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Space and "What Not's" in the Universe...

NASA Science News for May 8, 2008

A NASA-supported sky survey set to begin in 2008 could dramatically increase the number of known planets outside our solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/08may_marvels.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for May 9, 2008

Astronauts are using a Star Trek tricorder-like device to keep track of microscopic life forms onboard the International Space Station.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/09may_tricorder.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for May 4, 2008
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ETA AQUARID METEOR SHOWER: If you see a meteor flit across the sky tonight, it could be a piece of Halley's Comet. Earth is crossing a stream of dusty debris from Halley and this is causing the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. Sky watchers in the tropics and southern hemisphere (where the shower is most intense) could see as many as 70 meteors per hour during the dark hours before dawn on Monday, May 5th, and Tuesday, May 6th. The show is diminished at northern latitudes where rates may be 15 meteors per hour or less. Check http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.

MERCURY AND THE MOON: Innermost planet Mercury is emerging from the glare of the sun and putting on its best show of the year. A good time to look is Tuesday evening, May 6th, just after sunset when the crescent Moon glides by Mercury in the darkening western sky. A sky map and photos are available at http://spaceweather.com.

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Space Weather News for May 1, 2008
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FLYBY ALERT: This is a good month for spaceship spotting. On May 1st, the International Space Station (ISS) begins a 4-week series of bright flybys over North America and Europe. In early May, the ISS joins Jupiter and the stars of the Summer Triangle in a glittering pre-dawn sky. Later in the month, increasingly-frequent flybys shift to evening hours and the ISS will be crossing paths with Saturn, the Moon and Mars. US and Canadian readers, check our Simple Satellite Flybys tool to find out when to look: http://spaceweather.com/flybys . (European readers, an international version of the flybys tool will be available in the near future. Stay tuned.)

EXPLORE THE IONOSPHERE: The ionosphere is our planet's "final frontier." A realm of dancing auroras, radio-bending plasma bubbles and dangerous ultraviolet rays, it is the last wisp of Earth's atmosphere that astronauts leave behind when they enter space. Now you can explore the ionosphere from the safety of your own home. Yesterday, NASA-supported researchers unveiled a "4D" computer model for the general public. Download a few files and presto--you're flying through the ionosphere. The model shows the ionosphere as it is right now; it's a real-time display based on current solar activity and atmospheric conditions. Visit http://spaceweather.com to get started.

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NASA Science News for April 17, 2008

NASA-supported researchers have realized that strange things may be happening on the full Moon when it gets hit by Earth's magnetic tail.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/17apr_magnetotail.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for April 4, 2008

A crescent moon of perilous beauty is about to appear in the evening sky. The best night to look is Tuesday, April 8th, when the moon joins the Pleiades star cluster for a must-see conjunction.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/04apr_crescentmoon.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 21, 2008

Two nights ago, astronomers observed a cosmic explosion so intense it was visible to the naked eye from a distance of 7.5 billion light years.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/21mar_nakedeye.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for March 21, 2008
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JULES VERNE AND THE ISS: The European Space Agency's new robotic cargo carrier, the Jules Verne, has parked itself in orbit 2000 kilometers ahead of the International Space Station. This sets the stage for some beautiful double flybys in the nights ahead--the Jules Verne appears first, as bright as a 1st magnitude star, followed four and a half minutes later by the even brighter International Space Station. This is a must-see for sky watchers in cities and countryside alike. Visit http://spaceweather.com for flyby photos and timetables.

NASA Science News for March 20, 2008

For reasons not fully understood by scientists, the weeks around the vernal equinox are prone to Northern Lights. In other words, spring is aurora season. Observations from NASA spacecraft are shedding new light on this old mystery.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/20mar_spring.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 19, 2008

New research by NASA-supported scientists shows how atmospheric gravity waves, the kind we often see rippling in clouds overhead, can hit a thunderstorm and turn it into a deadly tornado.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/19mar_grits.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 12, 2008

To celebrate Women's History Month, an all-female team of scientists and engineers has taken control of Mars rover Spirit. Is Mars exploration different with women calling the shots? Find out in today's story from Science@NASA.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/12mar_spiritday.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 7, 2008

The surprises continue. Scientists studying the harvest of photos from MESSENGER's Jan. 14th flyby of Mercury have found several craters with strange dark halos and one crater with a curiously shiny bottom.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/07mar_strangecraters.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 6, 2008

Imagine living on a planet where Northern Lights fill the heavens at all hours of the day. Around the clock, even in broad daylight, luminous curtains shimmer and ripple across the sky. News flash: Astronomers have discovered such a planet. Its name is Earth.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06mar_polar.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for March 3, 2008

A NASA spacecraft in orbit around Mars has photographed an avalanche in action near the Red Planet's north pole.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/03mar_avalanche.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for February 20, 2008

Do you know who's orbiting the moon? The answer might surprise you. Find out in today's story from Science@NASA.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/20feb_orbitingthemoon.htm?list96653

Important reminder: Don't forget to watch tonight's lunar eclipse.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/13feb_lunareclipse.htm

Space Weather News for Feb. 19, 2008
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LUNAR ECLIPSE: On Wednesday night, February 20th, the full Moon will turn a delightful shade of red and possibly turquoise, too. It's a total lunar eclipse-the last one until Dec. 2010. Sky watchers in Europe, the Americas, parts of the Middle East and Africa are favored for good views of the two-hour event. Visit http://spaceweather.com for full coverage including maps and timetables, live webcasts and discussion.

SPY SATELLITE UPDATE: The US Navy's first attempt to hit malfunctioning spy satellite USA 193 with a missile could come on Wednesday night during the lunar eclipse. This is based on an air traffic advisory warning pilots to steer clear of a patch of Pacific Ocean near Hawaii just when USA 193 is due to pass overhead. Until the satellite is shot down, it remains visible to casual sky watchers during evening passes over US and Canadian towns and cities; experienced observers say the decaying satellite is sometimes as bright as the stars of Orion, making it an easy target for unaided eyes and off-the-shelf digital cameras. Details, photos and more information are available at http://spaceweather.com. Subscribers to Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) will receive email and telephone alerts when the spy-sat is about to appear over their backyards.

Space Weather News for Feb. 14, 2008
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Malfunctioning spy satellite USA 193 has been in the news lately because of expectations that it will reenter Earth's atmosphere in March and turn into a spectacular fireball. Reentry has not yet begun, but sky watchers are already noticing the satellite as it zips over Europe and the United States shining as brightly as a first or second magnitude star. Typical photos are shown on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

In fact, USA 193 may never reenter--at least not in one piece. Today, the Pentagon announced it will attempt to blast the satellite with a missile before its orbit decays. This would lessen the chances of dangerous satellite debris and fuel reaching the ground while increasing the population of space junk in low-Earth orbit.

