Hey Space Placers!
Read all about Asteroid Day.
Look to see if there is an event in your area.
And be sure to tune in to the live NASA event.
Get involved. Protect our planet.
Sky Guy in VA
A personal daily comment on astronomy along with space missions, NASA, observing and lots more.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Sky Guy Viewing ALERT! Jupiter & Moon 6/29-7/1
Hey Space Placers!
I've been in the WVA mountains and the Shenandoah Valley the last few days giving presentations to families about the lives of stars and the Moon. We also had two great star parties.
I even got to meet Yogi the Bear at Yogi Bear Campground in Luray, VA!
The Moon will approach bright Jupiter in the South tonight and be very close tomorrow night - you can't miss the two brightest objects in the night sky, so enjoy the view. Watching the Moon move from West to East near a bright object over a couple of nights really shows you how much the Moon moves each day.
Tomorrow is Asteroid Day so be sure to check it out on my blog with lots of links and info.
Sky Guy in VA
I've been in the WVA mountains and the Shenandoah Valley the last few days giving presentations to families about the lives of stars and the Moon. We also had two great star parties.
I even got to meet Yogi the Bear at Yogi Bear Campground in Luray, VA!
Yogi the Bear & Sky Guy! Credit: Hannah |
The Moon & Jupiter 6/30/17 Credit: Sky Safari 5 |
Sky Guy in VA
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Tunguska Video
Hey Space Placers!
We are FIVE days away from Asteroid Day. Watch this incredible video about the largest impact event in modern history - the Tunguska Event.
Sky Guy in VA
We are FIVE days away from Asteroid Day. Watch this incredible video about the largest impact event in modern history - the Tunguska Event.
Sky Guy in VA
Thursday, June 22, 2017
8/21/17 Solar Eclipse Update
Hey Space Placers!
Check out the details from yesterday's conference on the upcoming 8/21/17 solar eclipse that will cross the entire U.S.
Sky Guy in VA
Check out the details from yesterday's conference on the upcoming 8/21/17 solar eclipse that will cross the entire U.S.
Sky Guy in VA
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
USA: Tune In To NASA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE EVENT 1PM EDT 6/21/17
Hey Space Placers!
Tune in to LIVE NASA event on the Total Solar Eclipse of 8/21/17.
Follow live at 1 PM EDT here.
You can also send in your questions via Social Media by using the hashtag #eclipse2017.
I'll have a wrap up live on WTOP Radio at 3:15 pm today.
Sky Guy in VA
Tune in to LIVE NASA event on the Total Solar Eclipse of 8/21/17.
Follow live at 1 PM EDT here.
You can also send in your questions via Social Media by using the hashtag #eclipse2017.
I'll have a wrap up live on WTOP Radio at 3:15 pm today.
Sky Guy in VA
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
ESA GW Space Mission
Hey Space Placers!
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that they will build a gravitational wave detection spacecraft. 2034 is the expected launch date - it is going to take awhile to build these 3 spacecraft.
Such a mission would add a huge capability to humanity's ability to detect gravitational waves (GW). The 3 laser detectors would be MILLIONS of kilometers apart instead of just several as Earth based GW are.
With such a capability we might even be able to detect GWs from the Big Bang itself.
Sky Guy in VA
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that they will build a gravitational wave detection spacecraft. 2034 is the expected launch date - it is going to take awhile to build these 3 spacecraft.
Artist's Conception of Merging Black Holes ESA |
With such a capability we might even be able to detect GWs from the Big Bang itself.
Sky Guy in VA
Monday, June 19, 2017
Sky Guy VIEWING ALERT! 6-20-17 Venus, Moon, Summer
Hey Space Placers!
Heads up and towards the East tomorrow morning as beautiful and bright Venus is joined by the Waning Crescent Moon before dawn. This will be worth getting up to see before dawn, around 4 a.m. local.
Tomorrow is also the Summer Solstice for parts of the U.S. with other time zones occurring on the 21st.
So enjoy the view and Summer!
Sky Guy in VA
Heads up and towards the East tomorrow morning as beautiful and bright Venus is joined by the Waning Crescent Moon before dawn. This will be worth getting up to see before dawn, around 4 a.m. local.
Moon & Venus 6-20-17 Created Using Sky Safari Pro 5 Greg Redfern |
So enjoy the view and Summer!
Sky Guy in VA
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Elon Musk's Plans For Colonizing Mars
Hey Space Placers!
Read a paper that details Elon Musk's plans for Mars - and beyond.
It is a fascinating read and a hopeful plan for how humans will extend the species beyond Earth.
Musk rightfully describes the reasons why and provides some excellent hows as to getting humans to other places in the solar system.
Only time (and money spent) will tell if Musk and/or government space agencies are successful.
Sky Guy in VA
Read a paper that details Elon Musk's plans for Mars - and beyond.
It is a fascinating read and a hopeful plan for how humans will extend the species beyond Earth.
Musk rightfully describes the reasons why and provides some excellent hows as to getting humans to other places in the solar system.
Only time (and money spent) will tell if Musk and/or government space agencies are successful.
Sky Guy in VA
Friday, June 16, 2017
Orbital ATK Successfully Tests Orion Abort Motor
Hey Space Placers!
Watch 400,000 pounds of thrust in .125 seconds!
Get details of the test here.
Sky Guy in VA
Watch 400,000 pounds of thrust in .125 seconds!
Credit: Orbital ATK
Get details of the test here.
Sky Guy in VA
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
This Baby Is Gonna' Fly!
