Hey Space Placers!
On March 17th the Moon was hit by the largest impactor yet recorded. NASA and amateur astronomers have been watching the Moon for these impacts from small space rocks and/or small comet bits. 100's have been recorded in video records.
The hit on March 17th was from a small boulder traveling at an estimated 57,000 mph. The impact formed a small crater about 20 meters across and released about 5 tons of energy. This event was recorded as well.
See the recording and read more about it here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/16may_lunarimpact/
Sky Guy in VA
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Kepler in Trouble
Hey Space Placers!
NASA's exoplanet hunting spacecraft, Kepler, is in deep, deep trouble. The spacecraft has lost a second reaction wheel, which makes two out of four are operating. The only problem is Kepler needs 3 to obtain the pointing precision needed to hunt exoplanets.
NASA held a news conference yesterday to provide details which can be seen here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/news/keplerm-20130515.html
It is not known if the extended mission of Kepler, which began in November 2012 will continue. It will take some time to sort out what can be done if anything to salvage additional data collection.
I'll keep you posted.
Sky Guy in VA
NASA's exoplanet hunting spacecraft, Kepler, is in deep, deep trouble. The spacecraft has lost a second reaction wheel, which makes two out of four are operating. The only problem is Kepler needs 3 to obtain the pointing precision needed to hunt exoplanets.
NASA held a news conference yesterday to provide details which can be seen here: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/news/keplerm-20130515.html
It is not known if the extended mission of Kepler, which began in November 2012 will continue. It will take some time to sort out what can be done if anything to salvage additional data collection.
I'll keep you posted.
Sky Guy in VA
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Biggest Solar Blast of the Year With More to Follow
Hey SPace Placers!
The Sun has come alive with a series of X-ray flare events 5/12-13, which included an X3.2 event that is the most intense flare of the year so far. The sunspot group that caused this event remains active and is rotating on the Sun. It will eventual point towards Earth so if a flare happens then, solar material and radiation could be blasted towards Earth.
The Sun is still going through solar maximum which is expected to peak this year so events like this are expected. The Sun has been relatively free of these events for some time now.
NASA's fleet of solar spacecraft monitor the Sun 24 hours a day so we will have plenty of warning if an event occurs. Spaceweather forecasters will issue any alerts.
Read More About It and see videos of the events here: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov
UPDATE: The Sun released another X-flare today, May 15:
The Sun has come alive with a series of X-ray flare events 5/12-13, which included an X3.2 event that is the most intense flare of the year so far. The sunspot group that caused this event remains active and is rotating on the Sun. It will eventual point towards Earth so if a flare happens then, solar material and radiation could be blasted towards Earth.
The Sun is still going through solar maximum which is expected to peak this year so events like this are expected. The Sun has been relatively free of these events for some time now.
NASA's fleet of solar spacecraft monitor the Sun 24 hours a day so we will have plenty of warning if an event occurs. Spaceweather forecasters will issue any alerts.
Read More About It and see videos of the events here: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov
UPDATE: The Sun released another X-flare today, May 15:
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| NASA SDO
Read More ABout It: http://spaceweather.com
Sky Guy in VA
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Monday, May 13, 2013
Exoplanets Project 1640
Hey Space Placers!
We live in an age when exoplanet candidates are being discovered almost daily - we now have over 800 exoplanets confirmed with thousands more awaiting analysis and confirmation.
Astronomers and their techniques involving the discovery and analysis of exoplanets are getting better all the time. Astronomers now have the ability to DIRECTLY image some exoplanets. In fact, they are even able to take the light from the exoplanet and learn about the planet itself.
This image shows the HR 8799 planets with starlight optically suppressed and data processing conducted to remove residual starlight. The star is at the center of the blackened circle in the image. The four spots indicated with the letters b through e are the planets. This is a composite image using 30 wavelengths of light and was obtained over a period of 1.25 hours on June 14 and 15, 2012. Image courtesy of Project 1640
We are learning more and more about these other worlds and will gain more knowledge as the techniques and instruments get better.
Read More About It: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-157
Sky Guy in VA
We live in an age when exoplanet candidates are being discovered almost daily - we now have over 800 exoplanets confirmed with thousands more awaiting analysis and confirmation.
Astronomers and their techniques involving the discovery and analysis of exoplanets are getting better all the time. Astronomers now have the ability to DIRECTLY image some exoplanets. In fact, they are even able to take the light from the exoplanet and learn about the planet itself.
