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Space Weather News for August 10, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
NEW SUNSPOT: A large and beautiful new sunspot is emerging from the
sun's eastern limb. So far it poses no threat for Earth-directed
solar flares, but this could change. The spot is growing fast and
turning toward Earth. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
PERSEID FIREBALLS: With the Moon glaring in the background, this
weekend's Perseid meteor shower is supposed to be a dud. But maybe
it won't be so bad after all. Observers have been seeing some
bright, early Perseids beaming through the moonlight. One such
fireball is featured on today's edition of
http://spaceweather.com along
with a 2006 Perseid observing calendar and links to meteor radars.
NASA Science News for August 7, 2006
When the Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12th, the
nearly-full Moon is probably going to spoil the show. But there might be
something to see before the Moon rises: a side-show of Perseid Earthgrazers.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/07aug_perseids.htm?list96653
Space Weather News for August 7, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
AURORA SURPRISE: A solar wind stream hit Earth this morning,
sparking a geomagnetic storm. The arrival of the stream was
unexpected, but the auroras it produced were a pleasant surprise.
Bright, colorful lights appeared over Canada, while "photographic
auroras" descended as far south as Colorado. See pictures of the
event at http://spaceweather.com.
DAWN PLANETS: Up before dawn? Step outside and look east. You'll
see Venus and Mercury beaming through the rosy glow of sunrise. This
week, the two bright morning planets are converging for a close
encounter on August 10th and 11th. It's a nice way to begin the
day.
Space Weather News for August 6, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
MARS HOAX: A bogus email is going around the Internet. It claims that Mars
will be historically close to Earth on August 27, 2006--so close that Mars will
look as large as the full Moon. This is not true. Here are the facts: On August
27th, Mars will be on the other side of the solar system, about 385 million
kilometers from Earth. The red planet will look tiny and dim, nothing like a
full Moon.
The "Mars Hoax" email first appeared in 2003. On August 27th of that year, Mars
really did come historically close to Earth. But the email's claim that Mars
would rival the Moon was grossly exaggerated. Every August since 2003, the email
has staged a revival. It's as wrong now as it was then.
SUNNY SATURN: Looking for Saturn? Don't. It could hurt your eyes. This
weekend Saturn is passing right by the Sun. See images of the close encounter
at http://Spaceweather.com
NASA Science News for August 4, 2006
The X Games are underway in Los Angeles. One day--who
knows?--they might be held on the Moon. This story takes a whimsical look at the
physics and gear of Lunar X Games.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/04aug_xmoon.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml !
NASA Science News for July 28, 2006
At the dawn on the Space Age, the first spaceship to reach the
Moon crashed. Forty-seven years later, NASA plans to do it again. A ship named
LCROSS is going to hit the Moon, not once but twice, in a daring search for
lunar water.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/28jul_crashlanding.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
NASA Science News for July 26, 2006
1:00:00 PM
Where do hurricanes come from? Researchers are flying across
the Atlantic to catch the mighty storms in the act of being born. The data they
collect could lead to better forecasting and a deeper understanding of
hurricanes.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jul_namma.htm?list96653
Space Weather News for July 25, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
GREAT LAKES: Radar sweeps of Saturn's moon Titan, completed just a
few days ago by the Cassini spacecraft, have revealed something
extraordinary: fluid-filled lakes. Researchers believe the fluid is
not water, but liquid methane, a flammable hydrocarbon. See the
radar images at
http://spaceweather.com .
METEOR SHOWER: This week, Earth is passing through a meteoroid
stream from--where? Its source is unknown. Every year in late
July, the mystery stream produces a mild but pretty meteor shower,
the Southern Delta Aquarids. The best time to look is Friday
morning, July 28th. These meteors tend to be faint, so dark country
skies are recommended.
Visit http://SpaceWeather.com
for sky maps and more information.
Space Weather News for July 21, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
Yesterday on the sun, a magnetic filament snapped. The resulting
explosion hurled a CME into space and sent beautiful waves of energy
surging through the sun's atmosphere. Although the CME is not
heading directly for Earth, the outskirts of the cloud might brush
against Earth's magnetic field on July 23rd, causing a mild
geomagnetic storm.
Visit http://Spaceweather.com
to view movies of the eruption and for updates about the approaching
CME.
NASA
Science News for July 19, 2006
The fourth installment of Science@NASA's
Apollo Chronicles explains why Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin couldn't fall
asleep 37 years ago in the Sea of Tranquillity.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/19jul_seaoftranquillity.htm?list96653
Space Weather News for July 17th
http://spaceweather.com
GENESIS I: An inflatable satellite? Believe it. Genesis I,
launched last week by Russia for a private aerospace firm, blew up
like a balloon when it reached Earth orbit on July 12th. The
mission tests an unorthodox idea, that inflatable modules might be
used to build future space stations. So far so good.
Although it's not the brightest object in the night sky, Genesis I
can be seen making regular passes over the United States and
Europe. A picture of such a flyby is displayed on today's edition
of SpaceWeather.com. If you would like to see the satellite
yourself, sign up for Space Weather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com).
Subscribers will receive email and phone alerts when Genesis is
about to make a bright evening flyby over their hometown.
RED JR. UPDATE: The two biggest storms on Jupiter have been
converging for months, and this week they're at closest approach.
So far, Red Junior and the Great Red Spot are surviving the
encounter with little disruption or weakening of either storm
system. See the latest images at
http://spaceweather.com .
Space Weather News for June 28, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
NEW SUNSPOTS: After several days of utter spotlessless, the face of
the Sun is changing. Two new sunspots have emerged: one is large
and the other is growing with wild abandon. It's a good show for
solar observers. So far neither 'spot poses a threat for strong
solar flares, but this could change if the rapid growth continues.
MAMMATUS CLOUDS: Is it raining where you live? After the storm, go
outside and look up. You might spot a strange and beautiful
formation of "mammatus clouds," which often herald the end of severe
weather. They are jaw-dropping. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
pictures.
SPACESHIP SIGHTINGS: During the first week of July, the
International Space Station will make a series of bright evening
passes over the United States. If the space shuttle Discovery
launches as planned on July 1st, it will join the station, flying in
tandem over many locations. Would you like to see them? Sign up
for Space Weather PHONE to receive alerts when the pair are about to
fly over your hometown:
http://spaceweatherphone.com .
NASA Science News for June 29, 2006
Who needs fireworks? As night falls on the 4th of July, a
moon, a giant planet and a spaceship will emerge from the twilight for a sky
show of their own.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/29jun_july4th.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
You are currently subscribed to snglist as:
TomSutor@hotmail.com.
Space Weather News for June 16, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
NORWEGIAN FIREBALL: A spectacular fireball that flew over
Norway last week, causing sonic booms and making the ground shake
when a meteorite presumably hit the ground, was not quite as
spectacular as first reported. Researchers now estimate the kinetic
energy of the event as 300 tons of TNT, far short of the
Hiroshima-like blast described in some news reports.
Space rocks with this much energy hit Earth more often than is
commonly supposed--once a month or so. Most go unnoticed
because they enter the atmosphere over uninhabited stretches of our
planet, or during broad daylight when fireballs are difficult to
see, or at late hours of the night when would-be sky watchers are
asleep. This one was seen (and by some accounts felt), so it
made a bigger "splash" than usual. Searchers are
still scouring the countryside for possible fragments of the
meteorite.
