janepeddicord.com SpaceBlog

Writing about Space in Poetry and Prose

Jane Peddicord — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:37:47 +0000

To help out families and educators while schools are closed or experiencing dwindling attendance, the Stimola Literary Studio is providing free virtual presentations by children’s book authors. So, if you missed it before, my Night Wonders book presentation is back, new and improved. It is available on the Stimola Live YouTube channel.

Sunset Valley Stars!

Jane Peddicord — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:20:27 +0000

I had a very interesting conversation with the first and second graders over at Sunset Valley Elementary School yesterday. After taking a virtual trip around the universe, a student named Ella brought up the subject of stars. She wondered if red stars were dying. Then Matthew pointed out that blue stars were the hottest. These students raised very important points, because it turns out that a star’s color tells us a lot about them, including their temperature, age, and size.

Photograph courtesy NASA

So Ella, the answer to your question is yes — and no. Some stars are red because they are small and don’t get very hot. They burn coolly and much more slowly

“Great Ball of Fire” Space Rock 2013

Jane Peddicord — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:24:32 +0000

Talk about rocking the house! A 10,000 ton rock from space roused about 1000 houses when it exploded over the Russian town of Chelyabinsk early in the morning of February 15th. It may have arrived on planet Earth a few hours late for Valentines Day, but not because it wasn’t trying. Travelling at over 30,000 miles per hour, that rock was definitely in a hurry to get here!

Credit: AP

Instead of spreading hearts and roses, this express delivery exploded into a brilliant fireball, not so romantically called a ‘bolide’. It blazed across the sky for 30 seconds or so, and then showered its remains across the Siberian plain for children to find in the snow.

By ANDREW E. KRAMER Published: February 18, 2013 The New York Times

Barton Hills Whiz Kids!

Jane Peddicord — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:27:34 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers!

There are some budding

Eyes on the Moon!

Jane Peddicord — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:36:58 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers!

Put our old friend THE MOON on your agenda for 2012.

Space Game! Where in the Solar System is Destination Twelve? The long awaited conclusion…

Jane Peddicord — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:56 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers!

Welcome back for the merry (I hope) conclusion to the D12’s tale of woe, The Very Lonely Planet.

Space Game! Where in the Solar System is Destination Twelve? (day 3)

Jane Peddicord — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:06:20 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers! Today we’re going back to Destination 12 for a new clue – a story clue! So just sit back, relax, and listen – well actually you’re going to have to read it yourself, but you get the … Continue reading →

Cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze…

Jane Peddicord — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:15:33 +0000

Many apologies Space Bloggers. Your indomitable, but apparently not invincible, blog author has the flu.

***Special Report: CURIOSITY

Jane Peddicord — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:39:26 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers! Here’s a question for you.

CURIOSITY is ___ ?

a. the wish to know

b. a science lab on wheels

c. about the size of a small car

d. on its way to Mars right now

e. all of the above

Yes, Space Bloggers,

Space Game! Where in the Solar System is Destination Twelve? (day 2)

Jane Peddicord — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:45:14 +0000

Hey Space Bloggers!

Finally, something to be thankful for! Here it is, straight from the icy clouds of Destination Two, your day 2 LIMMER-IDDLE: (sorry it’s late)

Some find me divine, that is true,

And my aspect, a deep ocean blue

Which might possibly be

Why you Earthlings named me

For that god of the sea, You-Know-Who!

Thank you D10 for that uh, seaworthy clue.