Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Immune System Studies on the ISS

Hey Space Placers!

I have always maintained that getting  to Mars is more of a biological problem that a technical problem. What I mean by that is that the health and functioning of astronauts on a long space voyage to say, Mars, is going to take a toll on the crew. Radiation exposure, eyeball changes, muscle and bone loss, and changes to the immune system are all hazards astronauts face.

The International Space Station (ISS) is the ONLY bio-laboratory where we can study these conditions and determine solutions.

Watch this video for more information and here is the story.



Sky Guy in VA

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

MUST SEE JWST VIDEO

Hey Space Placers!

You have to set aside 12 minutes and see this video that shows James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from launch to L2. It is very, very good.



Sky Guy in VA

Friday, May 26, 2017

LRO Takes A Hit

Hey Space Placers!

Just the other day I told you about the lunar impact monitoring program.

NASA today told us about a 2014 hit of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) while in lunar orbit.

LRO has been in lunar orbit since July 2009 and has written the books on the Moon.

View of moon with distortion
The first wild back-and-forth line records the moment on October 13, 2014 when the left Narrow Angle Camera's radiator was struck by a meteoroid.
Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University
Quite the story, eh?  LRO can take a hit and keep on ticking.

Sky Guy in VA


Thursday, May 25, 2017

The Latest on Juno at Jupiter

Hey Space Placers!

NASA held a teleconference today about the latest findings from Juno at Jupiter.

Image: JunoCam image of Jupiter
Jupiter From Juno
Image Courtesy of NASA/Bruce Lemons
Click on the listings to read all about it:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/junoteleconference - Be SURE to check out the INCREDIBLE pics

http://www.swri.org/press-release/swri-led-juno-mission-jupiter-delivers-first-science-results

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6856


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

New ESA Lunar Impact Project

Hey Space Placers!

My fave place in the Universe, the Moon, is getting a new project. The European Space Agency (ESA) has started a study to detect and measure the temperature of lunar impacts.  These impacts happen frequently and this study will help improve our knowledge of their frequency, size and resulting crater formation.

Date: 24 May 2017
Depicts: Lunar impact flash
Copyright: NELIOTA project

In 11 hours of observing time 4 impacts were recorded by the 1.2 meter (48 inches) telescope and its cameras. The large aperture of the telescope and the sensitivity of the cameras should allow for the gathering of a large amount of data

NASA also has an lunar impact monitoring program but uses 14-inch telescopes.

I would love to be able to see one of these impacts. Amateur astronomers are participating in the NASA project.

Sky Guy in VA

Monday, May 22, 2017

Update on Space Missions

Hey Space Placers!

Get the latest on space missions here.

Artist Concept of New Horizons at Pluto
NASA
Sky Guy in VA

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Help Hunt For Exploding Stars

Hey Space Placers!

Join in the hunt for exploding stars - supernovae - by becoming part of a citizen science project.

This is just one of a number of astronomy citizen science projects that you can become part of at Zooinverse. The variety of projects includes hunting for 'Planet Nine', galaxies, exoplanets - a real 'Zoo" of space stuff ;-)

Whether you are an arm chair astronomer or an ardent telescope user, there is something for you to become part of.

Check it out and get involved.....the Universe awaits you.

Sky Guy in VA

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Submarine Comms Affect Structure of Van Allen Radiation Belts

Hey Space Placers!

Interesting NASA video that shows how we are affecting the space around Earth.

Sky Guy in VA

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

NASA's Sounding Rockets

Hey Space Placers!

Learn all about NASA's little rocket workhorses - sounding rockets.


Sky Guy in VA

Friday, May 12, 2017

I WISH This Was My Vacation Photo!

Hey Space Placers!

Look at THIS(!):

NASA HST Image of Galaxy Cluster Abel 370

This is a deep exposure taken by Hubble Space Telescope of Galaxy Cluster Abel 370. It shows MANY galaxies AND galaxies that are bent into arcs due to gravitational lensing.

WOW.

Tomorrow we will look at the Milky Way Galaxy 5 million years into the future.


Sky Guy in VA

Thursday, May 11, 2017

A Good Primer On The Universe

Hey Space Placers!

Back in VA after a 12K mile land-sea jaunt......hopefully I will be more regular now in my postings ;-)

Milky Way at Sea
Greg Redfern
Here is a GOOD primer on the Universe as we know it from the good folks at Universe Today. Fraser Cain and his staff do an excellent job on covering the Universe et al.

There is a LOT we know and a LOT we don't know. BUT we are I think on the cusp of new discoveries about the Universe with new telescopes & their instruments and the Large Hadron Collider. It is an exciting time.

I hope you follow me on Twitter - @SkyGuyinVA - as I post pics and a lot of info there in real time...tough to do on a blog.

Tomorrow I will share pics from my trip.

Sky Guy BACK in VA

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Sky Guy Viewing ALERT!!!!! Moon & Jupiter Close Tonight 5-7-17

Hey Space Placers!

Be sure to get outside and look at the Waxing Gibbous Moon and Jupiter as it gets dark. They will be very close to one another all night.

BTW the star below the celestial duo is Spica.

Enjoy this pic of a bison in Yellowstone National Park.

A Bison Less Than 4 Feet Away!
Greg Redfern
Sky Guy in Wyoming