Week 33

   TRENDING THIS WEEK

#meteorshowers #meteors #plasma #launches #asteroids

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• Asteroid Date (UT) Distance size (m)
• 
  
• 2016 LY48 2023-Sep-16 5 LD 99
• 2010 TE 2023-Sep-16 6.8 LD 22
• 523598 2023-Sep-20 19.8 LD 239
• 
  

Data from Spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower is still active till 24 August.

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SKY-MAP.ORG

The best click on first arrival to the website is “Getting Started”. You’re given a complete description of what is offered here and how to use the site. An understanding of what the authors of SKY-MAP are trying to achieve is given in the “To Survive In The Universe” section. Education about our universe and the attempt to ‘popularize’ the science about are presented as goals of the project.

A menu bar along the top and the FAQ page should be high on your next place to visit here. Some links don’t work, but the ones that do provide extremely interesting data. The NEWS@SKY presents an interesting way to link to multiple space related news sources. All-in-all this is a fun place to explore.  

Clear Skies

Victor van Wulfen brings us a website “focused on visual astronomy”. Just begin by scrolling down the screen and you’ll discover updates, the blog and feature articles. A fun showcase of ‘Objects of the …” and Observing guides completes the page.

A menu across the top of the site gives you quick access to all the contents. A major portion of the site makes available Clear Skies Observing Guides or CSOG’s. There is a FAQ that explains what CSOG are for and how to use them. There is also a place to login and register for support. The blog is up-to-date and filled with his experiences. Clear Skies is on most social media platforms. 

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In Case You Missed It

Researchers dig deep underground in hopes of finally observing dark matter 

Searching for WIMPS deep underground scientists continue the hunt for dark matter. Here we have a tank of xenon buried almost a mile underground. What will the find?

Crops and Manufacturing Studies as Station Orbits Higher 

Catch up with the latest from the Station. Check out the Space Station Blog.

Scientists record the highest-energy sunlight ever and it is far beyond what they thought was possible 

As more and more sensors and observatories gather data, we are bound to discover just how amazing our universe is. Here we have another look at our sun.

Week 32

  TRENDING THIS WEEK

#meteorshowers #meteors #spacerobotics #asteroids

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• Asteroid Date (UT) Distance size (m)
• 2022 BS2 2023-Aug-11    17.3 LD   30
• 
  

Data from Spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower is still active till 24 August.

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Deep Space Network 

In the beginning, communications with spacecraft were handled by JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). After JPL was transferred to NASA, NASA developed the Deep Space Network to provide communication services for multiple projects and agencies. DSN does its own research and development and is still operated by JPL.

DSN has three main facilities located equidistant from each other around the world. They provide connections to our spacecraft and are part of NASA's SCaN, the Space Communications and Navigation program. This program also includes the NSN (Near Space Network and TDRS (NSN's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites).

The Vatican Observatory

One of the oldest observatories on the world, the Vatican Observatory is headquartered in Castel Gandolfo. Scientists and scholars from around the world collaborate with the Observatory. The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT) located in Arizona is operated by the Vatican Observatory Research Group (VORG).

The Vatican Observatory Foundation promotes astronomical education with members of the Observatory staff making presentations including remote outreach to students and the public. There are podcasts, an image gallery, and links to news items at the website. You can also sign up for their newsletter.

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In Case You Missed It

Near-Earth “Potentially Hazardous” Asteroid Discovered: First Triumph for HelioLinc3D Algorithm

Uncovering asteroids by algorithm will speed up the process of identification and gives astronomers a "bigger, better telescope".

Bold Ascent: NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover Tackles Its Toughest Climb Yet 

Curiosity continues its climb to Mount Sharp. after 11 years on Mars, the rover continues its work.

Researchers successfully train a machine learning model in outer space for the first time. 

Making satellites more and more autonomous increases their value and extends capabilities. Here's how that's developing.

Week 31

 TRENDING THIS WEEK

#meteorshowers #meteors #satellites

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• Asteroid Date (UT) Distance size (m)
• 2016 AW65 2023-Jul-31 16.7 LD 47
• 2023 OQ3 2023-Aug-01 3.9 LD 36
• 2023 OS3 2023-Aug-01 2.5 LD 10
• 2023 OF1 2023-Aug-02 17.7 LD 39
• 2023 OW4 2023-Aug-03 1.5 LD 10
• 2020 PN1 2023-Aug-03 10.8 LD 29
• 620082 2023-Aug-04 14 LD 377
• 2023 OQ 2023-Aug-06 9.9 LD 145
• 2004 KG1 2023-Aug-06 19.9 LD 56

Data from Spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower will be active from 17 July to 24 August.

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Heavens Above

https://www.heavens-above.com/

Between 35 and 65 thousand visits each day makes Heavens Above a well-respected website for information about activities in our sky. Based on the page views, users check satellite tracking and viewing details most. You can follow the ISS, Tiangong and Hubble among others. 

There are great interactive astronomical charts depicting events for the current day and year. Specific pages cover the Sun, Moon, Planets Comets and Asteroids. There are charts for Solar Eclipses, Solars system and Constellations.

Heavens-Above has an Android app, a subreddit ( https://www.reddit.com/r/heavensabove/ ) and a "Links to other sites" page to round out a complete astronomical resource.

The Nine Planets

https://nineplanets.org/

A great place to begin an understanding of space and our Solar system is "The Nine Planets". The website describes itself as an "overview of the history, mythology and current scientific knowledge of the planets" and related solar system objects. The website was started in 1994 and boasts of being one of the first multimedia websites on the Web.

The site is wonderful library of facts and information about out Solar system and its inhabitants. Discussions and articles about on each aspect of our system. It asks and answers a multitude of questions one might not have thought of. 

The section for kids is very thorough. Divided into "Planets for Kids" and "Solar System" for Kids, the pages include facts and summaries for each item. Historical and physiological information is also included here.

The Nine Planets is well developed and an excellent source for educators and parents who want material presented in a basic understandable way. Links to sources and further information are available. It will take some time to check out the entire site. Enjoy!

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In Case You Missed It

The big idea: Why the laws of physics will never explain the universe.

Prof Andrew Pontzen tries to justify a looser language for describing our universe. Because not "everything" follows all the laws of physics we ascribe to our universe, it would be better to give "best guesses" and compromises to different processes. Machine or animal, take your choice. 

Does God play dice with star clusters? 

This downloadable PDF discusses modeling of star clusters and standard assumptions that may be taken. Questions about sampling and simulations are brought forth to describe stellar demographics.

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News From Around The Web

Two supermoons in August mean double the stargazing fun 

How to observe a meteor shower 

NASA Launches Beta Site; On-Demand Streaming, App Update Coming Soon 

Webb Sees Pair of Herbig-Haro Objects in Near-Infrared Light 

Ocean Below, Ocean of Space: Submersible Tragedy’s Impact on Public Space Travel 

Could Aging Wine Become The First Major Space Manufacturing Business? 

NASA Partners with American Companies on Key Moon, Exploration Tech 

Researchers successfully train a machine learning model in outer space for the first time 

Violent Atmosphere Gives Rare Look at Early Planetary Life 

NASA’s Juno Is Getting Ever Closer to Jupiter’s Moon Io 

Astronomers shed new light on formation of mysterious fast radio bursts 

How (Nearly) Nothing Might Solve Cosmology’s Biggest Questions 

Measuring helium in distant galaxies may give physicists insight into why the universe exists 

Our Universe wasn’t empty, even before the Big Bang 

2023 Stardust Festival Coming to Timmins and Mattagami First Nations 

Week 30

 TRENDING THIS WEEK

#meteorshowers #meteors #satellites

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• Asteroid Date (UT) Distance size (m)
• 2015 MA54 2023-Jul-24 16.6 LD 31
• 2023 OW         2023-Jul-25 19.8 LD 40
• 2018 BG5 2023-Jul-27 10.8 LD 56
• 2020 PP1 2023-Jul-29 17 LD 17
• 2021 BD3 2023-Jul-30 14 LD 25

Data from Spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower will be active from 17 July to 24 August.

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The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

https://www.spacecentre.ca/

There are more than 4,000 planetariums worldwide. Each one is unique. This is an impressive place to visit. I have been there a couple of times, and each visit was a new experience. The planetarium has several different shows with a variety of ages recommended for each. There is something for everyone and especially young people interested in exploring our universe. Tickets to shows at this time run $19.75 with those under 5 years old free.

Besides the planetarium shows, there are interactive exhibits to get a 'hands on' understanding of space, climate, light and the potential for life on other planets.

Next door to the Space Centre is the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory. The facility is open to the public and staffed with guides to answer questions. A 1/2-meter Cassegrain telescope is available for you to see the night skies above Vancouver.

Isa's Astrophotography Atelier

https://isasastroatelier.ch/

Isa calls it "A work in progress". And, what a work it is. As an astrophotographer, Isa is one of a few who share not only the images she takes, but also how she takes them and with what tools. 

Beyond her images, she provides her visitors with very complete astronomy guides to assist you in finding and taking the best images possible. The guides have a 'Topic of the Month', Moon phases, Planet visibility info and "Phenomena not to miss". There are table showing the bright stars and where to find them, Galaxies and their locations, Messier objects and Globular and Open star clusters.

The website includes animal and landscape pictures to round out the variety of images that Isa takes. She discusses light pollution and its effect on astrophotography. Isa encourages you to subscribe to her monthly Astronomy Guide.

A great website to visit and as she says, "It's a wonderful journey!"

