Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Discussion on science, nature and technology across the globe.
Post Reply
User avatar
STEVE G
Hero
Hero
Posts: 12973
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:50 am
Location: HUA HIN/EUROPE

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by STEVE G »

I found it interesting that NASA were going up to photograph the eclipse with their old modified B57 aircraft which were originally based on the British Canberra bomber:
https://www.outono.net/elentir/2024/04/ ... -eclipses/
User avatar
STEVE G
Hero
Hero
Posts: 12973
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:50 am
Location: HUA HIN/EUROPE

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by STEVE G »

NASA’s Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Engineering Updates to Earth

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-voy ... s-to-earth

"After some inventive sleuthing, the mission team can — for the first time in five months — check the health and status of the most distant human-made object in existence.

For the first time since November, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is returning usable data about the health and status of its onboard engineering systems. The next step is to enable the spacecraft to begin returning science data again. The probe and its twin, Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft to ever fly in interstellar space (the space between stars)."
User avatar
Nereus
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10952
Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:01 pm
Location: Camped by a Billabong

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by Nereus »

Stunning auroras seen worldwide as geomagnetic storm hits earth

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-11/ ... /103834604

Skies around the world have been lit up overnight with colourful hues.

The Aurora Borealis and Australis — northern and southern lights — were captured by spectators.

A strong geomagnetic storm not seen in 20 years was behind the phenomena.

Here is a selection of some of the most stunning displays:

at the link..................if some body wants to copy and convert them:
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
User avatar
pharvey
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 14064
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Sir Fynwy - God's Country

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by pharvey »

^ Sod's Law, no warning/notice and a day when I'm under the weather!! :cuss: Cracking views apparently just a mile or 2 form our place away from the lights and close to the witching hour... :roll: There was a chance to see yesterday, but the conditions just didn't allow. Yet another chance missed and this time on my backdoor!

Boing's "Starliner" launch to the ISS again put back - aren't they doing well! Next scheduled for 23:16 (UK) Friday May 17th.

Perhaps though this is on schedule (and will hopefully miss us - despite the date)!

"In just under half a decade, a 1,000-foot-wide (305-meter-wide) asteroid named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction, Apophis, will pass within 30,000 miles (48,300 kilometers) of Earth. Scientists don't intend to allow the rare close passage of a space rock of this size to go to waste.

On April 13, 2029 — a Friday, no less — when Apophis, formally known as (99942) Apophis, makes its closest approach to Earth, it will become so prominent over our planet that it will visible with the unaided eye. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft (once known as OSIRIS-REx) will be on hand to meet the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) personally. But, if things shape up, that NASA mission could be joined by a host of little satellites during its rendezvous."


https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis- ... ign=MANUAL
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
User avatar
KhunLA
Guru
Guru
Posts: 644
Joined: Mon May 10, 2021 5:59 am

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by KhunLA »

User avatar
pharvey
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 14064
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Sir Fynwy - God's Country

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by pharvey »

^ Hence the certain "Windows" for any and all missions - especially the likes of Mars and Saturn currently in the works.

It also makes the Voyager(s) quite incredible, now out of our own solar system, but the calculations to "slingshot" around planets in the system initially? Truly out of this world (pun intended)... :bow:
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
User avatar
pharvey
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 14064
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Sir Fynwy - God's Country

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by pharvey »

This is an interesting read for followers of Astronomy and the Lunar and Solar Eclipses. The website mentioned "EclipseWise.com" is also well worth a visit.

"If one were to mention the name, "Mr. Eclipse," most amateur and professional astronomers would immediately recognize it as the nom de plume for Fred Espenak, a retired emeritus American astrophysicist who worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center. But he is far better known for his work on eclipse predictions.

The first total solar eclipse Espenak saw was in March 1970, which sparked his interest in eclipses at the age of 16. Eight years later, he began providing eclipse bulletins for NASA, and today he is the author of many highly-regarded canonical works on eclipse predictions. Many eclipse chasers who desire information on past and especially future eclipses, go to EclipseWise.com where Dr. Espenak has developed a website dedicated to comprehensive predictions and information on eclipses of the sun and moon.

To be sure, he has earned the title of "Mr. Eclipse." But in the late 19th century, there was a man who, during his time, could have also been branded as "Mr. Eclipse." His name was Theodor Ritter von Oppolzer."


Full Article @ https://www.space.com/eclipses-canon-or ... SmartBrief

:cheers: :cheers:
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
User avatar
pharvey
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 14064
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Sir Fynwy - God's Country

Re: Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

Post by pharvey »

'It's so complicated:' - So say Boing regarding the continually delayed launch of the Starliner.... Really, Space Travel is complicated?!! State the fecking obvious, but others seem to be managing things far better than Boeing - I guess that also goes for Air Travel at the moment!! :duck:
I've been following the news, getting up at silly hours to watch the launch only to be disappointed at the last minute.. and it still continues. Of course there are huge safety issues especially with it being a manned flight, but... :roll:

"Starliner is still set to fly on its historic first flight with astronauts on June 1, but that could change as the team works through "complicated" issues following a small helium leak.

NASA and Boeing officials emphasized they are carefully weighing the decision to launch Starliner's first test mission with astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The approximately one-week mission is known as Crew Flight Test (CFT) and includes NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots.

"It's so complicated. There's so many things going on. We really just needed to work through it as a team," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and a former astronaut, told reporters in a teleconference Friday (May 24). He added that addressing the issues have taken a lot of time, which is part of why few updates have been forthcoming from the team in recent weeks."


Watch this "Space": - https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner- ... elium-leak
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Post Reply