Thursday, May 30, 2019

UFOs ARE BACK IN THE MAINSTREAM

Hey Space Placers!

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are back in the mainstream of conversation once again. They were big news back in the 50's and 60's and have popped back in 2019 in a big way.







I was active in the late 60's with UFO research. I have seen 3 UFOs that I could not identify as being astronomical, aeronautical or meteorological in nature......I don't know what I saw but I could tell you positively what it was not.

History Channel has their "Project Blue Book" TV series renewed for season 2 and will air a new series on UFOs May 31st at 10 pm EDT. “Unidentified: Inside America’s U.F.O. Investigation”.

Read these thought provoking articles when you get a chance:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/05/28/ufos-exist-everyone-needs-adjust-that-fact/?utm_term=.08d74ebd182d

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/us/politics/ufo-sightings-navy-pilots.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/science/UFO-sightings-USA.html?action=click&module=RelatedCoverage&pgtype=Article&region=Footer



I will tell you this. When Naval Aviators wonder what they are looking at and have video and weapon sensor data to back up the visual sighting, people better listen. Like them I do not subscribe to labeling each unexplained UFO as LGM (Little Green Men). But, UFOs are real and need to be taken seriously to determine what IS going on.

Why?

Simple, the Universe always surprises us.....and who knows what we will find on the trail of UFOs.

Enjoy this video about the UFO Sightings over Washington, D.C. in 1952.



Sky Guy in VA

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

100 YEARS AGO TODAY GENERAL RELATIVITY PROVEN

Hey Space Placers!

100 years ago today Einstein was proven right during a total solar eclipse.

Black circular silhouette of new moon, surrounded by solar corona, during a total solar eclipse.
One of Sir Arthur Eddington’s photographs of the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919. Eddington’s observations during this eclipse proved Einstein’s prediction of the bending of light around the sun. Notice the tick marks around stars near the eclipsed sun. It was the precise measurement of the positions of these stars with respect to the edge of the sun that proved Einstein’s theory. Image via Wikimedia Common via EarthSky
Einstein became a world celebrity overnight. So far all tests of General Relativity have shown the theory to be correct. 

Sky Guy in VA



Monday, May 27, 2019

SUBMIT YOUR APOLLO 11 STORY TO NASA

Hey Space Placers!

Did you or a loved one watch the Apollo 11 mission unfold?

If so NASA would like to hear your story.

Deadline is 12/31/2019 but submissions before 6/14/2019 have a better chance of being featured in the audio series.

Sky Guy in VA




Sunday, May 26, 2019

MOON LANDING DENIERS STILL GOING AT 50 YEARS

Hey Space Placers!

I am hopeful that all who read this blog believe that the U.S. landed astronauts on the Moon due to the overwhelming evidence that is there for all rational people to see.

Sadly and dangerously, there are people who cling to conspiracy theories, not  only regarding the Moon landing, but other fallacies in their minds as well.

Read Joel's article for a wake up call regarding the times we live in.

Sky Guy in VA

Saturday, May 25, 2019

MUST SEE VIDEO OF SPACEX STARLINK SATS!

Hey Space Placers!

Amazing video from Twitter via:

Dr Marco Langbroek

@Marco_Langbroek 


that shows the just released Starlink satellites in orbit. Here is Marco's Tweet and video:


VIDEO! Prepare to be mind-blown! The train of satellites passing over Leiden, the Netherlands, some 25 minutes ago. Camera: WATEC 902H with Canon FD 1.8/50 mm lens. I was shouting when they entered FOV!
8:21 PM - 24 May 2019




Truly amazing and shows the power of using space to benefit all humanity.

Sky Guy in Hot Springs VA at the world famous Omni Homestead for Sun/stargazing

Thursday, May 23, 2019

HELP NASA CHOOSE A SAMPLE SITE

Hey Space Placers!

Want to get involved in exploring an asteroid? Help NASA choose a sample site for its OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid Bennu.

Get the details here.

Sky Guy in VA


Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Send YOUR NAME To MARS!!!!

Hey Space Placers!

Send YOUR NAME to Mars on NASA's Mars 2020 spacecraft  and be part of the almitted so far.most 700K names sub



Hurry because this opportunity ends September 30, 2020.

C'mon, earn those frequent flyer miles ;-) I've gotten hundreds of millions.......

Sky Guy Greg In VA

Monday, May 20, 2019

ISLANDS IN THE DARK - ON THE MOON

Hey Space Placers!


Image of illuminated peaks near the rim of Shackleton crater
Darkness surrounds illuminated peaks between Shackleton crater (rim crest at right) and de Gerlache crater (out of scene left). As lunar days and seaons progress, darkness creeps along this elevated ridge near the south pole. Image width 15 kilometers, NAC M1195011983LR [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].
Enjoy this article about the South Pole of the Moon where there are some very special places.