MARS AND SATURN: After passing through the Beehive star
cluster last night, Mars is on a collision course with Saturn--at
least it looks that way. The two planets will not collide, but
they will have a pleasing close encounter in the evening sky on
Saturday night, June 17th. Look west after sunset.
Space Weather News for June 14, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
CONVERGING PLANETS: Mars and Saturn aren't super-bright, but they
will catch your eye after dark because they are so close together.
The two planets are converging, forming a tight pair in the western
sky. Look for them just after sunset on the evenings of June 15th
through 17th. The view is best on June 17th, when Saturn and Mars
are closest together, but it's also fun watching them converge on
the two nights before.
PHOTO-OP: June 15th is special because, en route to Saturn, Mars
will glide in front of the Beehive star cluster. Using binoculars or
a small telescope you can easily see the ensemble: it will look like
a red supernova (Mars) has gone off among the stars of the Beehive.
Astrophotographers, prepare your cameras!
SPACE STATION SIGHTINGS: At this time of year, near the June
solstice, the International Space Station (ISS) is orbiting in
almost continuous sunlight. It's a great time to see the ISS flying
brightly-lit through the night sky. Would you like to be alerted
when the ISS is about to fly over your backyard? Sign up for
SpaceWeather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com .
For sky maps and more information about these events, please visit
http://spaceweather.com .
NASA Science News for June 13, 2006
Last month, astronomers watched a meteoroid blast a hole in
the lunar Sea of Clouds. Their video of the event is a must-see.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/13jun_lunarsporadic.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml !
Space Weather News for June 3, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
STRANGE CLOUDS; Last night, sky watchers in Northern Ireland
witnessed a vivid display of electric-blue noctilucent clouds. Also
known as "NLCs," these clouds float through the outer reaches of
Earth's atmosphere at the very edge of space. They are most often
seen from far-northern places such as Scandinavia or Canada, but in
recent years they have been spotted as far south as Colorado and
Utah. Last night's display marks the beginning of the 2006
noctilucent cloud season. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and a gallery of
recent sightings.
NASA Science News for June 1, 2006
A little droid is roaming the corridors of the International
Space Station, and more are on the way.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/01jun_spheres.htm?list96653
Space Weather News for May 30, 2006
http://Spaceweather.com
METEOR WATCH: On May 31st, Earth will pass about five million miles
from the dusty orbit of crumbling comet 73P/Schwassmann Wachmann 3.
The great distance means a meteor shower is unlikely; but 73P is
such a strange comet that even the unlikely is possible. Be alert
for meteors slowly cutting across the sky in the nights ahead.
MOON & PLANETS: Also, keep an eye on the western sky at sunset
tonight and tomorrow. On Tuesday evening, May 30th, the crescent
Moon will appear right beside Mars. On Wednesday evening, May 31st,
the Moon will glide by Saturn. The Moon makes a handy guide for
finding these planets.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for sky maps and more information.
NASA Science News for May 30, 2006
Something remarkable is about to happen in the evening sky.
Three planets and a star cluster are converging for a close encounter you won't
want to miss.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30may_starsandplanets.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
NASA Science News for May 26, 2006
Earth's ozone layer appears to be on the road to recovery, but
the reasons why aren't fully understood.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26may_ozone.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
NASA Science News for May 22, 2006
A 22-year veteran of prospecting and mining on Earth has some
no-nonsense advice for lunar explorers.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/22may_beaty.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
NASA Science News for April 4, 2006
Researchers have noticed something odd about fine-powdered
moondust--it's magnetic. This raises the possibility that magnets could be used
for dust abatement when astronauts return to the moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/04apr_magneticmoondust.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for April 3, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
Solar activity is suddenly increasing. The biggest sunspots of the
year are crossing the solar disk; one group is longer than 10 Earth
diameters and poses a threat for solar flares. Meanwhile,
astronomers are monitoring a large and delightfully complex
prominence dancing long the sun's limb. Whether all this will
translate into magnetic storms and auroras remains to be seen.
Please visit
http://spaceweather.com for pictures and updates.
Would you like to know about solar flares the instant they erupt?
Sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
Space Weather News for March 31, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
A couple of days ago, people were excited when the Moon eclipsed the
sun, a single star. On Saturday, April 1st, the Moon is going to
eclipse an entire star cluster--the Pleiades. The eclipse (or
"occultation") will be visible from eastern and central parts of
North America. Start looking as soon as the sun sets. The slender
crescent moon will pop out of the western twilight next to or among
the stars of the Pleiades. Binoculars are recommended but not
required.
Of special interest is a set of grazing occultations visible from
Washington, DC; Birmingham, Alabama; Statesboro, Georgia; and Hilton
Head island, South Carolina. Sky watchers there can see stars
grazing the lunar limb, blinking in and out among the mountains of
the moon.
Even if you're outside the occultation-zone, be sure to scan the
western sky on Saturday night. The slender crescent moon, complete
with Earthshine, will be pleasingly close to the Pleiades no matter
where you live.
Visit http://Spaceweather.com
for sky maps and more information.
Space Weather News for March 28, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
Parts of Brazil, Africa, Turkey, central Asia and Mongolia: These
are places where people can see a total eclipse of the sun on
Wednesday, March 29th. A partial eclipse will be visible over a
much wider area, including all of Europe. Astronauts onboard the
International Space Station will have the rarest view of all. The
station is due to pass over Turkey while the eclipse is in progress
there, giving astronauts a magnificent view-not of the sun, but of
the moon's cool shadow.
Visit spaceweather.com for full coverage, including an animated
eclipse map, links to live webcasts, and a simulated view from the
International Space Station.
NASA Science News for March 24, 2006
A cometary "string-of-pearls" will fly past Earth in May 2006
giving astronomers a fantastic view of a comet in its death throes.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/24mar_73p.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for March 23, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
ZODIACAL LIGHTS: When the sun does down tonight and the glow of
sunset fades away, another glow will take its place--the Zodiacal
Lights. If you live in the northern hemisphere, this is the best
time of year to see them. They stretch upward from the western
horizon forming a pale luminous triangle visible from places with
dark skies. Zodiacal Lights are faint but pretty, and worth a trip
to the countryside to see.
MEANWHILE ON JUPITER things are getting weird. Two anti-cyclones are
bumping into Jupiter's new red spot, "Red Jr." Together, the trio
strangely resemble Mickey Mouse.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and pictures of Jupiter and the Zodiacal
Lights.
NASA Science News for March 22, 2006
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, space travel is
a good way to stay young. Or is it? Cosmic rays hitting human chromosomes can
damage "telomeres" and cause premature symptoms of aging. NASA researchers are
looking into this strange effect; what they learn about aging could benefit
everyone, on Earth and in space.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/22mar_telomeres.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for March 19, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
WEEKEND AURORAS: A solar wind stream hit Earth on March 18th,
sparking a geomagnetic storm and auroras over northern US states
such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. It's no coincidence that
auroras are showing up now--on the eve of Northern Spring. History
shows that weeks around the equinoxes are often good times to catch
Northern Lights. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for more information and pictures of
this weekend's auroras.
NASA Science News for March 15, 2006
NASA astronauts are going back to the moon and when they get
there they may need quake-proof housing. The moon is shaking with "shallow
moonquakes" that researchers don't fully understand.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/15mar_moonquakes.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for March 10, 2006
This week researchers announced that a storm is coming--the
most intense solar maximum in perhaps fifty years. In this story we explore the
underpinnings of the forecast and what it means for the years ahead.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/10mar_stormwarning.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for March 9, 2006
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found evidence of liquid water
reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/09mar_enceladus.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for March 6, 2006
Something's happening on the sun: all the sunspots have
vanished. Solar physicists say this is a sign that solar minimum has arrived.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/06mar_solarminimum.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm.