Would you like to see USA 193 with your own eyes? It is about to make a series of evening appearances over many US towns and cities, beginning this weekend and continuing until the Pentagon intervenes. Flyby timetables may be found at Heavens Above (http://heavens-above.com). You can also receive telephone and email alerts when the satellite is about to fly over your backyard by subscribing to Spaceweather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com .

NASA Science News for February 13, 2008

On Wednesday evening, February 20th, the full Moon over the Americas will turn a delightful shade of red and possibly turquoise, too. It's a total lunar eclipse�the last one until Dec. 2010.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/13feb_lunareclipse.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for February 8, 2008

Would you like to name the next great space telescope? Here's your chance: NASA is inviting members of the general public to suggest a new name for the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope before it launches in mid-2008.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/08feb_namethattelescope.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for February 7, 2008

A team of scientists has just set off to explore a strange lake in Antarctica, which may be home to exotic forms of microscopic life.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/07feb_cloroxlake.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Jan. 4, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a reversed-polarity sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle. The wait is over. A magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot emerged today. This marks the beginning of Solar Cycle 24 and the first step toward a new solar maximum. Intense solar activity won't begin right away. Solar cycles usually take a few years to build from solar minimum (where we are now) to Solar Max (expected in 2011 or 2012). It's a slow journey, but we're on our way!

Visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures of the new sunspot and updates.

NASA Science News for November 28, 2007

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have discovered one of the fastest stars ever seen--a "cosmic cannonball" that is challenging theories to explain its blistering speed.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/28nov_cosmiccannonball.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Nov. 29, 2007
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SOLAR WIND DRIES VENUS: The European Space Agency's Venus Express spacecraft has made an important discovery: the solar wind dries out Venus. Unlike Earth, Venus has no global magnetic field to deflect particles from the sun; when solar wind hits Venus it actually strips away some of Venus' upper atmosphere. Hydrogen and oxygen atoms fly into space, removing from Venus the chemical building blocks of water. This process makes an already hellish planet even worse. Links to more information may be found at Spaceweather.com.

COMET 17P/HOLMES UPDATE: Now that the full Moon has left the evening sky, Comet Holmes is visible again. The comet is not as bright as it was when it first exploded in late October. Most people now have trouble finding it with the naked eye. A quick sweep through Perseus with a pair of binoculars, however, will pinpoint the comet while the smallest of telescopes reveals it to be a truly impressive object. Comet Holmes now occupies about 10 times the volume of the Sun and it is developing a hint of a blue-green tail. A similar tail was observed in early November, but it broke off during an apparent magnetic storm. Now the tail is growing back. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and the latest images.

NASA Science News for November 23, 2007

New research by NASA scientists shows that moondust kicked up by the jets of lunar landers can go on a fantastic journey, completely circling the Moon before settling back to the ground. This interesting phenomenon may affect the planning of lunar outposts and other activities as NASA prepares its return to the Moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/23nov_flyingmoondust.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for November 21, 2007

During the past month, Mars has doubled in brightness and now it is putting a nice show for backyard stargazers. A good night to look is Nov. 26th when Mars has an eye-catching close encounter with the Moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/21nov_marsdoubles.htm

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Space Weather News for Nov. 15, 2007
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GIANT COMET: University of Hawaii astronomers have measured the diameter of Comet 17P/Holmes: 1.4 million kilometers. This makes the exploding comet bigger than the sun and now the largest object in the solar system. Not surprisingly, the comet is visible to the naked eye; with only a backyard telescope you can watch its gigantic debris cloud expand from night to night. Nov. 19th is an especially good night to look: Comet Holmes will glide by Mirfak, the brightest star in the constellation Perseus, and appear to swallow it. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a sky map and images.

(Note: The sun remains by far the most massive object in the solar system. Comet 17P/Holmes' diaphanous atmosphere of dust and gas, which is what the astronomers measured, contains less mass than a typical asteroid. In spite of its great size, Comet Holmes is a lightweight that won't be deflecting the orbits of planets or causing any other such catastrophes.)

ROSETTA FLYBY: On Nov. 13th, the European Space Agency's comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft buzzed Earth, passing only 5300 km above the southern hemisphere. During the high-speed gravity assist maneuver, Rosetta snapped some fantastic pictures including close-up shots of Antarctic icescapes and glittering views of city lights at night. See the sights on http://spaceweather.com

NASA Science News for November 15, 2007

How do you bring a 200,000-pound rocket booster back to Earth after it catapults its payload toward the moon? NASA has answered that question with a successful test of a giant "moon rocket" parachute in the Arizona desert.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/15nov_parachute.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for November 13, 2007

Scientists are converging on Ethiopia this week to discuss a new and strange form of space weather over Africa.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/13nov_africa.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for November 2, 2007

On Monday morning, Nov. 5th, space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to undock from the ISS while the pair are gliding over many US towns and cities. The two spaceships will cut across a glittering expanse of morning stars dotted by bright planets and a Venus-Moon conjunction. And don't forget the exploding comet! It all adds up to "A Fantastic Monday Morning Sky Show."

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/02nov_nov5.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for Oct. 29, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

Last week, Comet 17P/Holmes shocked sky watchers around the world with a sudden million-fold increase in brightness. It literally exploded into view, rapidly becoming a naked eye "star" in the constellation Perseus. Since then the comet has expanded dramatically. It is now physically larger than the planet Jupiter and subtends an angle in the night sky similar to the Moon's Sea of Tranquility, the right eye of the "Man in the Moon." Photographers, this amazing comet is an excellent target for off-the-shelf digital cameras and backyard telescopes. It grows visibly from night to night and no one knows how large it will become. Stay tuned to http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and the latest images.

Space Weather News for Oct. 24, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

ERUPTING COMET: Astronomers in Japan and Europe report that Comet 17P/Holmes is undergoing a spectacular eruption. The 17th-magnitude comet has brightened by a factor of five hundred thousand or more during the past 24 hours becoming a naked eye object in the evening sky. This may signify a breakup of the comet's core or a rich vein of ice suddenly exposed to sunlight--no one knows. Look for a yellow 2.5th-magnitude fuzzball in the constellation Perseus after sunset. ("2.5th magnitude" means a little dimmer than the stars of the Big Dipper.) At present the comet looks more like a star than a comet; it does not have a discernable tail, but it might grow one as the outburst continues. Visit http://spaceweather.com for a sky map, photos and updates.

