Category Archives: Events

Asteroids & Comets, Events, Space Science

ESA’s Philae lander touches down on Comet 67P/C-G

Congratulations to ESA and the Rosetta team on the successful landing of Philae on Comet 67P/C-G :

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Rosetta’s lander Philae took this parting shot of its mothership shortly after separation.

Farewell_Philae_-_narrow-angle_view_node_full_image_2[1]Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera captured this parting shot
of the Philae lander after separation.

Some highlights of events leading up to the separation:

Asteroids & Comets, Events, Space Science

Video: ESA Rosetta webcast for Philae landing on Comet 67P/C-G

The webcast of the release of the Philae lander from the Rosetta spacecraft has begun: Rosetta | rendezvous with a comet.

The actual separation and landing will not happen till tomorrow (Nov.12):

Separation of the lander is planned for about 09:03 GMT (10:03 CET) [4:03 am EDT], and touch down should follow about seven hours later, at 16:02 GMT (17:02 CET) [11:02 am EDT].

See also latest info at:

Here’s the Rosetta and Philae landing timeline – Rosetta blog:

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Here is a video about the challenges of landing on this comet:

Events, Space Music

Orchestra to debut composition inspired by the Voyager spacecraft

Composer and musician Warren Greveson will debut his work, Voyager for Orchestra and Four iPads, Sunday, Oct. 19th in Mount Dora, Florida: Music for orchestra and iPads debuts in Mount Dora – Orlando Sentinel .

The composition will be performed by the Stetson University Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Anthony Hose.

The work is inspired by the two NASA Voyager spacecraft. The performance will be accompanied with a film by Maurice Lock.

Asteroids & Comets, Astronomy, Events

Video: A preview of Comet Siding Spring’s fly-by of Mars

Astronomer Bruce Betts of the Planetary Society lays out all the basics about Comet Siding Spring, which on October 19, 2014 will make a close fly-by of Mars.

Astronomy, Events, The Moon

Lunar eclipse timing diagram

There will be a lunar eclipse visible tonight (i.e. early Wednesday morning) over much of the USA. Below is an animation showing the times for the different phases of the eclipse in the four time zones: Skunk Bear There’s another lunar eclipse this year and it’s… : NPR.

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For more info, see Wake Up to a Total Lunar Eclipse on October 8, 2014 – Sky & Telescope.