August 8.
Many sources state that St Dominic is the patron saint of astronomy and astronomers.
The Full Moon rises at sunset, and is visible all night. The Vatican Observatory's monthly Full Moon Meetup for Sacred Space Astronomy subscribers is held at 10:00 AM Tucson time.
Join us for a Full Moon Meetup with Saige Wilson, the VOF's 2025 summer intern
The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24, peaking on August 12 - 13.
The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower - they peak on the evening of Aug. 12-13, 2025
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is, according to the beliefs of numerous Churches, the bodily taking up of Mary, the mother of Jesus, into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. The analogous feast in the Eastern Churches is known as the Dormition of the Theotokos. In the churches that observe it, the Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on 15 […]
The Moon is at Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – rising around midnight, and visible to the south after sunrise.
The Moon is at Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – rising around midnight, and visible to the south after sunrise.
New Moon. By the modern definition, New Moon occurs when the Moon and Sun are at the same geocentric ecliptic longitude. The part of the Moon facing us is completely in shadow then. Pictured here is the traditional New Moon, the earliest visible waxing crescent, which signals the start of a new month in many […]