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Space Weather News for Oct. 23, 2007
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BIG FULL MOON: This week's full Moon (Oct. 25-26) is the biggest full Moon of 2007. It's no illusion. Some full Moons are genuinely larger than others and Thursday night's will be as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier this year. Check http://spaceweather.com for the reasons why.

SPACESHIP SIGHTINGS: Space shuttle Discovery launched this morning from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on a two-week mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This means sky watchers should be alert for spaceship flybys in the nights ahead. Both Discovery and ISS will make favorable passes over many US cities with the possibility of double flybys later this week when the two spacecraft are about to dock. Subscribers to Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) will receive email and telephone alerts of flybys in viewing range of their hometowns.

If a friend sent you this alert and you would like to subscribe, click here: http://spaceweather.com/services/

NASA Science News for October 17, 2007

Do you love gazing at a starry night sky? Nothing you've ever seen on Earth could prepare you for the fantastic skies of some "orphan stars" just discovered by astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/17oct_orphanstars.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Oct. 10, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

CELESTIAL TRIANGLE: Set your alarm. For the next five mornings, just before dawn banishes the night, you can see a compact celestial triangle rising in the eastern sky. The corners are dazzling Venus, Saturn and the bright star Regulus. This is worth waking up for--at least once. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more.

AURORA WATCH: A solar wind stream is heading for Earth and it may spark a geomagnetic storm when it arrives on Oct. 11th or 12th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

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Space Weather News for Oct. 8, 2007
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METEOR WATCH: The annual Draconid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 9th at 0430 UT--in other words, tonight at 9:30 pm PDT or 12:30 am EDT. Don't expect a big display. The source of the shower, comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, is far away and unlikely to produce more than a few slow meteors every hour. It should be noted, however, that unexpected Draconid outbursts have happened as recently as Oct. 2005 resulting in dozens to hundreds of meteors per hour. Could tonight be such a night? If you decide to look, keep an eye on the northern sky (Draco is not far from the north celestial pole) during the hours around the predicted peak.

PERUVIAN METEORITE UPDATE: Astronomers studying the Peruvian meteorite fall of Sept. 15, 2007, have analyzed infrasound records of the fireball's descent through Earth's atmosphere and estimated the impactor's kinetic energy: about 0.03 kton of TNT. So far more than 30 kg of the meteorite have been recovered by Peruvian authorities, but much more remains--indeed, says one researcher, there could be a "multi-ton monster" hiding at the bottom of the meteorite's curiously watery crater. Check http://spaceweather.com for more information.

NASA Science News for October 4, 2007

Fifty years after the launch of Sputnik kicked off the Space Age, an ultra-modern probe heading for Pluto is using retro Sputnik-like tones to communicate with Earth.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/04oct_beaconmonitor.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for October 1, 2007

Earlier this year, Comet Encke was passing a little too close to the Sun when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit the comet and ripped off its tail. NASA's STEREO spacecraft was watching and recorded a must-see movie featured in today's story.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/01oct_encke.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for September 28, 2007

Researchers from the Marshall Space Flight Center have built a new "lunar impact" observatory in rural north Georgia. They're using it for their own cutting edge research and sharing the facility with local middle- and high-school students.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/28sep_wco.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for September 27, 2007

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has left Earth on a mission to explore the mysterious giant asteroids Ceres and Vesta. Today's Science@NASA story explains some of the scientific reasons for making the trip.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/27sep_dawn2.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for Sept. 26, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

HARVEST MOON: There's a full Moon tonight (Wed., Sept. 26) and it has a special name--the "Harvest Moon," the full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. In the days before electric lights, farmers relied on moonlight to help them gather ripening autumn crops. The bright Harvest Moon allowed their work to continue late into the night. Now, post-Edison, we appreciate the Harvest Moon more for its beauty than its utility. Moonrise happens tonight at sunset; look east and enjoy the view!

AURORA WATCH: Northern fall has begun with a vibrant flourish of green--that is, green Northern Lights. A solar wind stream hit Earth on Sept. 21st sparking an intense, three-day display of polar auroras. Get ready for more: Another solar wind stream is due on Sept. 27th or 28th. Updates and a gallery of spectacular photos may be found at http://spaceweather.com

NASA Science News for September 26, 2007

Two years ago, NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft blasted a hole in Comet Tempel 1, offering researchers their first look inside a comet. One small problem: The cloud of debris was so thick no one could clearly see the crater. But now the dust has cleared and another NASA spacecraft is returning to the scene to examine the hole Deep Impact wrought.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/26sep_next.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Aug. 30, 2007
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WEEKEND METEORS: On Saturday morning, September 1st, a flurry of bright and colorful meteors might come streaming out of the constellation Auriga. The source of the shower is ancient Comet Kiess, which has laid down a trail of debris that Earth will cross this weekend.

But will a shower really materialize? Forecasters are divided. Some expect a brief but beautiful display rivaling the Perseids. Others say the debris stream is too empty for significant fireworks. Either way, the peak is due around 4:30 a.m. PDT (11:30 UT) on Saturday morning. This timing strongly favors sky watchers in Hawaii and western parts of North America all the way from Mexico to California to Alaska.

Spaceweather's full coverage of the Aurigid meteor shower begins Friday, Aug. 31, with links to live audio from a meteor radar, which will monitor activity throughout the weekend. Sky maps and more information are available now at http://spaceweather.com.

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Space Weather News for August 23, 2007
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On Aug. 20th, an amateur astronomer in Oklahoma scanned the sky for meteors using a low-light video camera--but instead of meteors, he recorded a bizarre upside-down form of lightning called "Gigantic Jets." Discovered in 2001, Gigantic Jets are enormous discharges that leap upward 50 miles high from the tops of thunderclouds. They are related to better known sprites and elves, but are larger and more dramatic. The Oklahoma Jets are the first ever photographed over the continental United States and they may provide key data to researchers working to understand the phenomenon. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view a movie of the Jets and to learn how you might be able to catch them yourself.

