tutorial

Sir Issac Newton was one heck of a thinker. He dabbled in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and many other fields. We can even thank him for inventing calculus! But of all Newton’s discoveries, his laws of motion just might be the most important. They became the key ideas we use to understand the...

We’ve sent so many probes and people into space, it almost doesn’t seem like an incredible feat anymore. But the engineering, attention to detail, calculations, and decades of hard work that go into every mission deserve recognition and the proper appreciation. Here’s a list of the top 5 space...

The moon is our ever-present companion. It’s been with us for as long as we can remember, but it wasn’t around from the start. When the Earth first formed, there was no moon to keep it company. Scientists have been searching for the answer as to how it got there, and a few theories have emerged...

Stars are the birthplace of every element in the universe. The materials that make up you and I are cooking in the hearts of stars at this very minute in a process that has been happening since shortly after the Big Bang. This process is stellar nucleosynthesis, and here’s how it works. 1. It...

So you want to get in touch with SpaceX. Maybe you have a brilliant design for a rocketship, a burning question about space travel, or you just want to find out what on earth is going on in Elon Musk’s head. No matter what the reason, here’s how to reach out to SpaceX and submit your question...

First, congratulations on making the best decision of your life. Astronomy is a vast and incredibly rewarding field that is providing us with new insights into our world and our existence every day. You’re looking to be a part of cutting edge science and life-changing discoveries. But first, you...

The plain fact is that if we want to explore further into the solar system and even send humans out, we need better rockets. We need more capabilities. We need the Space Launch System. But what exactly is the Space Launch System, and why does it make science enthusiasts so excited? Here’s how it...

Reading opens you up to a whole new world. It expands your mind, introduces you to complex ideas, and allows you to see life in a different way. While nothing beats hands-on experience, one of the best ways to dip your toes into a topic for the first time is by picking up a book. If you want to...

Our ever-present companion is quite the sight. Everyone loves looking at the moon. There’s something enthralling about it. But if you don’t have the right equipment, it can be a challenge to photograph well. Why not try to draw it instead? You might think that with all the craters and fine...

Before we could take incredible photographs of objects out in space, we drew pictures. Thanks to telescopes, features became clearer, but how were astronomers supposed to show each other what they were seeing and compare notes? Astronomical drawings became the norm. We might look at this as an...

Uranus isn’t the farthest planet from Earth, but it does stretch a considerable distance. Because of this, Uranus can be a tricky planet to spot. If you’re looking for the ice giant in tonight’s sky, here’s how to see it. 1. Utilize binoculars or a telescope. Very rarely is Uranus bright...

Jupiter, the faraway gas giant, fascinates us. It may be millions of miles away from us, but we can still see it in the night sky. How incredible is that? Here’s what you need to do to observe Jupiter from your backyard tonight. 1. The best time to spot Jupiter is during opposition...

Venus is Earth’s twin. At least, it would be if it weren’t the planetary equivalent of hell. Venus is also notably the easiest planet to spot in the night sky. It’s brilliant, bright, and fairly close to us (astronomically speaking). Here’s how to spot Venus in the night sky. 1. Find out where...

The Red Planet. Fourth planet from the Sun. Also named after Ares, the Greek god of war. Mars. It’s everyone’s favorite planet (after Earth of course) thanks to the years of exploration, stunning discoveries, and enthralling photos. You don’t have to limit your viewing to the computer screen...

The night sky is a whirlwind of activity, though you might not know it. Galaxies are zooming away, planets are gracefully falling around the sun, and stars twinkle brilliantly with the undulations of the atmosphere. How do you make sense of the madness and appreciate the beauty? Here’s how to...

There’s nothing better than passing on a love of science to your kids. You might have to tackle some complex topics and not know the best way to help your children understand. Start with the Solar System, for instance. To this day, many adults can’t confidently name all the planets in our...

Astronomy is a vast discipline—as vast as the universe it aims to understand. There’s a lot to learn, so how do you know where to begin? You could read dozens of articles and watch a few documentaries...or you could just look up. Here’s how to get started with astronomy: 1. Head outside and...

We live under a blanket of stars that seemingly have nothing to do with our everyday lives. Although we don’t rely on the heavens as much as our ancestors did, there’s no denying the power of astronomy in our modern society. But what good is it to the common citizen? How can astronomy enhance...

Telescopes have seen some incredible improvements. Not only can you have a mini observatory in your backyard, you can now find celestial objects that may have eluded you in the past thanks to computerized technology. But before you can start observing, you need to set up your NexStar correctly...

Kerbal Space Program is an extremely popular and entertaining game that allows you to manage your own space program and fly ships, all from your computer. The base game is excellent on its own, but you can always customize it to your liking with mods, or modifications. Here’s how to install mods...