Virtual SpaceTV 3D – October 2013

Here is the October 2013 episode of The Virtual SpaceTV 3D show with Amanda Bush. The programs are created by BINARY SPACE (www.binary-space.com) with story content from HobbySpace.com.

Amanda reports on the following topics
00:56 – 02:51 Cygnus Cargo Module visits ISS
02:52 – 05:05 New Falcon 9 Rocket launches
05:06 – 06:32 The Grasshopper’s highest hop yet
06:33 – 08:48 India & US to send Probes to Mars

Other Virtual SpaceTV 3D shows are available on the  HobbySpace Youtube Channel.

These videos are intended as educational programs and as demonstrations of an experimental technique for generating animated presentations. The show was generated autonomously by software according to a text script. The project is described in the Virtual Producer whitepaper (Release 1.1, Oct.2013, pdf). For further information contact info@binary-space.com.

Amateur astronomers see a comet “explode” in brightness

SpaceWeather.com reports that amateur astronomers have observed a “comet explosion”:

Almost 450 million km from Earth, Comet C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) has exploded. Amateur astronomers are reporting a 100-fold increase in the comet’s brightness compared to predictions, and the comet’s atmosphere or “coma” now resembles that of exploding Comet 17P/Holmes in 2007. Using a remotely-controlled 0.5 meter telescope in New Mexico, European observers Ernesto Guido, Martino Nicolini and Nick Howes took this picture of the spherical explosion on Oct 21st:

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Image from Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes and Martino Nicolini

“The predicted magnitude of the comet on Oct. 20th was about +14,” says Guido. “Now it is close to +8.5.” This is below the threshold for naked-eye visibility, but bright enough for backyard telescopes equipped with digital cameras.

The comet may not have literally exploded but instead a vein of water ice or other volatile material may have become exposed and erupted, creating a cloud of material around the object.

Here is a video showing images of the comet:

>http://youtu.be/95wvUxUQqxo

“Dark Universe” coming to the Hayden Planetarium

On November 2nd, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City will premier a new space show called Dark Universe narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson:

DARK UNIVERSE, the new Hayden Planetarium Space Show premiering November 2, 2013, at the American Museum of Natural History, is produced by an acclaimed team that includes astrophysicists and data visualization experts.

DARK UNIVERSE celebrates the pivotal discoveries that have led us to greater knowledge of the structure and history of the universe and our place in it—and to new frontiers for exploration. The Space Show is narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

DARK UNIVERSE was created by the American Museum of Natural History, the Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space, and the Hayden Planetarium.

Gravity Untethered: Presented by Yuri’s Night

The Yuri’s Night – Google+ site is hosting Gravity Untethered

The first in a series of one-of-a-kind hangouts hosted by Yuri’s Night. We’ll be talking with some amazing experts in zero-gravity about the movie “Gravity” that came out a few weeks ago. Joining us will be Astronaut +Ron Garan, Astronaut +Cady Coleman  JSC Physiologist+Liz Warren , Founder and Editor of collectSPACE +Robert Pearlman, Zero G Flight Director +Tim Bailey, and Yuri’s Night event host and Executive Director Dr. +Ryan Kobrick!

Watch our Google+ account and +1 us to learn about more Hangin’ with Yuri Hangout events in the coming months leading up to Yuri’s Night on April 12, 2014.

*Panel members are not officially representing their companies or NASA, they are #SpaceTweeps (social media users with a passion for space), movie buffs and awesome people who want to share their insight from their spacey backgrounds.

Space policy roundup – Oct.22.13

A selection of recent space policy/politics related items:

Update: