News about our local space, the sun and planets. 89 SolarSystem 2012-02-04T06:07:02 Science Guy barry.david.adams@gmail.com SPACE.com 2012-02-03T22:33:22

NASA's Juno probe is the first solar-powered spacecraft to the outer solar system.

80b6dfe273b49c950e92d6ed51992028 SPACE.com 2012-02-03T22:30:11

The close pass of the asteroid Eros this week allows astronomy buffs to measure the size of the solar system.

b77a0654d7fd7a3d09d8f4336c87f6bb SPACE.com 2012-02-03T21:31:14

See photos of the asteroid Eros taken by NASA's NEAR space probe in 2000, and other observers.

7f2c6df4eda749f3a07eec9fc9b347b5 SPACE.com 2012-02-03T18:18:35

The 21-mile long 'God of Love' space rock made its closest approach to Earth (15 million miles away) since 1975 on January 31st, 2012. NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous - Shoemaker (NEAR) mission landed on the asteroid on February 12, 2001.

2a4137bf684119e01815828a57aaac30 SPACE.com 2012-02-03T12:28:47

A galaxy similar to our own Milky Way is the subject of Hubble's latest portrait. <p

66951d01141edc8c1998a07fd56b8cbd SPACE.com 2012-02-03T11:39:23

The space telescope captured an amazing view of spiral galaxy NGC 1073 and three quasars that are right outside its galactic neighborhood. Located in the constellation of Cetus, the galaxy has a bar structure in the center similar to the Milky Way.

fda3af9ad7ff02831757c9c6fd4e3799 SPACE.com 2012-02-03T05:24:56

NASA's Suomi NPP satellite is snapping amazing views of Earth from space, but there's a secret to the photos.

74f95e16c64a00dfc67f6652ffa1390e SPACE.com 2012-02-02T22:25:16

The workhorse Soyuz spacecraft have been flying for nearly 45 years.

520ed016c82e36fbf12ca5dfff3e256d SPACE.com 2012-02-02T22:23:18

What was once a bicycle manufacturer in in the late-19th century evolved into a plane and rocket producer by the mid-20th century. Still a mainstay today, the Soyuz rocket has launched hundreds of humans and satellites since its first flight.

708ed7bc1c2e48d96806768b7ee174d4 SPACE.com 2012-02-02T20:42:53

A squad car from the Little River-Academy Police Department in Texas captured a fireball lighting up the night sky on its dashboard camera on February 1, 2012.

86cdf6e069377e4de86689ca0345900f SPACE.com 2012-02-02T19:10:24

Twirling stars called pulsars may blast material out into space to break their spins.

556c82c79e6944d92d00c74a2c321988 SPACE.com 2012-02-02T18:41:57

With the new addition, Vega, to the family of rockets coming out of Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, the need for tech-centric personnel is on the rise. Effectively doubling their yearly launch capability and increasing their value tremendously.

50cfecbdb87f31a2e85b1de33d2d3e5f SPACE.com 2012-02-02T18:24:39

Stars driven by dark matter may not be able to hide much longer.

ae1f4b836d8159aeb8f573ed191873b4 SPACE.com 2012-02-02T16:13:44

A quiet sun didn't stop the Earth from absorbing more energy than it released back into space.

6c46ac9c3b1ae4ccafc9ca10ac030518 SPACE.com 2012-02-02T15:03:32

The planet is located in the "sweet spot" of its parent star's habitable zone. <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/a8qrPmEwIlQlrlG5v346FqBsPUw/0/da"

010336e9607ce066d57bfdc8acd3ba67 SPACE.com 2012-02-02T12:59:33

NGC 7814 is affectionately known as "The Little Sombrero" because it looks like a smaller version of the Sombrero galaxy.

a0687202f9bee7ee0de4094a2fd89d5c SPACE.com 2012-02-02T12:54:37

Trace elements in such stars may influence their habitable zones, where planets with life could dwell.

439b8a9e1bbdabf79422f5c1585f7d51 Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2012-02-02T01:03:11

By Marc Rayman As NASA’s Dawn spacecraft investigates its first target, the giant asteroid Vesta, Marc Rayman, Dawn’s chief engineer, shares a monthly update on the mission’s progress. The south pole of the giant asteroid Vesta, as imaged by the framing camera on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft in September 2011. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA | › Full image and caption [...]

d00b142b73a9907cea52c583ccca05cb SPACE.com 2012-02-01T23:08:19

NASA's Grail probes have returned their first view of the far side of the moon.

1a72b4a49d1c04b2f591c1d1dd6cd8f9 SPACE.com 2012-02-01T22:19:46

The petition hopes to collect 100,000 signatures by March 13.

81c42de58c87e93480beed20c93e3421 SPACE.com 2012-02-01T22:06:56

NASA's Grail Mission has delivered its first video footage of the far side of the moon. The MoonKam on the 'Ebb' spacecraft snapped the imagery on January 19th, 2012.

e553cc26d11d3fb0b2fb130bddb0e41e SPACE.com 2012-02-01T21:47:01

Two astronomers modeled the clouds of Earth's past in an effort to determine how landforms on an alien planet might appear.

b06aef41fd39b156b3f585a49547e56a SPACE.com 2012-02-01T21:08:34

About 15,000 light years from Earth, star remnant G350.1+0.3 has taken shape unlike many circular shaped supernovae. Researchers believe it is expanding into a cold cloud of gas creating the phenomena.

94148f4751a84701abd59900681a029d SPACE.com 2012-02-01T19:56:15

See photos of NASA's final shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.

852d4c82fa7f554290e289e4fc50626d SPACE.com 2012-02-01T19:46:50

SpaceX has recently test fired the next generation of astronaut safeguards, the SuperDraco Engine, with the ability to catapult its Dragon capsule off the rocket and land safely on a landing pad.