Hey Space Placers!
This pic shows a full up Orion Service Module that will fly into space beyond the Moon in the near future.
NASA is working towards the first Space Launch System (SLS) - Orion launch, Exploration Mission-1, sometime in 2020-2021.
Let's light that candle & GO!!!
Sky Guy in VA
This pic shows a full up Orion Service Module that will fly into space beyond the Moon in the near future.
ESA |
NASA is working towards the first Space Launch System (SLS) - Orion launch, Exploration Mission-1, sometime in 2020-2021.
Let's light that candle & GO!!!
Sky Guy in VA
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Sky Guy Viewing ALERT 6/11/17 ROCKET LAUNCH EAST COAST
Hey Space Placers!
Read all about a rocket launch tonight that will be visible along the U.S. East Coast.
There are some other interesting stories as well that I think you will enjoy.
Sky Guy in VA
Read all about a rocket launch tonight that will be visible along the U.S. East Coast.
There are some other interesting stories as well that I think you will enjoy.
Sky Guy in VA
Friday, June 9, 2017
Sky Guy Viewing ALERT Moon & Saturn 6/9/17
Hey Space Placers!
Today the Full Strawberry Moon is the farthest away Full Moon for 2017. Think of it as being the opposite of a Super Moon. The Moon will be Full at 8:01 a.m. EDT for U.S. East Coast.
Tonight the Moon will still be very bright and hard to detect any real changes to the casual observer.
The planet Saturn will be to the lower right of the Moon.
Enjoy.
If I get any decent pics I will send them along.
Sky Guy in VA
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Congrats to the 2017 Astro Class
Hey Space Placers!
NASA announced its 12 newest astronaut candidates - culled from 18,300 applications! There are 5 women and 7 men, several doctors, pilots, a former Navy SEAL, scientists in a variety of fields and even a submariner. I say with unabashed Navy pride that the Navy rules in sheer numbers.
Here is their selfie which I love as it really captures their energy and camaraderie:
NASA announced its 12 newest astronaut candidates - culled from 18,300 applications! There are 5 women and 7 men, several doctors, pilots, a former Navy SEAL, scientists in a variety of fields and even a submariner. I say with unabashed Navy pride that the Navy rules in sheer numbers.
Here is their selfie which I love as it really captures their energy and camaraderie:
NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates stop to take a group photo while getting fitted for flight suits at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
After receiving a record-breaking number of applications to join an exciting future of space exploration, NASA has selected its largest astronaut class since 2000. Rising to the top of more than 18,300 applicants, NASA chose these 12 women and men as the agency’s new astronaut candidates. Pictured are, front row, left to right, Zena Cardman, Jasmin Moghbeli, Robb Kulin, Jessica Watkins, Loral O'Hara; back row, left to right, Jonny Kim, Frank Rubio, Matthew Dominick, Warren Hoburg, Kayla Barron, Bob Hines, and Raja Chari.
Image Credit: NASA
The new Astronaut Candidates report to NASA in August to begin their training to become full fledged astronauts.
Get more information here on their bios. And see their video.
Sky Guy in VA
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Tuesday, June 6, 2017
A RARE Lunar Halo
Hey Space Placers!
Check out this pic of mine from 6/4/17 of a lunar halo which I thought looked unusual.
When I submitted my photo to the great folks at Earth & Sky, the editor Deborah Byrd, did some checking and found out some neat stuff. I had captured a rare lunar halo event.
The funny part of this is that I had noticed a "regular" lunar halo earlier in the evening and took a pic with my iPhone and put it out on Twitter. But then I did my last look of the sky which I do every single night I noticed the unusual halo hanging low in the West. I went inside and got my camera and took a series of pics with different lenses. The rest is on the Internet ;-)
Moral of the story? always watch the sky and keep your camera handy!
Sky Guy in VA
Check out this pic of mine from 6/4/17 of a lunar halo which I thought looked unusual.
A Rare Lunar Halo On 6/4/17 Greg Redfern |
A Rare Lunar Halo Close Up On 6/4/17 Greg Redfern |
The funny part of this is that I had noticed a "regular" lunar halo earlier in the evening and took a pic with my iPhone and put it out on Twitter. But then I did my last look of the sky which I do every single night I noticed the unusual halo hanging low in the West. I went inside and got my camera and took a series of pics with different lenses. The rest is on the Internet ;-)
Moral of the story? always watch the sky and keep your camera handy!
Sky Guy in VA
Friday, June 2, 2017
Watch This Juno-Based Video in the Dark W/ Volume Up
Hey Space Placers!
Truth has caught up to science fiction when it comes to Jupiter thanks to NASA's Juno mission and the amazing video making work.
Here is the background on the video.
BTW, the music is from '2001: A Space Odyssey' when astronaut Dave Bowman prepares to explore the Monolith in Jupiter orbit. Amazing scene & music that I still vividly remember from 1968.
Jupiter: Juno Perijove 06 from Sean Doran on Vimeo.
Jupiter is visible in the South right at dusk. Check it out.
Sky Guy in VA
Truth has caught up to science fiction when it comes to Jupiter thanks to NASA's Juno mission and the amazing video making work.
Here is the background on the video.
BTW, the music is from '2001: A Space Odyssey' when astronaut Dave Bowman prepares to explore the Monolith in Jupiter orbit. Amazing scene & music that I still vividly remember from 1968.
Jupiter: Juno Perijove 06 from Sean Doran on Vimeo.
Jupiter is visible in the South right at dusk. Check it out.
Sky Guy in VA
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