NASA Science News for March 3, 2006
Backyard astronomers, grab your telescopes. Jupiter is growing
a new red spot.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/02mar_redjr.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for Feb. 24, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
MERCURY AT ITS BEST: Tonight is the best night of the year to see
Mercury. Step outside at sunset and look west. Mercury is the bright
pink "star" shining through the glow of the setting sun. (If you
miss the planet tonight, try again tomorrow. Mercury will remain
visible at sunset all weekend long.)
NEW COMET: A new comet is emerging in the morning sky. Comet
Pojmanski has been brightening since its discovery in January and
can now be found just east of Venus before sunrise. The best way to
see the comet is through binoculars or a small telescope: It looks
like a fuzzy 5th-magnitude star with a small tail.
Visit http://Spaceweather.com
for sky maps and more information.
Space Weather News for Feb. 22, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
AURORA SURPRISE: Sunspots have been scarce lately, but that doesn't
mean solar activity is nil. A solar wind gust hit Earth's magnetic
field on Feb 19th, sparking auroras of exceptional beauty over
far-North America. Visit SpaceWeather.com to view pictures of the
storm taken from Earth and Earth-orbit.
SPACE STATION MOON MOVIE: An amateur astronomer has recorded the
finest movie to date of the International Space Station gliding in
front of the moon. Watch the video at
http://spaceweather.com. This
week and next, the space station will perform a series of bright
passes over North America. Would you like to see it? Sign up for
Spaceweather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
NASA Science News for February 21,
2006
Mercury makes a rare appearance in the evening sky this week.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21feb_mercury.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for Feb. 15, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
ALIEN LIGHTNING: NASA's Cassini spacecraft is tracking an intense
lightning storm on Saturn. The powerful bolts are causing the
spacecraft's radio instruments to "crackle"--much like the crackles
you might hear coming from your car's AM radio when you drive by a
thunderstorm on Earth. Visit
http://spaceweather.com to listen to the sounds of Saturn's
lightning.
400-YEAR OLD SUNSPOTS: Today is the 442nd birthday of Galileo
Galilei, a figure of importance in the history of space weather.
Contrary to popular belief, Galileo didn't discover sunspots, but he
was one of the first to observe them using a telescope and he
discovered many of their basic properties. Visit
http://spaceweather.com to
learn more about Galileo's pioneering work and to see actual
drawings of sunspots he made more than four centuries ago.
NASA Science News for February 14,
2006
Olympic aerialist and gold medal winner Eric Bergoust
discusses the wonderful possibilities of ski-jumping on the moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/14feb_bigair.htm?list96653
Bonus: Yesterday, American snowboarder Hannah Teter won a gold
medal at the 2006 Torino Olympic Games. In an educational video she made for
NASA, Hannah explains why snowboarders would make good astronauts.
WATCH THE VIDEO at
http://brainbites.nasa.gov/snowboarder/
NASA Science News for February 8,
2006
If winter Olympic Games were held on the moon, where would
they be? The lunar Alps, of course. Never heard of them? They exist, and you can
see them with our own eyes this week. "Lunar Olympics" kicks off a series of
Science@NASA articles about the physics of low-gravity sports.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/08feb_lunaralps.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml !
NASA Science News for January 30,
2006
Long after the last Apollo astronaut left the moon, a mystery
lingers: Why does moondust smell like gunpowder? In this installment of Apollo
Chronicles, astronauts describe the surprising smell and taste of moondust,
which they experienced first-hand inside their lunar landers. The dust gave one
astronaut a case of hay fever. What does it all mean? To find out, read the FULL
STORY:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30jan_smellofmoondust.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for January 26,
2006
A very strange satellite is about to go into Earth orbit. It's
"SuitSat," an empty spacesuit thrown overboard from the International Space
Station. Using a simple police scanner or ham radio, you can listen to SuitSat
when it orbits over your hometown.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26jan_suitsat.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
Space Weather News for Jan. 26, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH SATURN: On Friday, Jan. 27th, Saturn will be at its
closest to Earth for all of 2006. Even a small telescope will show the planet's
exquisite rings. Look for Saturn rising in the east at sunset (it looks like a
bright yellow star) and soaring overhead at midnight. Bad weather on Friday?
Don't worry. Saturn will remain close to Earth for weeks to come. You'll have
many more chances to see the ringed planet at its best. Visit Spaceweather.com
for details and a sky map.
BIG SUNSPOT: Sunspot 848 burst through the surface of the sun last week and
quickly grew into a planet-sized behemoth. (Which planet? Coincidentally,
Saturn.) Now it is falling apart. The rise and fall of this big 'spot is shown
in a movie on Spaceweather.com.
NASA Science News for January 17,
2006
The ski report is out of this world: clear skies, no wind and
deep powder. We're talking about the moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/17jan_jack.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for January 9, 2006
Three of the most powerful hurricanes of 2005 were filled with
mysterious lightning.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/09jan_electrichurricanes.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml .
Space Weather News for Jan. 4, 2006
http://spaceweather.com
VENUSIAN RAINBOWS: Venus is hanging low in the southwestern sky at
sunset. Amateur astronomers who've looked at it lately have noticed
something extraordinary: Venus looks like a tiny crescent-shaped
rainbow. Using binoculars or a backyard telescope, you can see this
phenomenon yourself. But don't wait, because Venus will soon
disappear into the glare of the Sun, not to return to the evening
sky until Dec. 2006. Check
http://spaceweather.com for a sky map, photos and an
explanation.
EARTH AT PERIHELION: Don't look, but the Sun is bigger than usual
this week. That's because Earth is at perihelion, the closest point
in our planet's orbit to the Sun. In the dead cold of northern
winter, we're almost 2% closer to the Sun than the annual average.
Strange but true.
ISS FLYBYS: The International Space Station (ISS) will be flying
over the United States this month during evening hours when it is
easy to see. Would you like a phone call to alert you when the ISS
is about to fly over your home town? Sign up for SpaceWeather
PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
NASA Science News for January 3, 2006
Astronauts have noticed something strange about shadows on the
moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/03jan_moonshadows.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
Space Weather News for Dec. 29, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
AURORA MEGA-GALLERY: We've collected every aurora photo ever
published on SpaceWeather.com into one "mega-gallery." There are
spooky auroras, man-made auroras, auroras in Florida, auroras at the
South Pole, auroras beneath the space shuttle--thousands of photos.
Together, they are a unique chronicle of space weather since the
year 2000. Browse the collection at
http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery.html .
NEW YEAR'S MOON: There's going to be an unusual New Moon on Dec.
31, 2005. It's the second New Moon in less than a month. When
there are two *Full* Moons in a month, we give the second one a
special name, "Blue Moon." Maybe the second *New* Moon should have
a special name, too. SpaceWeather readers have made their
suggestions, and we've picked a favorite. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
the full story.
Space Weather News for Dec. 23, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
CHRISTMAS MORNING: "Mom, dad, wake up, it's Christmas!" If this
happens to you at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 25th, steal a glance out the
window on your way to the tree. The crescent moon will be gliding by
the bright star Spica--a pretty close encounter. In some places the
moon will actually blot out the star. Check
http://spaceweather.com for
sky maps and more information.