NASA Science News for August 21, 2007

Earth and Mars are rapidly converging. Relative speed: 22,000 mph. Contrary to rumor, Mars is not about to swell to the size of a full Moon, but there is something eerie and Martian to look for in the night sky next week.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/21aug_hurtlingtomars.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Aug. 18, 2007
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DOUBLE SPACESHIP FLYBYS: Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station on Monday, August 20th. If that happens as planned, sky watchers across North America may be able to witness something rare and beautiful: a double-spaceship transit across the night sky. US cities favored for flybys on Aug. 20th or 21st include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, New York and Phoenix. The space station and shuttle will appear as separate, bright points of light moving in tandem. Flyby times depend on where you live. Subscribers to Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) will receive phone and email alerts when the pair are about to appear. Flyby timetables are also available from Heavens Above (http://heavens-above.com).

BONUS: The International Space Station is under construction, and with each new addition the sprawling complex becomes easier to see from the ground. To the naked eye, the space station now resembles a super-bright star gliding slowly across the sky. Backyard telescopes reveal much more: solar panels, laboratories and living modules, a robotic arm and docked supply vessels. Photos and videos are featured on this weekend's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

NASA Science News for August 16, 2007

When she blasted off onboard the space shuttle Endeavour last week, teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan carried millions of basil seeds to the International Space Station. Soon she'll return millions more "space seeds" for students on Earth to study. Educators, read today's story to learn how to participate.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/16aug_basil.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for August 15, 2007

Astronomers have discovered something they've never seen before: a star with a tail like a comet. Even more amazing is the fact that the newfound tail is attached to one of the most popular stars in the sky, a red giant named Mira. Amateur and professional astronomers have been watching Mira for 400 years and only recently has a NASA space telescope spotted its massive tail.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/15aug_mira.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for August 9, 2007
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The Perseid meteor shower has begun. Although the display will not peak until August 12th and 13th, sky watchers are already counting as many as a dozen meteors per hour (including some nice fireballs) during the darkest hours before dawn. Rates could increase 5- to 10-fold when the shower reaches maximum on Sunday night and Monday morning. Advice: Get away from city lights. While many Perseids will be bright enough to see from light-polluted urban areas, the shower's full grandeur is reserved for places with dark and starry skies. This is a good weekend to go camping.

Visit http://Spaceweather.com for photos, observing tips and a sky map. Full coverage of the shower begins today and will continue until Perseid activity subsides.

NASA Science News for August 8, 2007

On Sept. 1st, a flurry of bright and oddly-colored meteors could spill across the skies of western North America--or not. Forecasters are divided about what will happen next month when Earth runs into an ancient stream of debris from mysterious Comet Kiess.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/08aug_aurigids.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for August 4, 2007
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BEWARE THE MARS HOAX: It's August, which means it's time for the annual Mars Hoax. An email is going around claiming that Mars will approach Earth on August 27th; the encounter will be so close, the email states, that Mars will rival the full Moon in size and brightness. (Imagine the tides!) Don't believe it. 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.

Here's something that is true: Mars is having a close encounter with the Pleiades star cluster, easily seen in the eastern sky before sunrise. Especially good mornings to look are August 6th and 7th when the crescent Moon joins the planet and the cluster to form a pretty celestial triangle. Set your alarm!

MANMADE NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: This morning in Florida, NASA's Phoenix Mars lander blasted off from Cape Canaveral aboard a Delta II rocket. The rocket's exhaust created a beautiful display of luminous, night-shining clouds. See the photos at http://spaceweather.com.

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NASA Science News for August 3, 2007

Mark your calendar: On Tuesday, August 28th, there's going to be a dreamy, colorful, total eclipse of the Moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/03aug_dreamyeclipse.htm?list96653

The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.

NASA Science News for July 20, 2007

A severe dust storm is underway on Mars, causing an energy crisis for NASA's Mars rovers. Dust in the atmosphere over Opportunity has blocked 99 percent of direct sunlight, leaving only the limited diffuse sky light to power the rover.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/20jul_duststorm.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for July 16, 2007

Accelerating from 0 to 60, then slowing down for a stop light is no problem for an ordinary automobile. But if you were piloting a rocketship, it wouldn't be so easy. Most rocket engines are designed to burn full-on (liftoff!) or full-off (coasting through space) with no in-between. And that can be a problem--namely, how do you land this thing? In today's story we learn how engineers are developing technology for throttling next-generation lunar landers.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/16jul_cece.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for July 11, 2007

The Perseid meteor shower is coming, and experts say it should be a great show.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/11jul_greatperseids.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for July 9, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

PHOTOGENIC SUNSPOT: During the weekend new sunspot 963 emerged, and it is putting on a remarkable show for onlookers with solar telescopes. Images featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com include must-see footage of a fire-fountain-like eruption plus snapshots of the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the active region. The big double-sunspot is just beginning a two week journey across the face of the sun, promising many more photo-ops in the days ahead.

GREEN COMET: This week, comet Linear VZ13 is gliding through the constellation Draco not far from the North Star. The 8th magnitude comet is too dim for the naked eye, but it is an easy target for binoculars and backyard telescopes. Observers say it has a beautiful green atmosphere and a stubby fan-shaped tail. Closest approach to Earth: July 14th at a distance of 86 million km. Visit http://spaceweather.com for daily sky maps and photos.

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NASA Science News for July 6, 2007

A pair of robots named ASTRO and NextSat have been working together in Earth orbit, docking, undocking, flying around and refueling, as if they have minds of their own. Their adventures may herald a revolution in the way we explore space.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/06jul_astroandnextsat.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for June 19, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

On Tuesday morning, June 19th, space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station. On Tuesday night, the pair will fly in tandem over many US towns and cities including Detroit, Washington DC, San Francisco and Denver. Typical flybys take place shortly after sunset, with the pair first appearing in the northwest (look for the Big Dipper) and soaring overhead from there. The space shuttle appears first, followed by the ISS. Both spacecraft are bright and easy to see with the naked eye. Double flybys continue on Wednesday night, June 20th, before Atlantis returns to Earth on Thursday, June 21st.

When should you look? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE (http://spaceweatherphone.com) to receive email and telephone alerts when the ISS is about to fly over your hometown, or check Heavens Above (http://heavens-above.com) for worldwide flyby timetables.

NASA Science News for June 15, 2007

This summer, NASA plans to launch a robotic probe to visit two stange and giant asteroids--one is covered with ice while the other may have been blasted by an ancient supernova. The tales these asteroids tell may reveal the true beginnings of our solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/15jun_dawn.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for June 15, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

As this message is being written at the end of the day on June 15th, an intense display of noctilucent (night-shining) clouds is underway over Europe. Electric blue "NLCs" have been sighted as far south as France. The display may become visible over North America when night falls there. Favored viewing sites: Canada, Alaska and northern-tier US states--the same places where auroras are often seen. If you are located in the zone of visibility, and if you receive this message in time, go outside after sunset and look west for electric-blue tendrils spreading upward from the horizon.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips plus images and movies of tonight's display.