The lunar South Pole is the next big step in exploration of the Moon.

Sky Guy In VA

Sunday, May 19, 2019

FULL FLOWER BLUE MOON

Hey Space Placers!

If you missed the Full Flower Blue Moon last night here is my pic of it. Be sure to click on the image.

The Moon will be almost full again tonight so get out and enjoy the view!


Enjoy!

Sky Guy Greg

Friday, May 17, 2019

HONEY, I SHRUNK THE MOON

Hey Space Placers! THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS BLOG OVER 3.1 MILLION VIEWS!

A little humor in the title but serious science - the Moon is shrinking due to heat loss as is explained in this article.

The findings are based on the study of 12,000 photographs taken by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)  - the spacecraft that continues to rewrite what we know about the Moon - showing new wrinkle features in the northern part of the Moon known as Mare Frigoris.


Region of the Moon called Mare Frigoris
Scientists have discovered these wrinkle ridges in a region of the Moon called Mare Frigoris. These ridges add to evidence that the Moon has an actively changing surface. This image was taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
NASA/GSFC

The shrinking Moon also is thought to have created "moonquakes" that shaped the Moon's surface, especially in Taurus-Littrow Valley where Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt (the only geologist to to the Moon so far).



An amazing view of Taurus Littrow Valley by LRO:

The Taurus-Littrow valley is the location of the Apollo 17 landing site (asterisk). Cutting across the valley, just above the landing site, is the Lee-Lincoln fault scarp. Movement on the fault was the likely source of numerous moonquakes that triggered events in the valley. 1) Large landslides on of slopes of South Massif draped relatively bright rocks and dust (regolith) on and over the Lee-Lincoln scarp. 2) Boulders rolled down the slopes of North Massif leaving tracks or narrow troughs in the regolith on the slopes of North Massif. 3) Landslides on southeastern slopes of the Sculptured Hills.
Credits: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University/Smithsonian

The more we learn about the Moon the more amazing a place it becomes.

Sky Guy in VA



Thursday, May 16, 2019

LATEST FROM THE CHINA'S FAR SIDE LUNAR MISSION

Hey Space Placers!

If you read my 5/15/19 blog on Artemis, you'll want to read the latest on China's Chang'e 4 mission to the lunar far side.


Image captured by Chang'E 4 showed the landscape near the landing site. (Image by NAOC/CNSA)
Tomorrow we return to the Moon once more - or I should say to the "Incredible Shrinking Moon'.

Sky Guy in VA



Wednesday, May 15, 2019

MEET ARTEMIS - NASA'S RETURN TO THE MOON PROGRAM

Hey Space Placers!

NASA's "Return to the Moon by 2024' finally has a name - Artemis - the twin sister of Apollo. Read about it here  and here.




More on Artemis:



Only time and money will tell if this all comes to fruition.

Make no mistake, if the U.S. doesn't go to the Moon and stay this time, other nations will with China in the forefront.

America must do this to stay relevant in space AND here on Earth.

Sky Guy in VA

Monday, May 13, 2019

UPCOMING EPIC MOON ROCK RESEARCH

Hey Space Placers!

Here is an excellent Washington Post article on upcoming research that will be performed on pristine Apollo lunar samples that have been preserved for the past half century.

This research will be epic because these samples were preserved by NASA nearly 50 years ago with the express intent of waiting for the development of new techniques and instruments to learn new things about the Moon. That time has come later this year.

We know alot about the Moon from prior studies of the Apollo lunar samples  but we are learning more with new methods and instruments. But to study PRISTINE, sealed and frozen samples with these methods - well, it is like a whole new mission to the Moon. We are going to learn so much I do believe.

I will have more on this exciting story as it develops.

Sky Guy Greg

Sunday, May 12, 2019

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 2019

Hey Space Placers!

Happy Mother's Day to all Earth bound mothers - human and other species.

Stars give birth also - to planets - and here is a great collection of newborns in their respective stellar wombs.






ALMA’s high-resolution images of nearby protoplanetary disks, which are results of the Disk Substructures at High Angular Resolution Project (DSHARP). 
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Andrews et al.; N. Lira

Sky Guy in VA

Saturday, May 11, 2019

HAPPY ASTRONOMY DAY

Hey Space Placers!

Today is the first of two Astronomy Day celebrations with the second one being in the fall.

Check out this website to see if there are any events in your area.

We are clouded out here in VA with lots of rain due :-(

But Northern VA Astronomy Club (NOVAC) will be hosting an event rain or shine.

Sky Guy in VA

Friday, May 10, 2019

WATCH A BLACK HOLE IN ACTION

Hey Space Placers!

This is pretty amazing video - a four hour sequence of radio telescope images showing a black hole  Cygni V404 - spewing off plasma clouds in different directions.



Learn more about this amazing system:



The full article is here.

