Seven Mars spacecraft attempted observations of comet Siding Spring. How did they go?
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla
Tuesday, 4 November 2014
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
"Discover!" and "ConCards"
Click on image to enlarge!
Updates for our popular introductory star charts are now available for free download from the ASSA website.
The short "Discover!" workbook is perfect for getting to know the southern constellations. (Tip: Use the workbook in conjuction with the "Southern Star Wheel" for a complete solution.)
To delve deeper into the constellations, and to explore their deep-sky treasures, get your copy of the updated "ConCards".
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Rosetta mission - Philae’s descent and science on the surface
The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission will deploy its lander, Philae, to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko on 12 November.
Philae’s landing site, currently known as Site J, is located on the smaller of the comet’s two ‘lobes’, with a backup site on the larger lobe. The sites were selected just six weeks after Rosetta arrived at the comet on 6 August, following its 10-year journey through the Solar System
In that time, the Rosetta mission has been conducting an unprecedented scientific analysis of the comet, a remnant of the Solar System’s 4.6 billion-year history. The latest results from Rosetta will be presented on the occasion of the landing, during dedicated press briefings.
The main focus to date has been to survey 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in order to prepare for the first ever attempt to soft-land on a comet.
Read more...
After the Blood Moon comes the Pumpkin Sun
Click to enlarge!
On October 7, 2014 [Manila time], active regions on the sun gave it the
appearance of a jack-o'-lantern. This image is a blend of 171 and 193
angstrom light as captured by the NASA-Solar Dynamics Observatory.
NASA/GSFC/SDO
Source: GMANews
It looks like the Moon isn't the only heavenly body giving the skies a creepy feel this month.
After last Wednesday's "Blood Moon" comes the "Pumpkin Sun" as captured by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration last Wednesday, October 8.
Last Wednesday, the moon took on a blood-colored appearance during a total lunar eclipse.
"Active regions on the sun combined to look something like a jack-o-lantern’s face on Oct. 8, 2014. The active regions appear brighter because those are areas that emit more light and energy – markers of an intense and complex set of magnetic fields hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona," NASA's Goodard Space Flight Center said.
After last Wednesday's "Blood Moon" comes the "Pumpkin Sun" as captured by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration last Wednesday, October 8.
Last Wednesday, the moon took on a blood-colored appearance during a total lunar eclipse.
"Active regions on the sun combined to look something like a jack-o-lantern’s face on Oct. 8, 2014. The active regions appear brighter because those are areas that emit more light and energy – markers of an intense and complex set of magnetic fields hovering in the sun’s atmosphere, the corona," NASA's Goodard Space Flight Center said.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Saturday, 27 September 2014
Rosetta: Date fixed for historic comet landing attempt
Philae is about the size of a washing machine.
It will use harpoons and screws to try to hold itself down
It will use harpoons and screws to try to hold itself down
The date has been fixed for Europe's daring attempt to land on a comet: Wednesday 12 November.
It will see the Rosetta satellite, which is currently orbiting the huge "ice mountain" known as 67P, drop a small robot from a height of 20km.If all goes well, the lander will free-fall towards the comet, making contact with the surface somewhere in a 1km-wide zone at roughly 15:35 GMT.
The European Space Agency (Esa) says the challenges ahead are immense.
Imagine pushing a washing machine out the back of an airliner at twice cruising altitude and expecting it to hit Regent's Park in London - all while the ground is moving underneath.
Although not really analogous for many reasons, this scenario does give a sense of the difficulties involved.
The chances of failure are high.
Friday, 19 September 2014
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014 - in pictures
Click to enlarge
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the winners of this
year’s international astronomy photography competition. The
observatory’s annual free exhibition,
which opened on Thursday, showcases these dazzling images of the sky,
ranging from within our solar system to far into deep space. British
photographer James Woodend beat over a thousand amateur and professional
photographers to win the top prize.
Inkspot - The only Dark Nebula with it's own wine?
Is it Barnard 86 with it's own wine label or Inkspot 2010 Vin Noir with it's own dark nebula?
- Give that man an Inkspot! From Herschel with love!
Monday, 15 September 2014
Space in Images - 2014 - 09 - Philae’s primary landing site
Philae’s primary landing site will target Site J, the centre of which
is indicated by the cross in this OSIRIS narrow-angle image.
Site
J is located on the head of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and is
close to the candidate site B, the large depression to the right of the
image.
Site J offers the minimum risk to the lander in comparison
to the other candidate sites, and is also scientifically interesting,
with signs of activity nearby. At Site J, the majority of slopes are
less than 30º relative to the local vertical, reducing the chances of
Philae toppling over during touchdown. Site J also appears to have
relatively few boulders and receives sufficient daily illumination to
recharge Philae and continue science operations on the surface beyond
the initial battery-powered phase.
Full story: 'J' marks the spot for Rosetta's lander
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