Would you like a phone call when noctilucent clouds are active? Sign up for Spaceweather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Space Weather News for June 13, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

SPACE STATION FLARES: Yesterday, astronauts unfurled a new set of solar arrays on the International Space Station. The panels, which measure 115 feet long, are actually visible in backyard telescopes. In a related development, people watching ISS flybys during the past 24 hours report seeing a number of "flares"--sudden brightenings of the ISS caused by sunlight glinting from the station's growing number of flat surfaces. This phenomenon adds an element of excitement to ISS watching. Check today's edition of http://spaceweather.com to see some remarkable movies made by amateur astronomers in Europe.

NASA Science News for June 11, 2007

A Japanese tether of novel construction could unfold new opportunities in space.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/11jun_ff.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for June 5, 2007

Today when NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft flies by Venus en route to Mercury, the craft will shoot a laser beam into Venus' clouds, among other experiments, to learn more about Earth's "evil twin."

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/05jun_venusflyby.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for June 2, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

A big sunspot is emerging over the sun's eastern limb, posing a threat for significant solar activity. Already it has unleashed several M-class solar flares. One of the eruptions, an M3-flare on June 1st, caused a shortwave radio fadeout over Europe. Amateur astronomers with solar telescopes should keep an eye on this photogenic sunspot, while shortwave radio listeners should be alert for flare-triggered fadeouts and other propagation effects. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and more information.

Space Weather News for May 31, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

BLUE MOON & JUPITER: According to folklore, tonight's full Moon over North America is a "Blue Moon" because it is the second full Moon in a calendar month. If you go outside to look at the Blue Moon, you'll see it has a companion: Jupiter. All night long, the giant planet will be located right beside the Moon. You can see the bright pair with the naked eye, or for a real treat, scan them with a backyard telescope. The moons of Jupiter, lunar mountains and craters, and the Great Red Spot are surprisingly easy to see.

A REAL BLUE MOON! Blue Moons are supposed to be absurd, but on May 21st, the Moon over Hungary really did turn blue. Onlookers describe it as a "unique and unforgettable" experience. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view photos of the display and to learn what caused it.

NASA Science News for May 30, 2007 4:00:00 PM

Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have discovered an exceptionally dramatic event in the nearby Universe. They're not sure what caused it, but they've narrowed it down to two exciting possibilites.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/30may_upheaval.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for May 25, 2007

A scientist using the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has found a way to forecast solar radiation storms. The new method offers as much as one hour advance warning, giving astronauts time to seek shelter and ground controllers time to safeguard their satellites when a storm is approaching.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/25may_costep.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for May 18, 2007

In the folklore of physics, no story is better known than the tale of Galileo dropping balls from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and proving that gravity accelerates all objects equally regardless of their masses or composition. This is called the "equivalence principle," and it is a cornerstone of modern physics. But was Galileo correct? Fantastically small violations of the equivalence principle may in fact exist, providing a test of string theory and pointing the way to an all-encompassing Theory of Everything.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/18may_equivalenceprinciple.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for May 16, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

RADIO-ACTIVE SUNSPOT: A new sunspot is growing near the sun's eastern limb, and it is crackling with solar flares. Yesterday, one of the flares, a C1-class explosion, unleashed a radio burst heard in loudspeakers of shortwave radios across the United States. Ham radio operators may wish to point their antennas at the sun in the days ahead in case this activity continues.

Visit http://spaceweather.com to hear the sounds of this "radio-active" sunspot.

NASA Science News for May 4, 2007

NASA-supported scientists and engineers have successfully tested a methane-powered rocket engine. The firing was not only remarkably beautiful (a must-see movie is featured in today's story) but also may herald a new type of spacecraft that one day roams the outer solar system gathering fuel from planets and moons that it visits.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/04may_methaneblast.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for May 3, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

HALLEY'S METEORS: Earth is entering a stream of dust from Halley's Comet, and this will produce a meteor shower (the "eta Aquarids") peaking on May 6th. Unfortunately, moonlight will interfere with the display, wiping out all but the brightest meteors. People who wake up before dawn on Sunday and look east might nevertheless catch a few specks of Halley's comet disintegrating in Earth's atmosphere.

SPARKLING SUNSPOT: Sunspot 953, which emerged one week ago, has proven to be one of the most photogenic sunspots in years. For one thing, it is crackling with micro solar flares (sometimes called "Ellerman Bombs"); this makes the sunspot appear to sparkle when viewed through the eye piece of a backyard solar telescope. There's also an active magnetic filament winding outward from the sunspot's dark core. So far, no major solar flares have issued from this active region, but it's still a great show. Check http://spaceweather.com for the latest pictures and movies.

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NASA Science News for May 1, 2007

NASA has released stunning new images of Jupiter and its moons taken by the New Horizons spacecraft. Highlights include a movie of a volcanic eruption on Jupiter's moon Io; a nighttime shot of auroras and lava on Io; a color photo of the "Little Red Spot" churning in Jupiter's cloudtops; images of small moons herding dust and boulders through Jupiter's faint rings. The gallery featured in today's story is a must-see.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/01may_fantasticflyby.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for April 27, 2007

Lightning is more than just heat and light: it's a chemical factory that produces a natural pollutant called "NOx" that may affect both local air quality and global climate. NASA scientists are developing new ways to monitor lightning NOx from Earth orbit.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/27apr_nox.htm?list96653

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!

Space Weather News for April 25, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

NIGHT-SHINING CLOUDS: NASA's AIM spacecraft left Earth Wednesday on a two-year mission to study mysterious noctilucent (night-shining) clouds. Hovering at the edge of space, these clouds were first noticed in the 19th century; they are remarkable for their electric-blue color and sharp, wavy ripples. In recent years noctilucent clouds have been growing brighter and spreading. What causes them? Theories range from space dust to global warming. For the next two years, AIM will scrutinize the clouds from Earth orbit to learn what they may be telling us about our planet. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information about the AIM mission, pictures of noctilucent clouds and observing tips.

