Space News Update- August 1, 2014 -

In the News

Story 1: NASA selects instruments for Mars 2020 rover

Story 2: Early Tidal and Rotational Forces Helped Shape Moon

Story 3: Mysterious Molecules in Space Named?

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

Space CalendarNASA-TV Highlights

Food for ThoughtSpace Image of the Week

NASA selects instruments for Mars 2020 rover

Early Tidal and Rotational Forces Helped Shape Moon

Mysterious Molecules in Space Named?

Monday, August 4Now the Moon forms the left end of a ragged line with Saturn, Mars, and Spica to its right. To the Moon's lower left are the vertical row of stars forming the head of Scorpius (highlighted by Delta Scorpii, labeled below), and then Antares. Tuesday, August 5Look below the Moon this evening for the red supergiant Antares, as shown at right. Around Antares and to its right are other stars of upper Scorpius.ward Mu Scorpii, a much tighter pair known as the Little Cat's Eyes. Can you resolve Mu without using binoculars?

The Night Sky

Sky & Telescope

Friday, August 1At dusk this evening, the Moon forms the lower-right end of a very long, curving line of celestial objects. Counting to the Moon's upper left, these are Spica, Mars, and Saturn, as shown here.Today is Lammas Day or Lughnasadh, one of the four traditional "cross-quarter" days midway between the solstices and equinoxes. More or less. The actual midpoint between the June solstice and the September equinox this year comes at 2:40 a.m. August 7th Eastern Daylight Time (6:40 UT). That will be the exact center of (astronomical) summer. Saturday, August 2The Moon shines about midway between Spica and Mars this evening, as shown here. Sunday, August 3The first-quarter Moon shines between Mars and Saturn as seen from the Americas and Europe, as shown above (plotted for the middle of North America). The Moon will occult (cover) Saturn as seen from Australia, where the local date will be August 4th. Watch live via Slooh starting at 11:00 UT August 4th (7 a.m. August 4th Eastern Daylight Time in the US).

ISS Sighting Opportunities

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

ISS For Denver:

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears

Fri Aug 1, 10:23 PM < 1 min 10° 10 above SW 10 above SW

Sat Aug 2, 3:17 AM 5 min 18° 10 above NNW 10 above ENE

Sat Aug 2, 4:53 AM 6 min 84° 10 above NW 12 above SE

Sat Aug 2, 9:34 PM 6 min 47° 11 above SSW 11 above ENE

Sat Aug 2, 11:12 PM 2 min 23° 11 above W 23 above NNW

Sun Aug 3, 2:28 AM 3 min 14° 11 above NNW 10 above NE

Sun Aug 3, 4:04 AM 6 min 54° 10 above NW 11 above ESE

Sun Aug 3, 8:46 PM 5 min 25° 11 above S 11 above ENE

Sun Aug 3, 10:23 PM 6 min 34° 12 above W 11 above NE

Mon Aug 4, 3:18 AM 3 min 33° 33 above NNE 10 above E

Mon Aug 4, 4:52 AM 5 min 27° 11 above WNW 11 above SSE

Mon Aug 4, 9:33 PM 6 min 57° 10 above WSW 11 above NE

Mon Aug 4, 11:14 PM 2 min 14° 14 above NNW 10 above NNE

Tue Aug 5, 8:44 PM 6 min 79° 10 above SW 11 above NE

Tue Aug 5, 10:25 PM 2 min 18° 18 above NNW 10 above NNE

NASA-TV Highlights

(all times Eastern Daylight Time)

1 p.m., Friday, August 1 - Replay of NASA Mars 2020 Rover Payload Announcement (all channels)

 

Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA website

Space Calendar

JPL Space Calendar

Aug 01 - [Jul 31] GPS 2F-7 Atlas 5 LaunchAug 01 - Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower PeakAug 01 - Comet P/1999 XN120 (Catalina) At Opposition (3.740 AU)Aug 01 - Comet 144P/Kushida At Opposition (4.325 AU)Aug 01 - Asteroid 2014 OG1 Near-Earth Flyby (0.068 AU)Aug 01 - Asteroid 3949 Mach Closest Approach To Earth (1.225 AU)Aug 01 - Asteroid 7462 Grenoble Closest Approach To Earth (1.457 AU)Aug 01 - Asteroid 9357 Venezuela Closest Approach To Earth (1.837 AU)Aug 01 - Asteroid 3352 McAuliffe Closest Approach To Earth (2.199 AU)Aug 02 - Mercury Passes 1.0 Degrees From JupiterAug 02 - Comet P/2008 QP20 (LINEAR-Hill) Closest Approach To Earth (1.952 AU)Aug 02 - Comet 263P/Gibbs At Opposition (3.737 AU)Aug 02 - Asteroid 2554 Skiff Closest Approach To Earth (0.993 AU)Aug 02 - Asteroid 69230 Hermes Closest Approach To Earth (1.594 AU)Aug 02 - Asteroid 3115 Baily Closest Approach To Earth (1.740 AU)Aug 02 - Asteroid 189202 Calar Alto Closest Approach To Earth (2.057 AU)Aug 03 - Rosetta, Trajectory Correction ManeuverAug 03 - [Jul 29] Comet P/2014 MG4 (Spacewatch-PANSTARRS) At Opposition (3.134 AU)Aug 03 - Asteroid 17033 Rusty Closest Approach To Earth (1.162 AU)Aug 03 - Asteroid 1000 Piazzia Closest Approach To Earth (1.752 AU)Aug 04 - AsiaSat 8 Falcon 9 LaunchAug 04 - Moon Occults SaturnAug 04 - Comet 282P/2003 BM80 At Opposition (3.022 AU)Aug 04 - Comet 118P/Shoemaker-Levy At Opposition (3.294 AU)Aug 04 - Asteroid 80 Sappho At Opposition (9.9 Magnitude)Aug 04 - Asteroid 9134 Encke Closest Approach To Earth (1.798 AU)Aug 04 - [Jul 30] Europa Pre-Proposal Teleconference,Aug 05 - Comet 193P/LINEAR-NEAT Closest Approach To Earth (1.320 AU)Aug 05 - Asteroid 83360 Catalina Closest Approach To Earth (1.292 AU)Aug 05 - Asteroid 30444 Shemp Closest Approach To Earth (1.350 AU)Aug 05 - Asteroid 7032 Hitchcock Closest Approach To Earth (1.435 AU)Aug 05 - Asteroid 6442 Salzburg Closest Approach To Earth (1.585 AU)Aug 05 - 45th Anniversary (1969), Mariner 7 Mars Flyby

Food for Thought

Earth’s Shadow Creeps Up on Us Every Night

Space Image of the Week

Comet 67P from 1,200 Miles Away