Sky Guy on VA

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

LATEST ON INDIA'S NEXT MOON MISSION

Hey Space Placers!

Here is an NBC News story on India's next Moon missionChandrayaan-2.


It is scheduled for launch between July 9 and 16. The lander and rover are scheduled to land near the South Pole, a very interesting region of the Moon that has never been explored by a lander/rover. It is known to harbor frozen water ice in a likely mix with the lunar soil in permanently shadowed craters.


India's first lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1 was very successful. Let's hope Chandrayaan-2 is as well.


Sky Guy in VA

Monday, May 6, 2019

ONE MILLION SPECIES FACE EXTINCTION

Hey Space Placers!

From the Washington Post comes another sobering story on how we are changing the planet.

This was all over the news cycle today.



Scientists on May 6 released a landmark United Nations report on the damage done by modern civilization to the natural world. 

Humanity had better come to terms with this ultimate reality facing us and do it soon or we will suffer the consequences of our collective foolishness.

Sky Guy in VA

Friday, May 3, 2019

VIEWING ALERT THIS WEEKEND - ETA AQUARIID METEOR SHOWER

Hey Space Placers!

My weather will be cloudy but maybe yours won't be!

Eta Aquariid Radiant
Credit: American Meteor Society
https://www.amsmeteors.org

Here is all the info you need on this weekend's Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower.  Here is background on the shower's source.

Wishing you clear skies and lots of meteors!

Sky Guy VA

Thursday, May 2, 2019

265,000 GALAXIES IN HST LEGACY FIELD PHOTO

Hey Space Placers!

Just about everything you see in this pic from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a galaxy - about 265,000 of them! 

Hubble's Wide View of the Evolving Universe
This Hubble Space Telescope image represents the largest, most comprehensive "history book" of galaxies in the universe.
The image, a combination of nearly 7,500 separate Hubble exposures, represents 16 years' worth of observations.
The ambitious endeavor, called the Hubble Legacy Field, includes several Hubble deep-field surveys, including the eXtreme Deep Field (XDF), the deepest view of the universe. The wavelength range stretches from ultraviolet to near-infrared light, capturing all the features of galaxy assembly over time.
The image mosaic presents a wide portrait of the distant universe and contains roughly 265,000 galaxies. They stretch back through 13.3 billion years of time to just 500 million years after the universe's birth in the big bang. The tiny, faint, most distant galaxies in the image are similar to the seedling villages from which today's great galaxy star-cities grew. The faintest and farthest galaxies are just one ten-billionth the brightness of what the human eye can see.
The wider view contains about 30 times as many galaxies as in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, taken in 2004. The new portrait, a mosaic of multiple snapshots, covers almost the width of the full Moon. Lying in this region is the XDF, which penetrated deeper into space than this legacy field view. However, the XDF field covers less than one-tenth of the full Moon's diameter.
Credits
NASAESA, G. Illingworth and D. Magee (University of California, Santa Cruz), K. Whitaker (University of Connecticut), R. Bouwens (Leiden University), P. Oesch (University of Geneva,) and the Hubble Legacy Field team
Be sure to click on the images in the release so you can zoom in to see the closest thing to "Infinity" we will probably ever see until the 30+ meter telescope and James Webb Space Telescope come on line in a few years.

Sky Guy in VA

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

LOOK AT THIS METEORITE. NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT

Hey Space Placers!

On April 23, 2019 there was a bright bolide (exploding meteor/fireball) over Costa Rica. You may recall that in February 2019 a similar event happened over a village in Cuba and meteorites were recovered.

This Costa Rica meteorite event - known as a fall because space rocks have been recovered - is pretty amazing. Why? Because the type of meteorite that caused it, initially classified as a "CM", is very rare.

NASA scientists TODAY are flying and enroute to meet with Mike Farmer, a meteorite hunter/dealer I have known and bought from for decades, to obtain samples of this newest space rock from him. It is very possible that this fall came from a known dead/inactive comet.

I talked with Mike today about fall this before he was set to leave for Costa Rica for more hunting. He shared with me this incredible photo of a recovered meteorite from this fall and said I could share it:

4/23/19 Costa Rica Fall
Individual Meteorite
Credit: Robert Ward photo via Mike Farmer 
In decades of studying meteorites I have NEVER seen anything like this. The color is real and the specimen was collected before rain occurred so it is as fresh as an Earth specimen can be. What is that BLUE color?

The black color is fusion crust which is about 2mm thick and formed when the outer surface is melted by the friction of entering the Earth's atmosphere and only lasts a few seconds. We know that CM meteorites contain a LOT of chemical compounds and are of great interest in learning about our solar system.

The Murchison Meteorite reminds me of this fall and I think that this space rock will get a great deal of scientific attention.

Be sure to visit Mike's website if you are interested in purchasing genuine meteorites, including this one.

Sky Guy in VA