Space News Update- April 12, 2013 -

In the News

Story 1: Ice Cloud Heralds Fall at Titan's South Pole

Story 2:NASA Mars Orbiter Images May Show 1971 Soviet Lander

Story 3: NOAA-17 Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite Retired

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Ice Cloud Heralds Fall at Titan's South Pole

NASA Mars Orbiter Images May Show 1971 Soviet Lander

NOAA-17 Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite Retired

The Night Sky

Friday, April 12 · As twilight fades in the west this evening, look far to the lower left of Jupiter for the crescent Moon. Less far above the Moon, you can see the Pleiades emerging into view — as shown at right.

Saturday, April 13 · The thin crescent Moon floats between Aldebaran and the Pleiades in the west as twilight fades, with Jupiter above it, as shown at right.

Sunday, April 14 · The Moon and Jupiter shine side by side high in the west after dusk, 3° or 4° apart, with Aldebaran below them. Although they look close together, the Moon is 1.3 light-seconds from Earth, Jupiter is currently 47 light-minutes distant, and Aldebaran is 65 light-years in the background.

Monday, April 15 · The Moon right after dark is in the top of Orion's very dim Club. That's not far from the center of the huge Winter Hexagon: Sirius, Procyon, the Pollux-and-Castor pair, Capella, Aldebaran (under Jupiter), Rigel, and back to Sirius. Sky & Telescope

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

For Denver:

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATIONMAX ELEV

APPROACH DEPARTURE

DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Fri Apr 12/08:54 PM 2 15 15 above NNW 11 above NNE

ISS Sat Apr 13/08:03 PM 3 20 19 above NW 10 above NNE

ISS Sat Apr 13/09:40 PM 1 10 10 above NNW 10 above N

ISS Sun Apr 14/08:49 PM 2 11 10 above NNW 10 above NNE

ISS Sun Apr 14/10:27 PM < 1 12 10 above N 10 above N

ISS Mon Apr 15/07:59 PM 2 13 13 above NNW 10 above NNE

ISS Mon Apr 15/09:36 PM 2 11 10 above N 10 above NNE

NASA-TV Highlights

April 15, Monday7:45 a.m. - ISS Progress 49 Undocking from the International Space Station (Undocking scheduled at 8:03 a.m. EDT) - JSC (All Channels)12 p.m. - Orion Briefing with Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana - KSC (All Channels)

Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA website

Space Calendar

JPL Space Calendar

Apr 12 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of Titan & Polydeuces Apr 12 - [Apr 08] Comet 164P/Christensen At Opposition (3.747 AU) Apr 12 - Asteroid 2013 FZ7 Near-Earth Flyby (0.062 AU) Apr 12 - Asteroid 10183 Ampere Closest Approach To Earth (0.988 AU) Apr 12 - Yuri's Night: World Space Party Apr 13 - Comet C/2013 D1 (Holvorcem) Perihelion (2.460 AU) Apr 13 - Asteroid 2010 GM23 Near-Earth Flyby (0.010 AU) Apr 13-16 - American Physical Society (APS) Meeting, Denver, Colorado Apr 14 - Comet 15P/Finlay At Opposition (3.999 AU) Apr 14 - Asteroid 3 Juno Occults TYC 5188-00638-1 (9.9 Magnitude Star) Apr 14 - Asteroid 2013 EN126 Near-Earth Flyby (0.076 AU) Apr 15 - [Apr 10] Progress 49 Reenters Earth's Atmosphere Apr 15 - Anik G1 Proton M-Briz M Launch Apr 15 - Comet 44P/Reinmuth At Opposition (3.475 AU) Apr 15 - Asteroid 10050 Rayman Closest Approach To Earth (1.486 AU) Apr 15 - Asteroid 9500 Camelot Closest Approach To Earth (1.714 AU)

Food for Thought

X-48 Project Completes Flight Research for Cleaner, Quieter Aircraft

Space Image of the Week

Yuri's Planet