AN EXPLOSION ON THE MOON: So you thought nothing ever happens on
the moon? Think again. NASA scientists have observed a surprising
and powerful explosion in the lunar Sea of Rains. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
the full story.
Spaceweather.com is supported by
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.
NASA Science News for December 23,
2005
So you thought nothing ever happens on the moon? Think again.
NASA scientists have observed a surprising and powerful explosion in the lunar
Sea of Rains.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22dec_lunartaurid.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm.
Space Weather News for Dec. 10, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
BRIGHT PLANETS.... When the sun goes down on Sunday, Dec. 11th,
you've got to go outside and look. In the south, Venus is shining
at its maximum brightness for all of 2005. (Through a telescope,
Venus appears to be a tiny crescent--very pretty.) And in the east,
Mars and the Moon are having a close encounter. Don't miss it!
...AND METEORS: The Geminid meteor shower peaks on Dec. 13th and
14th. Unfortunately, the glaring Moon will spoil the show, wiping
out all but the brightest Geminids. There is, however, a single
hour when the Geminids might be visible in full force. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
details.
ICY BONUS: With a cold wave sweeping across the USA, filling the
air with ice and snow, people are seeing some unusual things in the
sky. During the week ahead we'll show you some of them, beginning
with false auroras and diamond dust sundogs. Check every day for a
new picture.
NASA Science News for December 7,
2005
An old Apollo experiment is telling researchers something new
and surprising about the moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07dec_moonstorms.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for November 22,
2005
Thanksgiving is the biggest travel holiday of the year in the
United States. If you find yourself on an airplane, look out the window. There
are some strange things out there....
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22nov_thanksgivingskies.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml .
NASA Science News for November 21,
2005
Using laser beams and electric fields, NASA researchers are
catching individual grains of moondust and studying the curious way they behave.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/21nov_abbas.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
Space Weather News for Nov. 16, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
BIG SUNSPOT: An impressive sunspot, "NOAA 822," has appeared on the
Earth-facing side of the sun. Measured from end to end, it is wider
than Jupiter, and it is crackling with M-class (medium-sized) solar
flares. So far none of the explosions has hurled a coronal mass
ejection toward Earth. Geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible,
however, if this 'spot unleashes a major flare in the days ahead.
TAURID FIREBALLS: The Taurid meteor shower, which peaked in early
November and should be subsiding, continues to produce fireballs,
according to reports submitted to the American Meteor Society. If
you're outside at night this week, keep an eye on the sky for bright
meteors.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and updates.
Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms erupt? Try Space
Weather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
Space Weather News for Nov. 13, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
THE LEONIDS: The most famous of all meteor showers, the Leonids,
peaks on Thursday, Nov. 17th. A few years ago, the Leonids were
storming, filling the skies with bright meteors. But not this year.
The 2005 Leonids are expected to be few (less than 20 per hour) and
hard to see because of the glaring full Moon.
Nevertheless, if you're an enthusiast, you might want to go outside
before sunrise on Nov. 17th and look up. The sparkling stars of
northern winter will be on full display, along with Saturn and the
full Moon, and you might spot a few meteors, too.
THE MOON & MARS: This is good: The Moon and Mars are getting
together for a beautiful close encounter. You can see them rising in
the east, side-by-side, at sundown on Monday, Nov. 14th.
NASA Science News for November 9,
2005
How do you put troublesome moondust to good use? Simple. All
it takes is a lunar lawn mower.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/09nov_lawnmower.htm
NASA Science News for November 3,
2005
Earth is orbiting through a swarm of space debris that may be
producing an unusual number of nighttime fireballs.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/03nov_taurids.htm?list96653
Vote for the Science@NASA podcast at
http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=825
To find out more, read
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
Space Weather News for Oct. 29, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
ENCOUNTER WITH MARS: This weekend, Mars comes closer to Earth than
it will again for another 13 years. Rising in the east after
sunset, Mars looks like an intense pumpkin-colored star--very bright
and easy to find.
A great number of people will see Mars on Halloween while outdoors
Trick or Treating. Although, technically speaking, the moment of
closest approach occurs on Oct. 30th, a day before Halloween, the
difference in distance between Oct. 30th and Oct. 31st is too slight
to matter. Mars will still look terrific.
OCTOPUS DUST STORM: A new dust storm has erupted on Mars, big and
bright enough to see through backyard telescopes. Some longtime
observers say it's the most intense they've ever seen. On Oct. 28th
the billowing cloud assumed the shaped of a giant tentacled
octopus. Mars is putting on quite a show.
SpaceWeather.com is supported in part by SpaceWeather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
Space Weather News for Oct. 18, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Looking for Mars? Tonight you can find it using the Moon as a
"landmark." Go outside between 9 and 10 p.m. local time and look
east. (You can do this even earlier if you have a clear view of the
eastern horizon.) You'll see the Moon and Mars rising together in
the eastern sky. Both are bright: The Moon is almost full and Mars
looks like a brilliant orange star. If you're impressed by Mars
tonight, you'll be even more impressed two weeks from now when Mars
makes its closest approach to Earth for the next 13 years. Get the
full story and a sky map at
http://spaceweather.com.
EXTRA: Amateur astronomers are monitoring a growing dust storm on
Mars big enough to see through backyard telescopes. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
images and updates.
Space Weather News for Oct. 15, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
According to folklore, October's full moon is called the "Hunter's
Moon" or sometimes the "Blood Moon." It gets its name from hunters
who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling
food for the winter ahead. The Hunter's Moon of 2005 is due on Oct.
17th.
If you live on the Pacific side of Earth (California to Alaska,
Hawaii, Japan and Australia), you can see a partial eclipse of the
Hunter's Moon. The best time to look is Monday morning at 5:00 a.m.
PDT (Oct. 17, 1200 UT) when the edge of the Moon dips into the
darkest part of Earth's shadow. Only a little bit of the Moon will
be shaded. A casual observer might not even notice the eclipse; but
if you know what to look for, you'll definitely see it.
NASA Science News for October 14,
2005
Engineers have found a way to boost the performance of liquid
fueled rockets. The secret is in the plumbing.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/14oct_betterrocket.htm?list96653
Vote for the Science@NASA podcast at
http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=825
To find out more, read
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
NASA Science News for October 4, 2005
Later this week, at sunset, you can step outside and witness a
display of light and shadow on the Moon that puzzled sky watchers for thousands
of years--until Leonardo Da Vinci figured it out.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/04oct_leonardo.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
Space Weather News for September 30, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR ECLIPSE: On October 3rd, the moon will glide in front of the
sun, producing a solar eclipse visible across Europe, Africa and the
Middle East. The eclipse won't be total, but rather annular: at
maximum eclipse, an intense "ring of fire" will encircle the moon.
This happens when the moon is a bit too small to completely cover
the sun. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for visibility maps, safe observing tips
and photos of past annular eclipses.
MYSTERY RAINBOW: What does it take to make a rainbow? Two things:
raindrops and sunlight. On Sept. 26, however, observers in Belgium
saw a rainbow with no sun and no rain. Read about this mysterious
rainbow on http://spaceweather.com.
