Search

Search results

Displaying 251 - 260

Famous Star Gazers

Eratosthenes 276–195 B.C. This Greek astronomer was the first to measure the size of Earth accurately. He determined that the earth's polar diameter was about 7,850 miles. (In fact, the distance is…

The Flap Over Pluto

Sources: NASA and the International Astronomical Union. News Flash (August 24, 2006)—Pluto Demoted! Read About It Here. Misleading reports that Pluto was about to lose its status as a planet in…

Spotlight: The Search for Life in the Solar System

So How's the Europan Seafood? Even if life does exist on Europa, it is still too early to take up extraterrestrial ice fishing. Most likely, only very primitive forms of life would exist (microbes…

Origins of Month Names

January: named after Janus, protector of the gateway to heaven February: named after Februalia, a time period when sacrifices were made to atone for sins March: named after Mars, the god of war…

Saint Brendan

  Saint Brendan   Patron of boatmen, sailors, travelers, and whales by Ann-Marie Imbornoni   St. Brendan (486?–578?) Also known as St. Brendan the…

Saint Brigid

Saint Brigid Patron of babies, blacksmiths, cows and dairy workers, Ireland, midwives, poets, sailors, scholars, and travelers by Ann-Marie Imbornoni St. Brigid (453?–523?) Also…

Irish Saints

  In the Company of St. Patrick   Ten major Irish saints by Ann-Marie Imbornoni   St. Patrick Did you know? Although St. Patrick is…

DK Science: Rockets

SOYUZ LAUNCH VEHICLEHOW ROCKETS WORKSATURN V THREE-STAGE MOON ROCKETBIOGRAPHY: ROBERT GODDARD American, 1882-1945FIND OUT MOREThere would be no space exploration without rockets, but they are…

DK Space: Astronomy

WHEN DID PEOPLE FIRST STUDY THE SKY? WHAT DO ASTRONOMERS STUDY TODAY? TELESCOPESFIND OUT MOREAstronomy is the science that studies the stars and all the other bodies (objects) in space. The…