Taurus: The Myth of Europa and Jupiter
Once, the land of Sidon was the home of the extraordinarily beautiful princess Europa. Her beauty was such that it caught the ever unfaithful eye of Jupiter, king of the gods. He was enamored with her beauty, and he wished desperately to have her as his own. His...
The Pleiades: The Myth of the Seven Sisters
Once upon a time there lived seven sisters: Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Calaeno and Merope. They were the hunting companions of the goddess Artemis. One day all seven were playing in a secluded glade in the forest. Their laughter rang merrily through...
Draco: Guardian of the Golden Apples
“Courage is almost contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” – G.K.Chesterton Though the dropping branches appeared to be inadequate to bear any fruit, Hera knew with patience and time the little sapling, which Zeus...
Corona Borealis: The Crown of Ariadne
“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” – Og Mandino The stars have always been seen as a source of inspiration and the birthplace of many myths and legends. The constellation Corona Borealis, or...
Orpheus in the Underworld
Let me tell you my version of the old love story, for it was I, Orpheus who was a part of this tale. It started one very lovely day when I saw a beautiful young lady. I was a talented musician, as you may know. I played the lyre and, not to brag, but I could make...
Why isn’t Pluto a planet anymore?
Every year I offer to teach a course in our homeschool co-op, and I've taught astronomy many of those years. One year I was given a class of 3rd and 4th graders, and the focus of the class was planetary astronomy. Every week I grilled them on the names of the 8...
What is a Meteor Shower and Why Do They Happen?
A meteor is sometimes called a shooting star or falling star, but a meteor is not a star at all. Meteoroid vs. Meteor vs. Meteorite Space is full of things called meteoroids. These are small bits of rocky or metallic space junk. Most are pebble-sized. When one of...
What is the Taurid Meteor Shower and When Can I See It?
The peak of the Taurid meteor shower is coming up in mid-November. Before you can understand what the Taurid meteor shower is, first it is important to understand... What is a meteor? What is a meteor shower? Why do we have meteor showers? Read more about meteor...
The Astronomy Behind Halloween
I get that a lot of Christians have weird feelings about Halloween, but it has a fascinating history—and it relates very much to the subject of astronomy. Solstices and Equinoxes First, a little background... The sun does not rise and set in the same place on the...
Get Ready for the September Lunar Eclipse!
Pray for clear skies on the evening of September 27 (or early morning of the 28th if you live in Europe). There's a lunar eclipse coming! Full lunar eclipses are often called "blood moons" because the moon will appear red in the sky. Why this blood-red color? Have you...
Astronomy and the Bible (20+ Passages)
There are many passages in the Bible where an understanding of astronomy is very helpful. Below are some of most important ones. Genesis 1:14-19 – This text is all about the creation of the sun, moon, and stars for the purpose of (1) giving light on the earth, (2)...
Pop Quiz, Hotshot: Do you know this astronomy trivia?
Below are just a few of the facts kids learn in Experience Astronomy. Do you know... 1. Why does Passover always fall on the Full Moon? 2. How many "dwarf planets" are officially recognized in the solar system? 3. What planet does Jesus liken himself to in Revelation...