This image shows the HR 8799 planets with starlight optically suppressed and data processing conducted to remove residual starlight. The star is at the center of the blackened circle in the image. The four spots indicated with the letters b through e are the planets. This is a composite image using 30 wavelengths of light and was obtained over a period of 1.25 hours on June 14 and 15, 2012. Image courtesy of Project 1640Read More About It: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-157
Sky Guy in VA
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Curiosity Gets Set To Drill Again
Hey Space Placers!
Haven't heard much about Curiosity lately, have you? There is a good reason for that as Mars has been in line with Sun as seen from Earth so Mars spacecraft operations have been on hold. This is done to make sure that any no radio signals from Earth to Mars are affected by passing so close to the Sun that they may become compromised and cause errors.
The spacecraft on Mars and in orbit have been in a hibernation mode awaiting Mars to clear the line of sight of the Sun which has now occurred. All spacecraft are healthy and ready to resume operations.
Curiosity is preparing for her second drilling target called Cumberland. Located nine feet from the previous drilling site the objective is to confirm the first site's results.
Read More ABout It: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1471
Sky Guy in VA
Haven't heard much about Curiosity lately, have you? There is a good reason for that as Mars has been in line with Sun as seen from Earth so Mars spacecraft operations have been on hold. This is done to make sure that any no radio signals from Earth to Mars are affected by passing so close to the Sun that they may become compromised and cause errors.
The spacecraft on Mars and in orbit have been in a hibernation mode awaiting Mars to clear the line of sight of the Sun which has now occurred. All spacecraft are healthy and ready to resume operations.
Curiosity is preparing for her second drilling target called Cumberland. Located nine feet from the previous drilling site the objective is to confirm the first site's results.
'Cumberland' Selected as Curiosity's Second Drilling Target
This map shows the location of "Cumberland," the second rock-drilling target for NASA's Mars rover Curiosity, in relation to the rover's first drilling target, "John Klein," within the southwestern lobe of a shallow depression called "Yellowknife Bay."
'Cumberland' Target for Drilling by Curiosity Mars Rover
This patch of bedrock, called "Cumberland," has been selected as the second target for drilling by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity.
Read More ABout It: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1471
Sky Guy in VA
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Emergency Spacewalk Underway on ISS UPDATE
Hey Space Placers!
UPDATE: The crew has successfully swapped out the original ammonia coolant pump and replaced it with a spare. NASA expects to hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. EDT
Today, May 11, the astronauts aboard the International Space Station are conducting an emergency spacewalk to repair an ammonia coolant leak that was discovered on Thursday.
You can tune in to watch and get further details here
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition35/e35_051113_eva.html
I'll have more on this as the situation develops.
Sky Guy in VA
UPDATE: The crew has successfully swapped out the original ammonia coolant pump and replaced it with a spare. NASA expects to hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. EDT
Today, May 11, the astronauts aboard the International Space Station are conducting an emergency spacewalk to repair an ammonia coolant leak that was discovered on Thursday.
You can tune in to watch and get further details here
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition35/e35_051113_eva.html
I'll have more on this as the situation develops.
Sky Guy in VA
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Sky Guy Viewing ALERT 5/10-12 Venus-Moon-Jupiter
Hey Space Placers!
The western sky at dusk offers a real viewing treat this Friday through Sunday.
Venus, the "Evening Star" begins her return to visibility on Friday accompanied by a one-day old Moon with Jupiter above. Binoculars will help with finding the very young Moon but the key is having a clear view of the western horizon.
Each night the Moon and planets will move with respect to one another offering an excellent photo opportunity as well as gaining an appreciation for their real movement (as well as Earth's) in the sky.
Enjoy the sky show as it is going to get better as the month progresses as Jupiter and Venus will get closer and be joined by Mercury.
Sky Guy in VA
The western sky at dusk offers a real viewing treat this Friday through Sunday.
Venus, the "Evening Star" begins her return to visibility on Friday accompanied by a one-day old Moon with Jupiter above. Binoculars will help with finding the very young Moon but the key is having a clear view of the western horizon.
Each night the Moon and planets will move with respect to one another offering an excellent photo opportunity as well as gaining an appreciation for their real movement (as well as Earth's) in the sky.
Enjoy the sky show as it is going to get better as the month progresses as Jupiter and Venus will get closer and be joined by Mercury.
Sky Guy in VA
Catch the waxing crescent Moon of May passing low Venus, then higher Jupiter. The visibility of the fainter objects in bright twilight is exaggerated here. (These scenes are drawn for the middle of North America. European observers: move each Moon symbol a quarter of the way toward the one for the previous date. For clarity, the Moon is shown three times actual size.)
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