SOLAR ACTIVITY: After a month of uninterrupted quiet, solar activity may be on the rise. A new sunspot is emerging and it appears to be a big one. The spot's potential for flares will become clear as the region turns toward Earth in the days ahead. Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

NASA Science News for April 24, 2007

Last December, Japan's Hinode spacecraft observed a massive explosion on the sun. Researchers analyzing the data have produced a must-see movie of the flare's magnetic underpinnings.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/24apr_hubble4sun.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for April 20, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

3D SUN: On Monday, April 23rd, NASA will release for the first time 3-dimensional photos of the sun taken by a pair of spacecraft named STEREO. Magnetic loops, prominences and plumes will practically leap out of your computer screen. These images will be displayed on big screens at many museums and science centers around the USA and posted on the internet. You can get ready this weekend by buying or building some 3D glasses. Visit http://spaceweather.com for instructions--and stay tuned for Monday!

WEEKEND METEORS: Earth is entering the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher, and this will cause a mild meteor shower this weekend. It's called the Lyrid meteor shower because the bits of incandescent comet dust appear to come from the constellation Lyra. The best time to look is during the dark hours before dawn on Sunday, April 22nd, and Monday, April 23rd, when you can expect to see a shooting star overhead every 5 minutes or so.

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Space Weather News for April 17, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly discovered asteroid 2007 HA is flying past Earth today about 2.5 million kilometers away. There's no danger of a collision, but it is an interesting flyby: the asteroid is big (300 meters wide), bright (13th to 14th magnitude), and an easy target for large backyard telescopes. A beautiful movie of 2007 HA streaking among the stars of Virgo on April 16th is featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com; tonight the asteroid cuts through the Big Dipper where undoubtedly it will be photographed by many astronomers.

CRESCENT MOON: A super-slender crescent Moon emerges from the glare of the sun this evening, April 17th, and will proceed over the next few nights to glide by Comet 2P/Encke, the Pleiades star cluster and the planet Venus. Visit http://spaceweather.com daily for sky maps and observing tips.

NASA Science News for April 13, 2007

What happens to a hurricane when it gets hit by a dust storm? This is an important question because Atlantic hurricanes are born not far from the Sahara desert. Recently NASA scientists gathered data that brings them closer to the answer. They did it by flying directly into a dusty hurricane.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/13apr_dustyhurricanes.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for April 12, 2007

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed a remarkable eclipse of a supermassive black hole, allowing a disk of hot matter swirling around the hole to be measured.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12apr_blackholeeclipse.htm?list96653

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml!

Space Weather news for April 8, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

VENUS & THE PLEIADES: Venus and the Pleiades are converging for a close encounter on Wednesday, April 11th. At closest approach, the planet and the star cluster will be about 2 degrees apart, tight enough to fit behind your upturned thumb held at arm's length. They're an odd couple. Venus is extravagantly bright while the Pleiades are faint and delicate, yet together they make a pretty ensemble suitable for photography, binoculars or simple naked-eye viewing. Watch the western sky after sunset in the nights ahead to see them drawing together.

BAFFLING BANDS: Also featured on today's edition of spaceweather.com are photos of dark bands in Venus' atmosphere. These features were first observed in detail by the Mariner 10 spacecraft in the 1970s and they have baffled astronomers ever since. Amateur astronomers with properly-filtered backyard telescopes can monitor the mysterious bands for themselves, and indeed this is a good week to do it.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information, photos and sky maps.

NASA Science News for April 6, 2007

A miniature biological laboratory important to the future of space exploration has just passed an important test onboard the International Space Station.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/06apr_locad2.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for March 30, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Asteroid 2006 VV2 is about to fly past Earth. Tonight, March 30th, the 2 km-wide space rock will streak through the constellation Leo only 2 million miles away glowing like a 10th magnitude star. Although the asteroid will not be visible to the unaided eye, it should be an easy target for backyard telescopes equipped with CCD cameras. A movie of 2006 VV2 flying past spiral galaxy M81, featured on today's edition of http://Spaceweather.com, shows what a small telescope can accomplish. The Americas are favored for tonight's flyby, especially southern California where 2006 VV2 will glide almost directly overhead at the moment of closest approach around 11 pm PDT.

Note: There is no danger of a collision. At a distance of 2 million miles, the asteroid will be almost 9 times farther away than the Moon. The encounter is interesting because it affords astronomers an opportunity to study a large near-Earth asteroid at fairly close range. Many professional observatories will be taking data, including NASA radars, which will ping 2006 VV2 to refine its orbit and learn more about its shape and composition. Learn more at http://spaceweather.com .

NASA Science News for March 29, 2007

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has observed some spectacular Northern Lights on the planet Jupiter. The data may help researchers solve the mysteries of the biggest auroras in the solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/29mar_bigauroras.htm?list96653

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Nasa Movie Japan space prob of Sun March 26th 2007

NASA has just released never-before-seen movies of intense activity in an unexpected place on the sun. The images were captured by a space telescope onboard Japan's Hinode spacecraft.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/21mar_chromosphere.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for March 20, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

GREEN COMET: There's a new comet in the southern hemisphere: Comet Lovejoy (C/2007 E2). Terry Lovejoy of Australia discovered it on March 15th using, remarkably, not a telescope but only an off-the-shelf digital camera. The green comet is too dim to see with the naked eye, but it is a nice target for backyard telescopes. After five days of monitoring, the comet's orbit is now known with some accuracy and it is possible to make predictions about Comet Lovejoy's future movements and brightness. Visit http://spaceweather.com for details.

BONUS--VENUS AND THE MOON: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. You'll see Venus and the slender crescent Moon beaming together through the glow of sunset. If you miss the pair on March 20th, try again on the 21st. They will be beautifully close together on both nights.

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Subject: STEREO Eclipse
NASA Science News for March 12, 2007

No human has ever witnessed a solar eclipse quite like this: NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft was about a million miles from Earth last month when it photographed the Moon passing in front of the sun. The resulting movie looks like it came from an alien solar system.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12mar_stereoeclipse.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for Feb. 16, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

AURORA MYSTERY: Scientists have been watching and studying auroras for centuries. But if you thought everything is known about Northern Lights, you'd be wrong. One key mystery is the "auroral substorm." Sometimes, with no warning, gently shimmering pale auroras erupt in a riot of wildly-shifting colors. Why? The answer could reveal important new information about Earth's magnetosphere.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, NASA plans to launch a fleet of five satellites into Earth orbit. The name of the mission is THEMIS and its goal is to crack the mystery of the auroral substorm. Visit Spaceweather.com over the weekend for launch photos and mission updates.

