Space News Update- April 5, 2013 -

In the News

Story 1: Hubble Breaks Record in Search for Farthest Suprenova

Story 2: Initial AMS data consistent with dark matter, but not yet proof

Story 3: Hydrogen Peroxide Could Feed Life on Europa

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Hubble Breaks Record in Search for Farthest Suprenova

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Initial AMS data consistent with dark matter, but not yet proof

Hydrogen Peroxide Could Feed Life on Europa

The Night SkyFriday, April 5· The huge, bright Winter Hexagon is still in view after dark, filling the sky to the southwest and west. Start with bright Sirius in the southwest. It marks the Hexagon's lower left corner. High above Sirius is Procyon. From there, look upper right to Pollux and Castor, lower right from Castor to Menkalinen and Capella, lower left to Aldebaran (with brighter Jupiter hogging the limelight near it!), lower left to Rigel at the bottom of Orion, and back to Sirius.

Saturday, April 6· Look for Arcturus, the "Spring Star," shining brightly low in the east-northeast in twilight and higher in the east after dark. The constellation Bootes extends to its left. High to Arcturus's upper left is the Big Dipper.

Sunday, April 7· From bright Arcturus in the east, look lower right by about three fists at arm's length for Spica and, lower down as evening grows late, Saturn. To the right of Spica by a little more than a fist is the four-star quadrilateral of Corvus, the Crow.

Monday, April 8· As spring advances, wintry Orion tilts farther over as it declines in the west-southwest after dark. Orion's Belt in its middle is now almost horizontal. Orion is brightly framed on its right by Jupiter and on its left by Sirius.

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 Sat Apr 06/09:03 PM 3 56 10 above SW 50 above S

ISS Sun Apr 07/08:13 PM 5 29 11 above SSW 11 above ENE

ISS Sun Apr 07/09:50 PM 2 31 11 above W 28 above NW

ISS Mon Apr 08/08:59 PM 6 51 10 above WSW 15 above NE

ISS Sat Apr 06/09:03 PM 3 56 10 above SW 50 above S

NASA-TV Highlights

Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

April 8, Monday11:05 a.m. - ISS Expedition 35 In-Flight Educational Event with the Mary Marek Elementary School in Alvin, TX - JSC (All Channels)

Space CalendarApr 05 - [Apr 04] Cassini, Titan FlybyApr 05 - Comet 222P/LINEAR At Opposition (3.091 AU)Apr 05 - Comet C/2010 R1 (LINEAR) At Opposition (5.109 AU)Apr 05 - Asteroid 4 Vesta Occults TYC 1848-02042-1 (11.6 Magnitude Star)Apr 05 - Asteroid 5738 Billpickering Closest Approach To Earth (1.041 AU)Apr 05 - Asteroid 49272 Bryce Canyon Closest Approach To Earth (2.020 AU)Apr 05 - Asteroid 2801 Huygens Closest Approach To Earth (2.235 AU)Apr 05 - 40th Anniversary (1973), Pioneer 11 Launch (Jupiter & Saturn Flyby Mission)Apr 05-11 - [Apr 03] International Dark Sky WeekApr 06 - Venus Passes 0.7 Degrees From MarsApr 06 - Comet 51P/Harrington At Opposition (4.232 AU)Apr 06 - Asteroid 2124 Nissen Occults HIP 17847 (3.6 Magnitude Star)Apr 06 - Asteroid 117329 Spencer Closest Approach To Earth (1.107 AU)Apr 06 - Asteroid 1541 Estonia Closest Approach To Earth (1.579 AU)Apr 06 - Asteroid 3264 Bounty Closest Approach To Earth (1.884 AU)Apr 06 - Asteroid 5870 Baltimore Closest Approach To Earth (2.613 AU)Apr 07 - Comet C/2013 F1 (Boattini) Closest Approach To Earth (1.641 AU)Apr 07 - Comet P/2012 A3 (SOHO) At Opposition (2.996 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 2005 TS15 Near-Earth Flyby (0.039 AU)Apr 07 - [Apr 05] Asteroid 2013 GJ Near-Earth Flyby (0.049 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 7079 Baghdad Closest Approach To Earth (1.640 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 10389 Robmanning Closest Approach To Earth (1.692 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 15495 Bogie Closest Approach To Earth (2.010 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 13926 Berners-Lee Closest Approach To Earth (2.318 AU)Apr 07 - Asteroid 1832 Mrkos Closest Approach To Earth (2.591 AU)Apr 07 - 45th Anniversary (1968), Luna 14 Launch (Soviet Moon Orbiter Mission)Apr 08 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #347 (OTM-347)Apr 08 - Comet C/2011 R1 (McNaught) Closest Approach To Earth (1.960 AU)Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults TYC 1876-01954-1 (12.3 Magnitude Star)Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC 41858122 (12.4 Magnitude Star)Apr 08 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults 2UCAC 41858338 (12.4 Magnitude Star)Apr 08 - Asteroid 2013 EJ89 Near-Earth Flyby (0.071 AU) JPL Space Calendar

Luna 14

Food for ThoughtHow Do Astronauts on the Space Station Stay in Touch

with Earth?

Space Image of the Week

Image Credit: NASA/CXC/JPL-Caltech/STScI