Only one more month left in the year! In November, Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. Jupiter is high in the morning sky this month. Look for it high in the west at dawn. You can also […]
The Moon has captured man’s imagination from the beginning. Unlike the Sun, it is easy to gaze upon, and unlike the stars and wandering stars, it appears close. Despite classical Greek philosophy, it turned out to be our nearest celestial neighbor. The Moon is a powerful symbol. But did you know it’s a place from […]
The country at-large may be celebrating Columbus Day, but around these parts, we salute National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day, too. Yes, we actually want you to eat bugs To help promote National Chocolate Covered Insect Day on Monday, October 14 (yes, it’s a real thing!), I thought a blog dedicated to entomophagy would be a great […]
If you haven’t yet heard the mountains of praise for the wildly stunning Jerusalem 3D movie, climb out from under your rock right now. This epic film from National Geographic Entertainment whisks and winds you through one of the world’s most important cities with arguably one of the most storied pasts of all time. But […]
The night sky in October is full of comings … and goings. Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight. Saturn leaves the evening sky this month. For the first few days of October, you can look for it […]
If you have been following along, you might have noted that Dia de los Muertos — Day of the Dead — is a favorite holiday for the Youth Education staffers. The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 2. It is a time when Mexican families spend time at the cemetery, visiting […]
Fall is coming! Leaves are changing color, temperatures start creeping down, and gardeners will be able to get back outside without the threat of heatstroke. Well, in theory. This is Houston, after all. But despite the fact that it’ll be warm until Thanksgiving, there is something we can look forward to: cooler temps! And you […]
Notwithstanding the horrible tragedy of the Columbine (Colorado) incident, April 1999 was by far one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Not even a week prior to leaving, I was preparing to give final exams for courses I was teaching at the time. I was about halfway through creating an exam when I […]
Some people like to tell me, “Dr. Bob, get a life!” I did, 60 years ago. Here I am re-reading my battered copy of the magazine that got me hooked on paleontology. Happy anniversary to the LIFE magazine that created … me! Sept. 7, 1953 was the publication date of the greatest, most momentous article […]
If you’ve yet Googled today, you may have noticed a lovely homage to Léon Foucault, the famous French physicist best known for inventing the Foucault pendulum (that ever-popular swingy thing at HMNS). The Foucault Pendulum has long been one of the most memorable areas of the Museum, even if some people (this girl) lack the […]