NASA Science News for September 29,
2005
A thousand years ago, Mayan civilization collapsed. Today, a
Space Age "situation room" in Panama is helping modern Central Americans avoid
mistakes that doomed the Maya.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/29sep_servir.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
NASA Science News for September 15,
2005
With a burst of activity on the sun this week, solar minimum
is looking strangely like Solar Max.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/15sep_solarminexplodes.htm?list96653
Vote for the Science@NASA podcast at
http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=825
To find out more, read
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
Space Weather News for Sept. 14, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
Sunspot 798/808 flared twice more yesterday, and at least one of the
X-class explosions propelled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward
Earth. NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of severe geomagnetic
activity when the CME arrives--perhaps tonight, Sept. 14-15. Sky
watchers at all latitudes should be alert for auroras.
Observing tips: Although auroras are sometimes bright enough to
shine through city lights, you'll see more from a dark-sky site in
the countryside. The best time to look is usually during the hours
around local midnight.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and updates.
Space Weather News for Sept. 10, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Solar activity remains very high and shows no signs of abating.
Sunspot 798/808 has unleashed seven X-class solar flares since Sept.
7th. Forecasters say there's a 75% chance of more X-flares during
the next 24 hours, possibly causing radio blackouts and radiation
storms.
Coronal mass ejections hurled into space by these explosions could
hit Earth's magnetic field in the days ahead. Sky watchers,
particularly in northern places like Canada and Alaska, should
remain alert for auroras. The best time to look is local midnight.
The sun's 27-day rotation is slowly turning sunspot 798 to face
Earth. Explosions in the coming week will be increasingly
Earth-directed, raising the possibility of geomagnetic storms and
auroras over the continental United States, Europe and Australia.
Visit http://SpaceWeather.com
for updates.
Would you like a call when auroras are brewing over your hometown?
Sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE:
http://spaceweatherphone.com
NASA Science News for September 8,
2005
Astronauts on the Moon will be exposed to cosmic rays and
solar flares--and that's not all: the Moon itself can be a source of radiation.
NASA is sending a robotship to the Moon to measure exactly how much radiation
awaits human explorers.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/08sep_radioactivemoon.htm?list96653
Vote for the Science@NASA podcast at
http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=825
To find out more, read
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm
Space Weather News for September 7, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Today, Earth-orbiting satellites detected a major X-class solar
flare coming from the sun's eastern limb. The source of the
explosion is probably returning sunspot 798, which sparked strong
geomagnetic storms in August. Although today's flare was not
Earth-directed, explosions later this week could be as the active
region turns more and more toward our planet. September, like
August, could turn into a good month for auroras.
Visit http://Spaceweather.com
for images and updates.
Space Weather News for Sept. 6, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
SUNSET PLANETS: On Tuesday, Sept. 6th--that's today--the crescent
moon will leap up from the glare of the Sun to join Venus and
Jupiter in the western sky at sunset. It's going to be a beautiful
sight; don't miss it! Bonus: Can you see a ghostly glow across the
dark part of the moon? That's Earthshine.
Visit htttp://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.
Space Weather News for August 31, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Reminder: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look
west. Do you see a pair of lights beaming through the rosy glow of
sunset? That would be Venus and Jupiter: the two bright planets are
converging for a beautiful close encounter. They'll be side-by-side
for the next few days.
Visit http://Spaceweather.com
for sky maps and pictures from around the world--including the South
Pole where the sun is just coming up after a long dark winter, but
the sky is still dark enough to see Venus and Jupiter.
NASA Science News for August 30, 2005
Humans are heading back to the Moon. Tennis, anyone? Tennis
pro Andy Roddick ponders the physics of his game on other worlds.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/30aug_moontennis.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm .
NASA Science News for August 26, 2005
Venus, Jupiter and the Moon are gathering for a beautiful
sunset sky show.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/26aug_sunset.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm.
NASA Science News for August 25, 2005
After reading this article, you might never look at trash bags
the same way again. A new material called "RXF1" derived from the plastic of
ordinary household trash bags could help protect astronauts from space radiation
en route to Mars.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/25aug_plasticspaceships.htm?list96653
Find out about the Science@NASA Podcast feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.htm.
NASA Science News for August 10, 2005
Astronauts on the Moon and Mars may have to cope with an
uncommon amount of static electricity.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10aug_crackling.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml
NASA Science News for August 5, 2005
How do you get plants to grow on Mars? Step One: relieve their
anxiety.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/05aug_nostress.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
Space Weather News for July 29, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
As anticipated, an active sunspot group has emerged over the sun's
eastern limb, and it is slowly turning to face Earth. If the spot's
recent high level of activity continues, Earth-directed explosions
could spark geomagnetic storms and auroras next week. Visit
spaceweather.com for more information and updates.
Space Weather News for July 26, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
At any given moment, only one side of the sun faces Earth. The
other side, the farside, is hidden from direct view. Nevertheless,
it is possible to monitor activity "over there." In recent days the
farside of the sun has been very active. One or more sunspots have
been exploding, hurling coronal mass ejections (CMEs) over the sun's
limb. Because the sun spins, sunspots on the farside now will be
rotating around to face Earth later this week and next, raising the
possibility of geomagnetic storms and auroras.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and updates.
NASA Science News for July 22, 2005
The planet Mars joins the Perseid meteor shower for a
beautiful display on August 12th.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22jul_perseids2005.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
NASA Science News for July 14, 2005
When humans visit Mars, they'll have to watch out for towering
electrified dust devils.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/14jul_dustdevils.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
Space Weather News for July 14, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Solar activity has suddenly increased with a series of strong
explosions from sunspot 786, including an X-category flare this
morning. Because the sunspot is near the sun's western limb, none of
the blasts was squarely Earth-directed. Nevertheless, coronal mass
ejections hurled into space by these explosions could deliver
glancing blows to Earth's magnetic field as early as tonight (July
14-15) and continuing through the weekend, possibly sparking
geomagnetic storms and auroras. Check spaceweather.com for movies
of the explosions, more information and updates.
You are currently subscribed to spaceweather as:
TomSutor@hotmail.com.
NASA Science News for June 28, 2005
On the 4th of July, a NASA spacecraft will blast a hole in
Comet Tempel 1.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/28jun_deepimpact.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
Space Weather News for June 25, 2005
http://www.spaceweather.com
PLANETS ALIGN: Step outside tonight at sunset and look west toward
the glow of the setting sun. As soon as the sky gets dark, you'll
see three planets--Venus, Mercury and Saturn--gathered close
together not far above the western horizon It's a beautiful
alignment. You have three chances to see them: June 25th, June 26th
and June 27th. A clear view of the western horizon is key.
NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: While you're out looking at the planets, be
alert also for noctilucent clouds. They've been sighted over Europe
and/or Canada almost every day for the past two weeks. Noctilucent
clouds typically appear after sunset, glowing electric blue and
crisscrossed by many fine ripples and waves. Visit
spaceweather.com to view sample photos and to read about the mystery
of this beautiful phenomenon.
NASA Science News for June 24, 2005
Scientists are reviving an old but wild idea to protect
astronauts from space radiation.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/24jun_electrostatics.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
NASA Science News for June 10, 2005
Going to the Moon? Be careful. A new kind of solar storm can
take you by surprise.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10jun_newstorm.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
Space Weather News for June 6, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
VENUS RETURNS: After many months in hiding, Venus has returned to
the evening sky. You can see it at sunset; it pops into view long
before the sky grows completely dark. Wednesday evening, June 8th,
is an especially good time to look, because then Venus will be
pleasingly close to the slender crescent Moon.
