This Christmas, keep an eye out for "Santa's sleigh" zipping silently across the pre-dawn sky—it's actually the International Space Station gleaming like a super-bright star! On December 24 and 25, early birds in North America and Europe can catch these quick flybys (just a few minutes each) with the naked eye—no telescope required, and no blinking lights or trails like a plane.

Grab a coffee, bundle up, and step outside around dawn (times vary by city, e.g., ~6-7 a.m. in places like New York, London, or Chicago—check NASA's Spot the Station for your location). It's a fun, magical mix-up that's perfect for convincing yourself that Santa's making a high-tech test run! Weather permitting, of course. 😉

Link to article: https://www.space.com/stargazing/santas-sleigh-or-the-international-space-station-how-to-spot-a-bright-christmas-flyby-dec-24-and-25

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Prepare to be amazed this holiday season! NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has unveiled a breathtaking "New Perspectives" project that bridges the cosmos and the microscopic world—and its star is a dazzling microscopic Christmas tree!

On one side: the epic Christmas Tree Cluster, a glittering nursery of young stars sparkling across vast space. On the other: an enchanting close-up of collagen fibers and fat cells under a laser microscope, forming a tiny, festive evergreen that mirrors the stellar wonder with eerie, magical precision.

Additional images showcase the similarities between the macro and the micro, made possible through astronomy's and microscopy's dual venture of revealing the "invisible" realms to the human eye.

This festive fusion celebrates nature's hidden artistry, revealing how the infinite grandeur of galaxies echoes the intricate beauty inside our own bodies. Pure holiday magic through science.

Link to article: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/microscopic-christmas-tree-is-remarkable-highlight-of-science-project-comparing-the-vast-and-small/