2f970c9bde7e6ac120f1d2bf4cd154ca SPACE.com 2012-02-01T16:30:02

The last crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia talk about their dreams of being astronauts and the spectacle of flying above the Earth in this retrospective.

f55f52d249e75cac72fca370d8fb54ac SPACE.com 2012-02-01T12:50:15

In February 2012, skywatchers can enjoy views of the zodiacal light, and see Venus and Uranus together in a small telescope.

04f9f91ece2e9cd0b75d497b14e80e5a SPACE.com 2012-02-01T12:30:41

The spectacular new image was captured by one of the telescopes at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.

db507e1418d8d6f5ec2fa0277bd0f499 SPACE.com 2012-02-01T11:44:12

Europe's MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope has returned vibrant imagery of the stellar nursery NGC 3324 located in the Carina Nebula. The hot winds of star birth are carving gas and dust. But we only see a human face because we are human.

8e0548fd5d16418937ece68fc54063d0 Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2012-01-24T20:35:04

By Julie Cooper Each month in “Slice of History” we feature a historical photo from the JPL Archives. See more historical photos and explore the JPL Archives at https://beacon.jpl.nasa.gov/. Surveyor 3 Camera Returned from the Moon — Photograph Number P-10709B In November 1969 Apollo 12 astronauts Alan Bean and Pete Conrad landed on the moon less than 600 [...]

9fcace9ce8aa25c5281dfcb927c0409f Planetary Society Daily Almanac 2012-01-19T08:00:00

On the Planetary Society web site: Thirty Percent for Science: Planetary Society Calls for Increased Investment for the Future

467269f95626fd38ecd05effc78250aa Astroprof's Page 2012-01-16T01:49:04

I've been busy catching up on my classes, so I haven't posted anything lately.  But, you can catch up on lots of great space-related blog posts at the 128th Carnival of Space, being hosted this week at the AARTScope Blog. -Astroprof

9a5f1fa471378a3ff2ac078a04125757 Astroprof's Page 2012-01-16T01:49:01

Clearly carrying heavy shielding to protect astronauts from radiation in space is expensive.  If you havent' been reading my space radiation series as I've been posting, then you can look over the last several of my postings about space radiation to see some of the problems.  So, some other strategy ...

3ec9866be1867840ff4a0c1031995ae6 Astroprof's Page 2012-01-16T01:48:59

Part 3 of my series on space radiation is about the radiation itself.  The term cosmic rays is generally used to describe this radiation.  Unfortunately, as often happens, the term evolved before the nature of the phenomenon being studied was known, so it may not be the best term to ...

e5a8433895123da254fa0abbbf640d06 Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2012-01-12T21:43:39

By Marc Rayman As NASA’s Dawn spacecraft investigates its first target, the giant asteroid Vesta, Marc Rayman, Dawn’s chief engineer, shares a monthly update on the mission’s progress. This image, one of the first obtained by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft in its low altitude mapping orbit, shows part of the rim of a fresh crater on the giant [...]

12aee665aba4dabdf187c086e11b33a6 Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011-12-09T20:20:48

By Steve Edberg The last lunar eclipse until 2014 will grace the sky on Saturday, Dec. 10. Steve Edberg, an astronomer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shares the best viewing times and tips. For more lunar eclipse resources and to join NASA/JPL’s “I’m There: Lunar Eclipse” event, visit http://1.usa.gov/uBfAI8. Keith Burns submitted this winning photo of the [...]

3878f19a6e69c53c2979fe28c664fb7a Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011-12-05T18:59:40

By Marc Rayman As NASA’s Dawn spacecraft investigates its first target, the giant asteroid Vesta, Marc Rayman, Dawn’s chief engineer, shares a monthly update on the mission’s progress. This 3-D video incorporates images from the framing camera instrument aboard NASA’s Dawn spacecraft from July to August 2011. The images were obtained as Dawn approached Vesta and circled [...]

8f742a89693976928fee3436777a8c7d SPACE.com 2011-11-15T20:26:52

The view of our planet from orbit can't be beat.

a221c88c3d48f3585de5b95f34ee5d8d Astronomy Blog 2011-11-10T16:07:00

Astronomy Blog You are : in Astronomy Blog archive Asteroid 2005 YU55 An astronomy blog usually but not always based in the UK . Pondering questions such as What is in an exoplanet name Asteroid 2005 YU55 Asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass the Earth and Moon over the next 24 hours or so . It is roughly 400 metres in diameter and the closest it gets to us is something like 300,000 km . The closest it will get to the Moon is roughly 240,000 km . That is a long , long way away from either despite what an excited person in my blog comments insists . It won't hit the Earth and it won't hit the Moon Although 2005 YU55 passes within the orbital distance of the Moon , it doesn't actually get between the Earth and Moon at any point . It goes past them both . Also , space has a third dimension and 2005

2dbb40c8c193c4580f05694e5c6a4efc Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011-11-09T18:33:16

By Julie Cooper Each month in “Slice of History” we feature a historical photo from the JPL Archives. See more historical photos and explore the JPL Archives at https://beacon.jpl.nasa.gov/. Advanced Ocean Technology Development Platform — Photograph Number P-23298B The Advanced Ocean Technology Development Platform (AOTDP) was developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the late 1970s by the [...]

4b7e6d20ff54b8c67e41088032e66164 Blog - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 2011-11-03T20:14:09

By Marc Rayman As NASA’s Dawn spacecraft investigates its first target, the giant asteroid Vesta, Marc Rayman, Dawn’s chief engineer, shares a monthly update on the mission’s progress. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft obtained this image with its framing camera on September 20, 2011. This image was taken through the camera’s clear filter. The distance to the surface of [...]

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