DAYTIME METEORS: The annual Arietid meteor shower peaks on June 7th
and 8th. You won't see many meteors, though, because the shower is
most intense when the sun is high in the sky. The Arietids are a
rare daytime meteor shower. Researchers aren't certain where the
Arietids come from, but they might be debris from sungrazing
asteroid Icarus.
NASA Science News for June 3, 2005
NASA-supported sleep researchers are learning new and
surprising things about naps.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/03jun_naps.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
NASA Science News for May 27, 2005
Earth and Mars will have a breathtaking close encounter in
October 2005. Can't wait? Don't. You can see the red planet now.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/27may_approachingmars.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
NASA Science News for May 24, 2005
NASA plans to put a laser in orbit around the Moon to map its
surface for future explorers.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/24may_lola.htm?list96653
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
Space Weather News for May 16, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
As predicted, a coronal mass ejection swept past Earth on Saturday,
May 14th, sparking a strong geomagnetic storm and spectacular
auroras. "Northern Lights" were seen in the United States as
far south as California and Arizona. Visit
http://spaceweather.com to
browse a growing gallery of photos.
Space Weather News for May 14, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading for Earth following a
strong solar flare on May 13th. Sky watchers should be alert
for auroras when the cloud arrives on May 14th or 15th. The
display, if it materializes, will be best over high latitudes--e.g.,
Alaska and Canada. But CMEs sometimes spark auroras over lower
latitudes, too, so everyone should keep an eye on the sky this
weekend.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for updates.
Space Weather News for May 10, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
DEJA VU? A big spot is growing on the sun--again. Today
sunspot 758 is almost as wide as the planet Jupiter; two days ago it
was sparse and unimpressive. Like sunspot 756 in late April,
this new active region reminds us how quickly big sunspots can
materialize--even during solar minimum.
CRESCENT MOON: Step outside tonight or tomorrow at sunset and look
west. You can see a beautifully-slender crescent moon emerging from
the twilight. Can you also see a ghostly glow across the Moon's dark
terrain? That's Earthshine, which research shows is brightest during
northern spring.
Visit http://SpaceWeather.com
for sky maps, safe solar observing tips, and more information about
Earthshine.
NASA Science News for May 9, 2005
Researchers agree that space radiation can cause cancer.
They're just not sure how.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/09may_mysteriouscancer.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
Space Weather News for May 4th
http://spaceweather.com
Earth is about to glide through a stream of space dust trailing
Halley's Comet, producing a mild but beautiful shower of meteors
called the eta Aquarids. The shower is most intense over the
southern hemisphere, where dark-sky observers might see one meteor
every few minutes or so. Northern hemisphere rates are much lower
but not zero.
When should you look? The shower's peak spans May 5th and 6th. Try
the hours before local dawn on both dates.
Eta Aquarid meteors emerge from a point in the constellation
Aquarius that is, coincidentally, close to the planet Mars. Mars is
approaching Earth for a close encounter later this year; already
it's one of the brightest objects in the pre-dawn sky. So if you
wake up early in the days ahead to look for meteors, you can see
Mars, too--a nice bonus.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for sky maps and more information.
Space Weather News for April 29, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
More than four years after solar maximum, the sun continues to
produce big sunspots. There's one transiting the solar disk now.
It's about five times wider than our entire planet Earth--in other
words, big enough to see with the unaided eye. But please do not
stare at the blinding sun. Visit
http://Spaceweather.com for safe solar observing tips, plus a
movie of the growing 'spot and photos taken by amateur astronomers
around the world.
NASA Science News for April 28, 2005
Settling alien worlds is thirsty work. Before sending people
back to the Moon, NASA plans to send a robotic spacecraft first to hunt for
water.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/28apr_lro.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
NASA Science News for April 26, 2005
Have you ever heard of moondust hay fever? It's no joke. When
humans return to the Moon and travel to Mars, they'll have to be careful of what
they inhale.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/22apr_dontinhale.htm?list96653
Science@NASA stories are available in Spanish at our sister
site, Ciencia@NASA .
Space Weather News for April 21st
http://spaceweather.com
LYRID METEOR SHOWER: The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks on
Friday, April 22nd, when Earth passes through a stream of dusty
debris trailing Comet Thatcher. This is not an intense shower.
Nevertheless, if you wake up an hour or so before dawn on Friday,
and watch the sky, you might see a sprinkling of meteors emerge from
the vicinity of the bright star Vega. Expect one every 5 to 10
minutes or so. (Note: This is a northern hemisphere shower;
southern observers can stay in bed.)
THE MOON & JUPITER: Here's something you can definitely see: The
full Moon and Jupiter will be pleasingly close together all night
long on April 21st-22nd. Look for them rising in the east at sunset
on Thursday. Jupiter is at its closest to Earth this month, so it's
absolutely brilliant; only the Moon itself is brighter. Together
they're eye-catching and beautiful. (If you're outdoors on Friday
morning looking for Lyrids, you'll also see Jupiter and the Moon
hovering near the western horizon--a nice bonus.)
AURORA WATCH: Earth is about to run into a high-speed solar wind
stream, and that could spark a geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers in
Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia should be alert for auroras on April
22nd or 23rd.
Visit Spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.
NASA Science News for April 20, 2005
There's going to be a marvelous solar eclipse on April 24th.
One small problem: you have to fly to the Moon to see it. Check out today's
story to view an animation of what the eclipse might look like.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/20apr_lunareclipse.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
Space Weather News for April 15th
http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR ECLIPSE: Last week, sky watchers saw crescent sunsets, rings
of fire and other strange things during a solar eclipse. See for
yourself: browse the image gallery at Spaceweather.com, which
includes photos from the path of totality in the remote South
Pacific.
FINDING SATURN: Have you seen Saturn lately? It's easy to find
tonight, Friday, April 14th. Step outside after sunset and look
west. Saturn is that bright yellow star near the moon. If you have
a telescope, point it at Saturn. Even small telescopes show the
planet's lovely rings. Visit Spaceweather.com for a sky map and
more information.
NASA Science News for April 14, 2005
Come and get it? Some researchers believe there's water on the
Moon in reach of human explorers.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/14apr_moonwater.htm?list96653
The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.
NASA Science News for March 30, 2005
When astronauts return to the Moon in the years ahead, they might
encounter electrified fountains, pale "auroras" of dust and other
strange
things.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/30mar_moonfountains.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for March 28, 2005
By measuring the shape of spacetime with exquisite precision, NASA's
Gravity Probe B spacecraft aims to confirm Einstein's theory of
relativity
... or provide the first evidence against it.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/28mar_gamma.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for March 23, 2005
One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein stunned physicists with his
out-of-this-world ideas.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/23mar_spacealien.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for March 21, 2005
It's hip. It's trendy. It's ... NASA? Actually, it's NASA on your
iPod.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/21mar_podcast.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for March 18, 2005
Why colonize the Moon before going to Mars? NASA scientists give
their
reasons.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/18mar_moonfirst.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for March 11, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
SUNSET MERCURY: If you would like to see the planet Mercury,
normally
hidden by the sun, this weekend is the best time of the year to do
it.
When the sun sets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Mercury will shine
like
a bright star through the rosy glow of the western horizon. Pay
special
attention on Friday, March 11th, when Mercury appears beautifully
close to
the slender crescent Moon.
Visit SpaceWeather.com for pictures and sky maps.