MIRA VARIABLE: Meanwhile, 400 light years from Earth, a red giant named Mira has swelled larger than the orbit of Mars. The pulsating star is now at maximum brightness and can be seen with the naked eye after sunset. Brightness: 2nd magnitude, similar to the stars of the Big Dipper. Take a look, you may be seeing the future. Our own Sun could become a Mira-variable when it evolves to red gianthood five billion years from now.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.

NASA Science News for February 12, 2007

Mark your calendar: On March 3, 2007, the Moon will turn red during a total lunar eclipse visible from parts of all seven continents, including the eastern half of the United States.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/12feb_lunareclipse.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for Feb. 9, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

SATURN AT ITS BEST: This weekend Saturn will be at its closest to Earth for all of 2007. The planet rises in the east at sunset and soars nearly overhead at midnight. To the naked eye, Saturn resembles a bright yellow star. Through a backyard telescope, it materializes as a spectacular ring world. Even small telescopes yield pleasing views. Take a look!

VENUS PILLARS: While Saturn rises in the east, Venus sets in the west. If you watch Venus sink toward the horizon on a cold night, you might see it sprout vertical columns of light known as Venus pillars. Today's edition of Spaceweather.com features rare photos of these pillars and explains what they are.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and more information.

NASA Science News for January 26, 2007

In this story, planetary geologist Paul Spudis discusses some of the mysteries of Earth that might be solved by returning to the Moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/26jan_harshwitness.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Jan. 26, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: Something on the far side of the sun exploded yesterday, hurling a bright coronal mass ejection over the sun's eastern limb. An active sunspot must be lurking just around the corner. It should appear in a few days when solar rotation carries that part of the sun into view. Stay tuned for solar activity.

COMET MCNAUGHT: The Great Comet of 2007 is receding from Earth and fading fast, but it is still a naked-eye object (recent estimates place the comet's head at 1st magnitude) and an easy target for amateur photographers in the southern hemisphere. A 30-second exposure with an off-the-shelf digital camera reveals a curving, dusty tail more than 25 degrees long. Photographers should take their pictures soon, before next week's full Moon spoils the show.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.

NASA Science News for January 23, 2007

NASA astronomers have been watching the night side of the Moon for more than a year, and they've just released highlight videos of some of the surprising things they've seen.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/23jan_ltps.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Jan. 17, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

COMET UPDATE: Comet McNaught is emerging from the glare of the sun and, as expected, solar heating has turned it into a spectacular naked-eye comet. McNaught is visible from all parts of the Southern Hemisphere, sporting a curved tail and a head almost as bright as the planet Venus. Northerners can watch the comet's progress by browsing daily photo galleries at http://SpaceWeather.com. Southerners should go outside tonight at sunset, look west and see for themselves.

VENUS AND THE MOON: Mark your calendar. On Saturday evening, January 20th, the slender crescent Moon will glide by Venus forming a beautiful ensemble in the western sky at sunset. This is something people in both hemispheres can enjoy. Hint: Look for the pair before the sky fades to black. Venus and the Moon surrounded by twilight-blue is a scene of special beauty.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and updates.

Space Weather News for Dec. 13, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

X-FLARE: Sunspot 930 erupted again this morning, producing a strong X3-class solar flare. The blast triggered an ongoing radiation storm and probably hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. Auroras are possible when the CME arrives on Dec. 14th or 15th.

Note: The radiation storm mentioned above is of moderate intensity and, unless it strengthens greatly, poses no threat to astronauts orbiting Earth onboard the International Space Station or the space shuttle. The astronauts are protected by the walls of their spacecraft as well as by Earth's magnetic field.

GEMINID METEORS: The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight. Start watching around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Dec. 13th. The display will start small but grow in intensity as the night wears on. By Thursday morning, Dec. 14th, people in dark, rural areas could see one or two Geminids every minute.

Visit http://SpaceWeather.com for meteor observing tips, sky maps, and updates about solar activity.

Would you like a call when auroras appear in your area? Sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com .

NASA Science News for December 12, 2006

The best meteor shower of the year peaks this week on Thursday, Dec. 14th.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/12dec_geminids.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for December 11, 2006

Astronaut Don Pettit has just landed in the meteorite-rich ice fields of Antarctica where he plans to launch a series of edgy and entertaining science experiments to be shared with the general public. Call them "Saturday Morning Science--on Ice."

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/11dec_donpettit.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Dec. 8, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR TSUNAMI: When sunspot 930 exploded on Dec. 6th, producing an X6-category flare, it also created a tsunami-like shock wave that rolled across the face of the sun, wiping out filaments and other structures in its path. A telescope in New Mexico operated by the National Solar Observatory recorded a must-see movie of the wave, featured today on http://spaceweather.com .

Space Weather News for Dec. 7, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: Big sunspot 930 continues to be a source of strong solar activity. The active region has produced two X-class flares and several lesser flares since it appeared only two days ago. Forecasters estimate a 50% chance of another X-flare during the next 24 hours.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) hurled into space by the blasts of Dec. 5th and 6th will not hit Earth head-on. Why not? Because the sunspot was near the sun's eastern limb and thus not facing Earth at the time of the explosions. However, we could experience glancing blows from the CMEs, producing high-latitude geomagnetic storms in the nights ahead. Northern sky watchers should remain alert for auroras.

Visit http://spaceweather.com to view photographs of the recent explosions and to listen to radio sounds from the X6-flare of Dec. 6th.

REMINDER: Don't forget to set your alarm. Jupiter, Mercury and Mars are converging to make a pretty triangle in the dawn sky. The action begins on December 8th and climaxes on Dec. 10th when the two brightest vertices of the celestial triangle, Jupiter and Mercury, will be less than a quarter of a degree apart. Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and sky maps.

CORRECTION: In a space weather alert sent Tuesday, Dec. 5th, sunspot 930 was misidentified as sunspot 929. I apologize for the error. --Tony Phillips

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a phone call alerting you the next time sunspot 930 explodes? Sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com

Space Weather News for Dec. 3, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

FREQUENT FIREBALLS: Have you ever stepped outside after dinner to walk the dog--just in time to see a bright fireball streak across the sky? It makes you wonder, how often does that happen? More often than you think. A NASA meteor expert has used a computer model of Earth's meteoroid environment to calculate how often Earth runs into bits and pieces of comets and asteroids big enough to produce fireballs. (A fireball is defined to be a meteor brighter than the planet Venus.) Globally, Earth experiences more than a hundred fireballs every day, according to the calculations. Visit http://spaceweather.com for complete results.

