Fifty years ago today, emissaries from Earth--riding in a command cabin the size of a car, and guided by a computer less powerful than a modern smartphone--landed on our Moon and left Homo sapiens' first footprints on another world. In honor of the Apollo 11 anniversary, I chose this date to launch the print edition of my lunar-based... Continue Reading →
The Science of “Syzygy”: Lunar Colonization
Pressing his forehead to the cool window, Ash blocked out his companions and watched the pale, pocked surface blossom into detail. Solar panels winked like fallen stars around the rim of Shackleton crater. The colony itself, a cluster of domes joined by tubelike corridors, made raised scars on the moon’s skin. Compared to the glittering seas... Continue Reading →
Tricks and Treats, Pt I: Free E-Books for Halloween!
After three days of unrepentantly nagging Amazon's KDP helpdesk, I finally got a response about the technical problem that canceled the launch of Syzygy Pt II: Opposition Effect on Tuesday. The book went live today (if it was that easy to fix, why didn't they do it 72 hours ago when I first notified them of... Continue Reading →
Moon Day 2016: Four Facts About Luna that Influenced My Science Fiction
Wednesday. I hit the alarm, staggered to the bathroom to get ready for work…and gasped as a cosmic pearl dazzled my bleary eyes. At 5:45 AM, the moon still hung over the field behind my house, shrouded in lavender dawn clouds. The sight was breathtaking, and appropriate: it’s not just Wednesday, it’s Moon Day! July... Continue Reading →
Shoot for the Moon: Photographing a Lunar Eclipse
Don't forget about the rare super moon eclipse tomorrow night! Since the next one won't occur until 2033, it's worth trying to capture on film. Sure, you're no Hubble Telescope, but with a little camera savvy, you'll can capture the celestial show with any level of photography equipment. Here are a few tips for (literally) shooting stars: Long exposures... Continue Reading →
Next Sunday’s Matchup: Earth’s Shadow @ Moon
Next Sunday night, there will be more to watch than just football! Americans who can tear their eyes away from the Broncos/Lions matchup will witness an astronomical show that hasn't taken place in over thirty years: a supermoon eclipse. A supermoon occurs when the moon turns full phase at its perigee--the point of the lunar orbit closest to... Continue Reading →