NASA Science News for March 9, 2005
When Nobel laureates get together for a physics-meeting, attendance
is
usually restricted to other scientists. Not this time. In April,
people
from all walks of life are invited to join top scientists at a
unique
conference to discuss dark energy, antimatter, black holes and the
mysteries of modern physics.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/09mar_conference.htm?list1165645
Check out our RSS feed at
http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!
NASA Science News for February 25, 2005
Saturn's moon Titan is wet, according to the ESA's Huygens probe,
but
Titan's "water" is not like Earth's.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/25feb_titan2.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
NASA Science News for February 17, 2005
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has discovered another world with blue
skies:
Saturn.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/17feb_bluesaturn.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
Space Weather News for Feb. 15, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Feb. 15th is Galileo's birthday. If the famous scientist were alive
today
he would be 441 years old. Galileo is an important figure in the
history
of space weather. Contrary to popular belief, he didn't discover
sunspots,
but he was one of the first to study them using a telescope.
Visit ttp://spaceweather.com to view some of Galileo's sunspot
drawings,
almost four centuries old, and find out how you can safely observe
sunspots using the same projection techniques Galileo favored. There
are
some big 'spots on the sun this week so now is a good time to look.
Space Weather News for February 8, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
CHINESE NEW YEAR: Tonight's new moon, because it is the second new
moon of
winter, marks the beginning of a new year--in China. According to
the
Chinese calendar, Wednesday, Feb. 9th, is the first day of the year
of the
rooster. Happy New Year!
SUNSPOT REPORT: Last week, solar physicists using a technique
called
helioseismic holography spied two big sunspots on the far side the
the
sun. Since then the sun's 27-day rotation has carried these 'spots
around
toward Earth where we can see then directly. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
images and details.
ASTEROID NEWS: There's no danger of a collision, but on April 13,
2029,
asteroid 2004 MN4 will come very close to Earth, according to new
radar
measurements by NASA and NAIC scientists. Sky watchers 24 years from
now
will be able to see the 300m-wide space rock glowing like a 3rd
magnitude
star as it passes only 30,000 km above our planet's surface. "3rd
magnitude" means barely visible from brightly-lit cities, but easy
to see
from the darker countryside. Mark your calendar!
Space Weather News for Jan. 31, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
FAR SIDE OF THE SUN: Remember giant sunspot 720? On Jan. 20th it
exploded,
sparking bright auroras over Europe and the most intense proton
storm in
15 years. Since then the 'spot has been transiting the far side of
the
sun, carried around by our star's 27-day rotation.
Although sunspot 720 is on the sun's far side now, it's not out of
sight.
Using a technique called helioseismic holography, solar physicists
can
take pictures of the sun's far side--and they've seen sunspot 720
there.
If the active region holds together a while longer, it could turn to
face
Earth again in early- to mid-February.
COMET MACHHOLZ: With the bright Moon waning, now is a good time to
see
Comet Machholz again. Step outside after sunset and face north.
You'll
find the comet near the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia. It looks
like a
faint fuzzball, barely visible to the unaided eye but an easy target
for
binoculars or a small telescope.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for sky maps and pictures.
NASA Science News for January 31, 2005
The physics of sand here on Earth is not as well understood as you
might
think. Sand on Mars is even more of a mystery. So what? The
physics of
sand is critical to such things as driving, digging and mining.
NASA-supported scientists are working to understand Martian soil to
prepare for the day when astronauts land on the red planet.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/31jan_sandsofmars.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
NASA Science News for January 27, 2005
The biggest solar proton storm in 15 years erupted last week. Here
on
Earth, we were safe, protected by our planet's thick atmosphere and
magnetic field. But what would have happened to an astronaut in
space?
NASA researchers have the answer.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/27jan_solarflares.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for January 16, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
Two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are heading toward Earth and they
could
spark strong geomagnetic storms when they arrive on January
16th-17th. Sky
watchers should be alert for auroras. The CMEs were blasted into
space by
M8- and X2-class explosions above giant sunspot 720 on Jan. 15th.
Visit spaceweather.com for more information and updates.
Space Weather News for January 13, 2005
http://spaceweather.com
BIG SUNSPOT: In less than 48 hours, sunspot 720 has blossomed from
an
almost invisible speck into a dark behemoth 5 times wider than
Earth.
Solar activity could increase if this rapid growth continues.
Already the
'spot is big enough to see, but never stare at the sun. Check
spaceweather.com for safe solar observing tips.
SATURN: Today, Saturn is only 750 million miles from Earth--the
closest
we get to the ringed planet all year long. You can step outside
tonight
and see Saturn, easily, bright and golden in the eastern sky after
sunset.
TITAN HALOS: Here on Earth, we sometimes see rings of light around
the
sun. These are called "sun halos" and they're caused by ice crystals
in
the air. When the Huygens probe descends through Titan's atmosphere
on
Jan. 14th--a big event!--the probe's cameras might see sun halos
there,
too. Check spaceweather.com for details.
SOLAR WIND: Earth is inside a high-speed solar wind stream that is
causing some mild geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers in e.g. Alaska,
Canada
and Scandinavia should be alert for auroras tonight.
NASA Science News for January 12, 2005
On Thursday, January 13th, Saturn will be 750 million miles from
Earth--the closest we get to the ringed planet all year long. Step
outside
around 7:30 p.m. and look east. Golden Saturn is easy to find next
to
Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/12jan_saturn.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for January 10, 2005
11:00:00 AM
The Dec. 26th Indonesian megathrust earthquake quickened Earth's
rotation
and changed our planet's shape, according to calculations done by
NASA
scientists.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10jan_earthquake.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for January 10, 2005
Can a computer teach humans to interact more successfully with other
human
beings? NASA-funded researchers are "pushing the envelope" to find
out.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/10jan_teammeup.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for January 5, 2005
On Friday night, January 7th, Comet Machholz visits the Pleiades.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/05jan_machholz.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
Space Weather News for Dec. 31, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
QUADRANTID METEORS: On Monday morning, January 3, 2005, Earth will
glide
through a cloud of dusty debris trailing asteroid 2003 EH1, causing
a
brief meteor shower over central and western parts of North
America. The
best time to look is during the hours around 4 o'clock in the
morning PST
(6 a.m. CST or 12:00 GMT). Observers with dark skies might see a
meteor
every one or two minutes. Astronomers call this annual shower "the
Quadrantids" because it radiates from the extinct constellation
Quadrans
Muralis.
SOLAR ACTIVITY: A new sunspot emerged this week and, with it, solar
activity has increased. The active region, named NOAA 715, is
crackling
with M-class solar flares. So far the explosions have not hurled any
CMEs
directly toward Earth, but this could change in the days ahead as
the
'spot rotates to face our planet.
GREEN COMET: Now that the full moon is fading, sky watchers are
seeing
Comet Machholz again. It looks like a faint and fuzzy green star in
the
constellation Taurus. You can see it with the unaided eye--or use a
telescope to view the comet's two tails.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for sky maps and more information.
NASA Science News for December 30, 2004
Soon, the European Space Agency's Huygens probe will parachute to
the
surface of Saturn's huge moon Titan. Huygens will sample Titan's
air,
examine the moon's surface, and listen for alien sounds. It could
be the
strangest adventure in the history of space exploration.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/30dec_titan.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for Dec. 24, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
FIVE PLANETS: On Christmas morning and every morning after that for
more
than a week, you can step outside at dawn and find the five
brightest
planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) sprawled across
the
sky. It's a beautiful display easily seen without a telescope. Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
sky maps and pictures.
