Category Archives: Astronomy

Astronomy, Exoplanets

Kepler’s reaction wheel problems continue.

The very successful exoplanet finding spacecraft Kepler continues to have problems with a reaction wheel. If it fails this will cripple the mission if not end it completely: Kepler reaction wheel still problematic after mitigation – Spaceflight Now

Astronomy

A new exoplanet finder mission in 2017

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Good to hear that there will be a follow up mission to the Kepler space observatory dedicated to finding exoplanets:

Update: Don’t see a website for the exoplanet project yet but here is a Wikipedia page:  Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

A commenter here, points also to the other  experiment that NASA approved – the Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER). This will be mounted on the exterior of the ISS in 2017 to study neutron stars with a X-ray timing and spectroscopy instrument.

Astronomy, Science and Technology

Briefing on first results of the ISS Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02)

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Last month, Sam Ting, head of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) experiment on the International Space Station hinted that they have found some very interesting results. (See Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to release first results -BBC – Feb.18.13.) Tomorrow the results will be discussed at the CERN accelerator center in Geneva, Switzerland and on NASA TV: First Results of the AMS-02 experiment to be presented on April 3rd at CERN

[ Update: The presentation at CERN is starting at 11:00 am ET today: LIVE WEBCAST Today @ 11 am ET: AMS Science Seminar by Nobel Laureate Sam Ting – Space.com

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NASA TV Briefing Discusses Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Results

WASHINGTON — NASA will hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 3, to discuss the first results of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) experiment. AMS is a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector located on the exterior of the International Space Station.

The briefing will be held in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters at 300 E St. SW in Washington. It will be broadcast live on NASA Television and streamed on the agency’s website.

The participants include:
— William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations
— Samuel Ting (participating by video link), AMS principal investigator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
— Michael Salamon, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science program manager for AMS
— Mark Sistilli, NASA AMS program manager

Media representatives may ask questions from participating NASA centers or by telephone. To participate by phone, reporters must contact Rachel Kraft at 202-358-1100 or rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov by noon, April 3.

AMS was constructed, tested and operated by an international team of 56 institutes from 16 countries and organized under U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science sponsorship. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston manages the AMS Integration Project Office.

AMS was launched on space shuttle Endeavour on May 16, 2011. Operations on the space station began three days later. AMS continues operations aboard the station today.

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about AMS and the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

Astronomy, Education, Space Science

Comet 2013 A1 has a slight chance of impacting Mars

Here’s a ScienceCast report on the possibility that Comet 2013 A1 will hit Mars: ScienceCasts: Collision Course? A Comet Heads for Mars – YouTube

A comet is heading for Mars, and there is a chance that it might hit the Red Planet in October 2014. An impact wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of NASA’s Mars program. But it would transform the program along with Mars itself.

Astronomy, Space Science

Bright fireball meteor seen over much of the US East Coast

A large bright meteor over the US East Coast on Friday evening got lots of attention:

This video offers three views of the fireball from a parking lot webcam:

Here’s a view from a security camera in Thurmont, MD:

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Meteors happen somewhere over earth at a fairly frequent rate. Fireballs, i.e. meteors brighter than Venus, are also more frequent that many assume. Here are a couple of sites that post daily reports on such events: