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
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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.

News From Around The Web

Louisiana Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts Aboard Space Station 

Meteorological satellite launches into orbit.

ESA’s Euclid Spacecraft Snaps Its First Test Images

Russia to launch first lunar station in nearly 50 years. 

Astronomers Discover Jupiter-Sized Exoplanet around Low-Mass Star 

'City killers' and half-giraffes: How many scary asteroids really go past Earth every year? 

Do Technological Civilizations Depend on Atmospheric Oxygen? 

NASA Mars Rover Snaps Rare Ingenuity Helicopter Glamour Shot

Infographic: Space Debris, Earth’s Celestial Clutter Collar 

Team identifies gas streamers feeding triple baby stars 

What happens if someone dies in space? 

We can now listen in on twinkling stars 

Video - What Militaries Have Hidden in Space Makes Me A Little Nervous 

Quantum Complexity Shows How to Escape Hawking’s Black Hole Paradox

Are we alone in the universe? 4 essential reads on potential contact with aliens