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In Case You Missed It

Eureka! Scientists explore mysteries of black holes with hi-tech bathtub.

Hannah Devlin, Science correspondent for the Guardian, takes us on an interesting journey to 'The Black Hole Laboratory. Run by a pioneer in analogue gravity who has set up a hi-tech bathtub to get a "unique glimpse of the laws of physics". The approach to this work has its critics but there is hope that it will be justified.

 

 Naming Exoplanets

The International Astronomical Union gives us a complete guideline for the naming of Exoplanets. They introduce us to the history of searching for planets and how they are designated. There are rules and guides as to what the names should NOT represent. The article includes a long list of Exoplanet names including Astronomical Designation, Citations and Proposers. A list of more information links, acknowledgements and references completes this discussion.

 

‘Oumuamua: Natural or Artificial?

Jason Wright submits the question and provides claims and evidence for both sides. Presented here are arguments for and against, with both major and minor claims. In the end, testing the science and truths brought forward by the arguments has been a learning experience.

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News From Around The Web

Mars Helicopter: Up and at ‘Em 

Louisiana Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station 

Proposed Budgets Cut NASA Funding, Prioritize Artemis Program

Pew Poll: Americans Want Space Program To Focus On Asteroids and Climate More Than Human Spaceflight

First contact with aliens could end in colonization and genocide if we don’t learn from history. 

Hubble images a starstruck galaxy 

A Mysterious Interstellar Radio Signal Has Been Blinking on and off Every 22 Minutes for Over 30 Years 

Asteroid-smashing NASA probe sent boulders into space. 

Looking for cracks in the standard cosmological model 

Utilities Leaders Bank on Satellite IoT to Secure Future of National Power Grids 

To stick or to bounce: Size determines the stickiness of cosmic dust aggregates. 

Not All Craters are Circular. Sometimes They Look Like This 

Life on Earth didn't arise as described in textbooks. 

How often do solar eclipses occur? 

Chandra Spots ‘Relaxed’ Galaxy Cluster in Distant Universe 

Week 29

 

TRENDING THIS WEEK

#meteorshowers #meteors #Chandrayaan-3

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• Asteroid Date (UT) Distance size (m)
• 2020 UQ3 2023-Jul-18 3.2 LD 59
• 2023 NE1 2023-Jul-19 12.7 LD 60
• 2022 GX2 2023-Jul-20 11.9 LD 5
• 2023 NL 2023-Jul-20 19.1 LD 44
• 2020 OM 2023-Jul-20 8.5 LD 14
• 2023 MX5 2023-Jul-21 11.9 LD 63
• 2023 MM3 2023-Jul-22 19.1 LD 44

Data from Spaceweather.com

Delta Aquarids meteor shower - July 18, 2022 – Aug. 21, 2022 (Peak July 29-31)

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FEATURED

Go Astronomy 

https://go-astronomy.com/

Go-Astronomy provides a comprehensive list of space ports and launch sites. Their motto is - Find. Learn. Share. Repeat. That is what I am doing here. 

As part of my research in space related locations, I was looking for space ports. Go-Astronomy had a very nice list of 35 places. The website is divided into seven sections from observing to learning. Each section has at least four sub-sections. All of which are very complete and detailed in subject matter. 

The is a companion YouTube channel with over 130 videos. The videos are fairly short, about 3 to 7 minutes each. All appear to be produced in the last two years.

Shaun Reynolds

Shaun is an award winning astro-photographer living in the UK. He has had his images published in many magazines and papers.

His website provides a brief biography, an 'All Photos' page with links to more in depth images and a link to his book -  "The Light Of Night". Through the 'All Photos' page you can access 13 sections that contain more specific subjects. There are hundreds of space, terestrial and equipment images to explore. You can share an image, a gallery and a slideshow. Information on what his book includes and how to purchase it are included in that section.

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In Case You Missed It

A new, thin-lensed telescope design could far surpass James Webb – goodbye mirrors, hello diffractive lenses 

Experts on exoplanets met with Northrop Grumman to discuss development of more powerful telescopes and their construction. The result is a new design that uses diffractive lenses to focus incoming light. The new scope ideas can be produced cheaper and are very light weight.

Space-flown Snoopy dolls star in new Schulz Museum exhibit 

The Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California is now hosting a "Snoopy In Orbit" exhibit with space-flown "Peanuts" artifacts. There are 'interactive' aspects to the exhibit as well as the featured dolls. The display will be open through January 14, 2024.

Reinventing cosmology: uOttawa research puts age of universe at 26.7 — not 13.7 — billion years 

Physicists at the University of Ottawa are challenging the current estimates of the age of the universe.  With new techniques and technology, they are estimating an age of about 26.7 billion years. 