TRANSIT OF MERCURY PHOTO CONTEST: Photos. Paintings. 3D Anaglyphs: Hundreds of entries to the Transit of Mercury Photo Contest have been judged. And the winners are ... click here: http://spaceweather.com/mercury/

NASA Science News for December 1, 2006

Meteoroids are hitting the Moon more often than anyone expected. That's the tentative conclusion of astronomers who recently saw two Leonids hit the Moon and explode. The full story includes a movie of one of the Leonid impacts.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/01dec_lunarleonid.htm?list96653

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NASA Science News for November 30, 2006

Orbiting the Moon is tricky. There's a big planet nearby (Earth) that tugs on satellites and destabilizes their orbits. NASA researchers have an idea for a new class of orbits that may solve the problem.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30nov_highorbit.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Nov. 28, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

STRANGE SUNSPOT: A strange-looking sunspot is emerging on the sun. It's shaped like a ring almost three times wider than Earth. Amateur astronomers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor this curious apparition. It may be little more than a novelty--but its definitely worth watching.

ALIGNMENT OF PLANETS: Mark your calendar. On Dec. 8th through 11th, Jupiter, Mercury and Mars will form a tight triangle in the eastern sky at dawn. All three will fit together in the field of view of ordinary binoculars. (Mars is dim enough that binoculars may be required to see it.) Of special note is the morning of Dec. 10th when Jupiter and Mercury converge within 0.25 degrees of one another. The close, bright pair will be visible to the unaided eye--a fabulous sight in the rosy glow of sunrise.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps, images and more information.

NASA Science News for November 21, 2006

Flying somewhere for Thanksgiving? Think of it as a sky watching opportunity. There are some things you can see only through the window of an airplane.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21nov_thanksgivingskies.htm?list96653

NASA Science News for October 26, 2006

A satellite orbiting Earth is learning to think for itself. This artificial intelligence offers a powerful new way to study Earth, and it may prove useful on other planets, too.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/26oct_sensorweb.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for Oct. 22, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

SUNSPOT 917: Sunspot 917, just a speck a few days ago, has suddenly blossomed into an active region wider than the planet Neptune. The fast-growing spot is crackling with minor solar flares. If its development continues, the sunspot could soon pose a threat for stronger explosions.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: As predicted, a solar wind stream hit Earth on Oct. 20th. The impact did not trigger a full-fledged geomagnetic storm. Nevertheless, colorful auroras appeared over Scandinavia and Iceland--and the display is still active almost two days later.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

NASA Science News for October 20, 2006

Mark your calendar: On Wednesday, Nov 8th, the planet Mercury will pass directly in front the Sun.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/20oct_transitofmercury.htm?list96653

Space Weather News for Sept. 3, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

LUNAR FLASH: As planned, Europe's SMART-1 spacecraft crashed into the Moon this morning, Sept. 3rd, at 0542 UT. The resulting flash was too faint for most backyard telescopes, but a team of astronomers using the big 3.6m CFHT telescope in Hawaii did manage to photograph the explosion. Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates and images.

NASA Science News for September 1, 2006

With astronauts returning to the Moon, reliable forecasts of space weather are more important than ever. A new proposed mission called "Solar Sentinels" would surround the sun with spacecraft to keep an eye on solar activity.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/01sep_sentinels.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for August 25, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

ANOTHER BACKWARD SUNSPOT: Evidence continues to mount that the next solar cycle is beginning. When one solar cycle gives way to another, the magnetic poles of sunspots reverse polarity. For the second time in less than a month, such a "backward sunspot" has appeared--and this time it's a big one. Get the full story with images at http://spaceweather.com

MORNING PLANETS: If you find yourself awake before dawn this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, dash outside and look east. Venus and Saturn are having a close encounter. The two planets will be stationed just half-a-degree apart in the rosy glow of the rising sun. Suggestion: Take your binoculars out with you. Venus is intense, but Saturn is easily lost in the brightening dawn. Binoculars help, and both planets can be seen at once through typical optics. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps.

NASA Science News for August 25, 2006

Contrary to a wide-spread report, Mars will not look as big as the full Moon on August 27th. In fact, the red planet will be nearly invisible to the human eye. There is, however, something real to see on August 27th--a morning alignment of Venus and Saturn.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/25aug_marshoax.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for August 24, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

Today, astronomers at the International Astronomical Union's General Assembly in Prague decided that the Solar System has eight planets, and Pluto is not one of them. Pluto has been declared a "dwarf planet." Joining Pluto in the dwarf planet category are giant asteroid Ceres and Pluto's cousin 2003 UB313. Get the full story at http://spaceweather.com .

NASA Science News for August 23, 2006

In 1967, NASA's Mariner 4 spacecraft was hit by a surprising flurry of meteoroids--a shower more intense than any Leonid meteor storm. Where did the meteoroids come from? It's been a mystery for 40 years. Now, astronomers may have found a solution: Mariner 4 had a close encounter with a "dark comet."

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/23aug_mariner4.htm?list96653

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Space Weather News for August 17, 2006
http://spaceweather.com

AURORA WATCH: An explosion on the sun yesterday (Aug. 16) hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. The approaching cloud could spark a geomagnetic storm when it arrives, probably on August 18th. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

If a storm erupts, the best displays will be at higher latitudes: e.g., Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia. However, auroras could descend to lower latitudes, too, spreading across northern-tier US states from Maine to Washington and elsewhere.

Sometimes during a geomagnetic storm, the sky appears to be blank--no auroras. The display may be too faint to see with the unaided eye. Try using your camera: a 15+ second exposure can reveal colorful auroras just below the threshold of naked-eye visibility. An example of "photographic auroras" over Colorado may be found in our most recent aurora gallery:

http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01aug06.htm

Please visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures of the August 16th explosion and updates about the incoming CME.

NASA Science News for August 15, 2006

A strange little sunspot noticed by astronomers on July 31st may herald the coming of an unusually stormy solar cycle.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/15aug_backwards.htm?list96653

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Archives of space

Of course, all this reading and stuff is great for the mind. However every once in a while you would like to play a simple game or trivial fun to forget your troubles and worries. As for those of us who do not worry, well we do get board...

I hope you enjoy these links to free game site's and stuff I dig on the internet. Webmaster T.

Download program to see mars through NASA software - free to public.

MAME

Trek Wars

http://www.savefarscape.com/

SWRON

Orisinal Games

Ancient Egypt Stuff Way Cool!

Free Themes and Screen Saver

Screen Savers~ Yes, they are FREE!

Save The Ozone

Track Satellite's in Orbit