For generations African American scientists faced tougher challenges to gain an academic degree in the field of science and received little or no accolades for their accomplishments and breakthroughs. Yet, they have given America everything from a national blood bank to GPS and even the ice cream scoop. Systematic racism and prejudice have prevented timely […]
What are Supermoons and how often do they occur?
The Moon is the stuff of dreams. We invent stories about it, pretend it is made entirely of cheese, make paper-mâché models of it, and dream of inhabiting it. The Moon is a big deal—it is an encompassing force that controls the tides, preserves the Earth’s place in the universe as a livable planet, regulates […]
Captain Cook and the Story of the Antique Terrestrial Globe
Navigating the seas in the 18th century was no simple task. Sailors did not have GPS, radar, or weather forecasts. They had no means of instant communication with people on shore or sailing nearby. They faced severe weather, rough seas, and a lack of food if the voyage took longer than predicted. By 1790, Captain […]
WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON(S)
On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave an address at Rice University commonly referenced as his “Why We Go to The Moon” speech. During the speech, JFK spoke these famous lines: “We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things […]
Finding the Wonders of the World
Over 2,000 years ago the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World were named by the Greek historian Herodotus and the scholar Callimachus of Cyrene. Today, only one of the original wonders remains—The Great Pyramid of Giza. As the only relic left standing, it is likely at the top of any Wonders of the World travel […]
Space: the Next Sustainable Frontier
As a civilization, we are unfortunately all too familiar with the abundance of waste and trash. Landfills dot the Earth and can be as large as the 2,200-acre Apex landfill in Las Vegas or the 15-story high Bantar Gebang trash mountain in Jakarta, Indonesia. News stories and activists have alerted us to the omnipresence of […]
TALES OF THE NIGHT SKY
When the sun sets, constellations and shooting stars come out to shine. They share tales of old, carry the origins of the galaxy across the cosmos, and play a vital role in our past, present, and future. Part of this vast wealth of knowledge has been mapped out by ancient astronomers who created celestial globes. […]
The Earth at Night from Space
Countless nights are spent looking up into the sky: gazing at constellations, wishing upon shooting stars, catching the arc of the International Space Station, observing a lunar eclipse, or–from the darkest corners of the planet¬–glimpsing the edges of the Milky Way. However, only a privileged few have had the vantage point of Earth from space, […]
The Uranus MOVA Globe – A Closer Look
Uranus, the seventh planet in our solar system, and the third largest, was discovered on March 13th, 1781 by the British astronomer William Herschel. It was the first planet to be discovered by telescope – one which Herschel had built himself. While Uranus was seen prior to its official discovery (it’s visible to the naked […]
Capturing the Eclipse
On Aug. 21, 2017, people across the United States were treated to a magnificent solar eclipse. The first eclipse to cross from coast to coast in North America since 1918, the eclipse was witnessed no matter which part of the country you were in. Thankfully, a few of us in the MOVA family were traveling […]
Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017: Information & Events
The solar eclipse that is making its way across the United States on August 21, 2017 is a big event. Astronomers, professional and amateur alike, have been planning for this event for years. Small towns across the country that are in the path of the total solar eclipse are sold out of hotel rooms and […]
MOVA and Celestron Solar Eclipse Giveaway
This giveaway has ended. We partnered up with Celestron Telescopes to give four lucky winners one of four amazing prizes – you could win a 4.5″ MOVA Globe or a Celestron Cometron Telescope! Just submit your email to enter by selecting the log in using email option. Share on Facebook and refer your friends for […]