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News From Around The Web

UK targets laser satellite communications with NorthumbriaU research grant 

Guiding Aeolus' safe reentry 

The Physicist Who’s Challenging the Quantum Orthodoxy 

New NASA Artemis Instruments to Study Volcanic Terrain on the Moon 

ASKAP Telescope Detects Periodic Radio Emission from Ultracool Dwarf 

Astronomers observe subpulse drifting and nulling of pulsar PSR J0026–1955 

ULA's Vulcan to launch by the end of this year.

China Has Begun Launching its Own Satellite Internet Network 

Capturing the light in dark nebulae 

ESA moves ahead with In-Orbit Servicing missions 

Video - 'Oumuamua Is Not the Only Object Inexplicably Accelerating

At T-1 Month, Multi-National Crew-7 Readies for 15 August Space Station Launch 

Gemini South Telescope Observes Reflection Nebula 

Astrophysicists discover spectacular quasar-driven superbubbles in three luminous red quasars 

Week 28

  

TRENDING THIS WEEK

#spacecommand #gravitationalwaves #Chandrayaan-3

Earth-asteroid Encounters This Week

• 2018 NW     2023-Jul-10 -- 18 LD - Size (m) 10
• 2023 LN1    2023-Jul-10 -- 17.9 LD - Size (m) 61
• 2023 MD2   2023-Jul-11 -- 5.6 LD - Size (m) 49
• 2023 MQ1   2023-Jul-11 -- 10.8 LD - Size (m) 49
• 2018 UY     2023-Jul-12 -- 7.4 LD - Size (m) 243
• 2023 MG6   2023-Jul-16 -- 9.5 LD - Size (m) 288

Data from Spaceweather.com

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FEATURED

The Maunakea Observatories

https://www.maunakeaobservatories.org/ 

Located at the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii are 12 facilities with thirteen telescopes. The facilities are funded by various nations. They are located in the "Astronomy Zone" in the Mauna Kea Science Reserve that was established in 1968. The site is 13,795 ft (4, 205m) above sea level.

The W.M.Keck Observatory, part of the Maunakea group, claim "the world's largest and most scientifically productive telescopes on Earth". Regular, up-to-date news items from the observatory are posted on the website. If you are interested in special events and programs, you can join the Keck Nation community. You'll get news and invitations to live streaming content. 

@ xipteras

https://com.xipteras.org/

Panagiotis Xipteras is a prolific Astro photographer. His website provides the visitor with not only fantastic Astro imaging, but information on how to take images, what techniques he used, and equipment and tools needed to make them.

His website also includes pages of reviews in cameras, lenses, telescopes and the peripheral equipment needed to make it all work. Panagiotis had a passion for sharing astronomy and inviting all to participate. The polls page will give you a good idea for what he feels is important and what his followers think.

There is no advertising on his website. All his work is copy written but may be used freely for science fields. If you are starting out in Astro-imaging, this is a good place to start. If you really like awesome space images, be sure to take a look.

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In Case You Missed It

Astro-tourism – chasing eclipses, meteor showers and elusive dark skies from Earth

Are you a "chaser"? If your interest in astronomical events leads you to travel in order to view and experience celestial activity, there are some good thoughts here. From planning ahead to just what to look for, you'll want to know what's ahead. Why it matters to plan ahead, remembering - you won't be the only one doing the chasing.

Turns out "Nothing" doesn't exist. Instead, there is "quantum foam".

We can't observe it, but physicists are continuing to explore mysteries that could "reshape" our understanding of reality.

Dark Matter Discrepancy: A Cosmic Conundrum in the Standard Cosmological Model

It's "clumpy". So claim scientists looking at conflicting data on dark matter. The data doesn't match data on the Cosmic Microwave background.

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News From Around The Web

Join NASA to Celebrate Webb Space Telescope’s First Year of Science 

Center for Astrophysics Celebrates 50th Anniversary 

Solving the RIME deployment mystery

A New Map of the Universe, Painted With Cosmic Neutrinos 

Astronomers Detect Farthest Active Supermassive Black Hole Yet 

Is Earth the only Goldilocks planet? 

Moon Cart Revisited: Bad Idea? 

Canadian student rocketry group reaches new heights with Spaceport Nova Scotia's first launch 

Video - The Final Images We Will Ever See Up Close of Tempel-1 | NASA's Deep Impact and Stardust Missions

Astronomers Scan the Skies for Nanosecond Pulses of Light From Interstellar Civilizations 

Research group unveils properties of cosmic-ray sulfur and the composition of other primary cosmic rays 

Bursting the Bubble with Inflatable Habitats 

Video - There’s a striking link between quantum and astronomic scales. What could it mean? 

Practicing the game-winning asteroid sample catch 

Reviving the blog

 With the recent activities in regard to Twitter availability and postings, I want to provide an independent connection with my followers. I enjoy researching and discovering space related content on the Internet and sharing it with you. 

 Watch for 

News From Around The Web