- Spaceweather.com
- 8 incredible images of lunar eclipses
- The Independant
- Space.Com
- Weather.com
- BBC News
Sunday 12 October 2014
Blood Moon Photos: Total Lunar Eclipse Pictures from April 15, 2014
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.
The Bermuda Triangle of Space: The High-Energy South Atlantic Anomaly Threatens Satellites
Click to enlarge!
Source: DefenceNews
Shortly after launch, the satellite passed over the South Atlantic, and things went awry. The satellite was hit by radiation that sent the sensors reeling and knocked out an electronics board payload. Suddenly, the expensive, specially-designed satellite could no longer do what it was built for.
Read more...
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 30ยบ 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
Wednesday 10 September 2014
Rosetta spacecraft selfie with comet
Here is a Rosetta ‘selfie’ with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in
background. It was taken by the CIVA camera – short for Comet Infrared
and Visible Analyser – onboard the Philae Lander. This is the same
camera that will be acquiring images from the surface of the comet
itself, when the Philae lander sets down on the comet in November.
Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko was 50 kilometers / 31 miles away at the time of this image.
Two frames were taken and merged due to the high contrast.
Rosetta isn’t the first otherworldly object to get in on the earthly trend of selfies. NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover caught one, too, earlier this year.
Rosetta spacecraft selfie with comet | Science Wire | EarthSky
Friday 29 August 2014
Naval Hill Planetarium
The first digital planetarium in sub-Saharan Africa – situated on Naval Hill, right here in Bloemfontein – opened on 1 November 2013! The University of the Free State (UFS) is managing this facility.
Tariffs:
Adults: R50
Learners: R30
Students (with valid student card): R30
Pensioners: R30
Tariffs and dates for group reservations are available on request.
Buy tickets at:
- The Planetarium before shows (but keep in mind that the Planetarium is regularly full);
- Computicket at all Checkers, Shoprite, House and Home and Checkers Hyper shops;
- Computicket’s enquiry centre (08619158000); or
- Online at www.online.computicket.com (look for ‘planetarium’);
- Online mobi www.computicket.mobi with mobile devices (look for ‘planetarium’).
Please direct enquiries via email to Yolandie Loots at FickY@ufs.ac.za or contact her on 051 401 9751.
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