QUIET SUN: Solar activity is low and, as a result, auroras are
unlikely
during the nights ahead. It's no great loss. Any display would
probably be
wiped out by the bright full moon.
NASA Science News for December 22, 2004
A special full moon, the smallest of 2004, will brighten the nights
around
Christmas.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/22dec_christmas.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for December 17, 2004
This week the Sun is in the 13th house of the zodiac, and that means
Earth
is getting hit by a strange breeze from beyond the solar system.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/17dec_heliumstream.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
Space Weather News for December 11, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
GEMINID METEORS: The 2004 Geminid meteor shower is underway.
Midnight sky
watchers this weekend can expect to see bright meteors shooting out
of the
constellation Geminid--at least a few per hour. Rates will increase
many-fold on Dec. 13th when the shower peaks.
Because this meteor shower has such a broad peak, a good display is
possible twice: on Monday morning, Dec. 13th, during the dark hours
before
sunrise and again on Monday evening, Dec. 13th, especially during
the
hours around midnight.
Visit spaceweather.com for more information and predictions for
selected
US cities.
COMET MACHHOLZ: While you're out watching the meteor shower, take a
look
at Comet Machholz--a 5th-magnitude fuzzball near the feet of Orion.
You
can see it with the unaided eye from dark-sky sites and it looks
great
through a small telescope.
NASA Science News for December 10, 2004
Most machines don't improve with use. Old pickup trucks don't
gradually
become Ferraris just by driving them fast, and a pocket calculator
won't
change into a supercomputer by crunching lots of numbers. The human
body
is different...
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/10dec_muscles.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for December 6, 2004
The best meteor shower of 2004, the Geminids, peaks on Dec. 13th.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/06dec_geminids.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for November 29, 2004
Mark your calendar: On Tuesday, Dec. 7th, about an hour before
sunrise,
the crescent Moon will eclipse Jupiter.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/29nov_moonjupiter.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for November 15, 2004
NASA scientists are using space satellites to unravel one of the
great
mysteries of the ancient world. The long-lost secrets they're
discovering
could help modern people in Central America avoid the fate of the
Maya.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/15nov_maya.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for Nov. 7, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
Big sunspot 696 unleashed an X-class solar flare on Sunday, Nov.
7th, and
probably hurled another coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth.
Solar
wind conditions are favorable for a geomagnetic storm now (late Nov.
7th)
and may become even more so when the CME arrives. Sky watchers: be
alert
for auroras on Nov. 7th, 8th and 9th. The best time to look is
usually
around local midnight.
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and updates
Space Weather News for Nov. 5, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
AURORA WATCH: A series of explosions from sunspot 696 on Nov. 3rd
through
5th hurled some coronal mass ejections toward Earth, and they're due
to
arrive this weekend. Sky watchers in, e.g., Canada, Alaska, and
northern-tier US states should be alert for auroras.
EARLY LEONIDS? The annual Leonid meteor shower normally peaks around
the
19th of November. This year, however, there might be an extra,
early peak
on Nov. 8th when Earth passes close to a 1000-year-old stream of
dust from
Comet Tempel-Tuttle. The precise location of this old stream is
uncertain.
Forecasters estimate, tentatively, a meteor rate of 50 to 100 per
hour--much less than the great Leonid displays of recent years, but
still
pleasing. Sky watchers in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia are
best-positioned to see the Nov. 8th display--if it happens!
Visit http://spaceweather.com
for more information and updates.
NASA Science News for November 2, 2004
You won't want to miss this: Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest
planets, will be beautifully close together just before sunrise on
Thursday, Nov. 4th, and Friday, Nov. 5th.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/02nov_venusjupiter.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for Oct 25, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
BIG SUNSPOT: During the weekend, sunspot 687 grew impressively.
It's now
almost 10 times wider than Earth, and it is surrounded by a number
of
other growing 'spots. Solar activity, low for weeks, could increase
in
the days ahead.
LUNAR ECLIPSE: Don't forget, there's a lunar eclipse this week
visible
from six continents. In the Americas, the event begins Wednesday
night,
Oct. 27th, at 9:14 p.m. EDT (6:14 p.m. PDT).
NASA Science News for October 22, 2004
Years after exposure to space radiation, many astronauts' vision
becomes
clouded by cataracts. Understanding why may shed light on cataracts
suffered by elderly people here on Earth.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/22oct_cataracts.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for October 19, 2004
Would you like to see a piece of Halley's Comet streak past a planet
that
looks like an exploding star? You might be able to--no telescope
required--on Thursday morning, Oct. 21st, when the annual Orionid
meteor
shower peaks.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/19oct_magicalmorning.htm?list1165645
NASA Science News for October 18, 2004
Something strange happened on the sun last week: all the sunspots
vanished. This is a sign, say forecasters, that solar minimum is
coming
sooner than expected.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/18oct_solarminimum.htm?list1165645
Space Weather News for Oct. 14, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
Later today, Oct 13th, the New Moon will glide in front of the sun,
producing a partial solar eclipse visible across much of the Pacific
Ocean. The event begins shortly before sundown in Hawaii and Alaska,
where
the setting sun will appear crescent-shaped as the moon takes a bite
out
of it.
Warning: do not stare at the blinding sun even during an eclipse.
Visit
http://spaceweather.com for
safe observing tips and more information.
NASA Science News for October 13, 2004
On Wednesday night, Oct. 27th, North Americans can see a total
eclipse of
the moon.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/13oct_lunareclipse.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
NASA Science News for October 6, 2004
NASA researchers are developing an exquisitely sensitive artificial
nose
for space exploration.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/06oct_enose.htm?list1165645
Science@NASA stories are available
in Spanish at our sister site,
Ciencia@NASA <http://ciencia.nasa.gov/>.
Space Weather News for Oct. 2,
2004
http://spaceweather.com
VENUS AND REGULUS: Prepare to wake up early: Just before sunrise on
Sunday, Oct. 3rd, the planet Venus and the bright star Regulus will be
beautifully close together in the eastern sky--only 1/5 of one degree
apart. It's a real treat for early risers.
BLUE MOON ALERT: Mount St. Helens in Washington is spewing ash and steam,
and scientists say a bigger eruption could happen soon. This means sky
watchers in western North America should be alert for blue moons in the
weeks ahead. Airborne particles from volcanoes can act like a
color-filter, shading the moon (or even the sun) blue. Follow the links at
spaceweather.com for more information.
SOLAR ACTIVITY: For the second straight week, solar activity remains low.
Bright auroras are unlikely in the nights ahead.
Space Weather News for Sept.
23, 2004
http://spaceweather.com
ASTEROID FLYBY: Asteroid 4179 Toutatis is flying past Earth this week. The
weirdly tumbling space rock is close enough (4 lunar distances) and bright
enough (9th magnitude) to see through backyard telescopes. For the next
few days it will scoot through the constellation Capricornus where amateur
astronomers worldwide can find it. By Sept. 29th, when Toutatis is
closest to Earth, it will be visible mainly from the southern hemisphere.
Observers there can see it passing not far from the bright star Alpha
Centauri. Follow the links at spaceweather.com to sky maps and detailed
ephemerides.
AURORA SEASON: Solar activity is low, and will probably remain so in the
days ahead. Nevertheless, this is the time of year to be extra-alert for
auroras. Studies show that northern autumn, which began on Sept. 22nd, is
the best of all seasons for geomagnetic storms. Visit spaceweather.com
for more information and pictures.
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