Spacecraft Buzzes Earth En Route to Hazardous Asteroid

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 21, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SPACECRAFT BUZZES EARTH EN ROUTE TO ASTEROID: NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is going to fly past Earth on Sept. 22nd only 10,711 miles away. The daring maneuver will slingshot the probe toward Bennu, a large asteroid that could threaten our planet in the next century. OSIRIS-REx is going to take a closer look at this potentially hazardous space rock and, if all goes as planned, return samples of it to Earth. At closest approach, the spacecraft could become bright enough for advanced amateur astronomers to photograph using backyard telescopes.

Observing tips and more information are highlighted on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.

 
Above: The ground track of OSIRIS-REx's Sept. 22nd flyby. During the hours around closest approach, the spacecraft should shine with as much reflected sunlight as a 9th to 11th magnitude star.

Asteroid buzzes Earth, then flies by the Moon

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 7, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID DOUBLE FLYBY:  On Sept. 7th, a newly discovered asteroid about the size of a large grey whale flew over the south pole of Earth only 25,000 miles away. For scale, that's only a few thousand miles above the orbits of typical geosynchronous satellites. After the Earth flyby, the space rock turned and headed in the general direction of the Moon, executing a wider flyby of 179,000 miles on Sept. 8th. Where will this asteroid go next?  Visit http://spaceweather.com for answers and photos of today's encounter with Earth.

BRIGHT AURORAS:  A broad solar wind stream hit Earth on Sept. 1st, sparking a display of bright auroras around the Arctic Circle that is only now fully subsiding.  Did you miss it?  Browse our Aurora Photo Gallery for highlights.

Bright Asteroid Flyby

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 21, 2015: http://spaceweather.com

Early next week, a large asteroid named 2004 BL86 will fly past the Earth-Moon system.  There's no danger of a collision, but NASA radars will be monitoring the mountain-sized space rock as it passes by only 745,000 miles away. Amateur astronomers can watch the flyby, too. Glowing like a 9th magnitude star, 2004 BL86 will be an easy target for backyard telescopes on the night of closest approach, Jan. 26-27. 

 Check http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and more information.

Near-Earth asteroid flyby this weekend

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 4, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY:  On Sunday, Sept. 7th, a house-sized asteroid  named "2014 RC" will fly through the Earth-Moon system approximately 40,000 km from our planet. At closest approach,  the space rock will be almost inside the orbit of Earth's geosynchronous satellites.  Amateur astronomers, especially those in the southern hemisphere, may be able to observe the flyby.

Check http://spaceweather.com for more information.

AURORA WATCH: On Sept. 6th, a day before the asteroid flyby, a  CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field, setting the stage for a nice display of high-latitude auroras.  Geomagnetic storm alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Asteroid Flyby on Friday, May 31

Source - NASA Science News for May 30, 2013

NASA is tracking a large near-Earth asteroid as it passes by the Earth-Moon system on May 31st. Amateur astronomers in the northern hemisphere may be able to see the space rock for themselves during the 1st week of June.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/30may_asteroidflyby/ Y

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYnC90U0mM





License: Standard YouTube License

Record-setting Asteroid Flyby in February

Source - NASA Science News for Jan. 28, 2013

On Feb. 15th an asteroid about half the size of a football field will fly past Earth closer than many man-made satellites. Since regular sky surveys began in the 1990s, astronomers have never seen an object so big come so close to our planet.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/28jan_2012da/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwidzVHvbGI



License: Standard YouTube License

Small Asteroid Buzzes Earth on May 29th

Source - Space Weather News for May 29, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: A small asteroid is flying past Earth today inside the orbit of geosynchronous satellites and only 14,000 km above the surface of our planet. Named "2012 KT42," the 3- to 10-meter wide space rock ranks #6 on the top-20 list of known close-approachers to Earth, which makes it significant despite its small size.  More information and images may be found on http://spaceweather.com .

OWN YOUR OWN SPACE ROCK:  Authentic meteorites, including meteorite jewelry, are on sale now in the Space Weather Store:  http://shopspaceweather.com

Amateur Astronomers Photograph Dragon Chasing the ISS

Source - Space Weather News for May 24, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

DRAGON RENDEZVOUS: As SpaceX's Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station for a historic docking on May 25th, amateur astronomers have been taking pictures of the two spaceships converging.   Their photos and more information about the Dragon-ISS rendezvous are highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com

Readers, are you ready to see the Dragon? Download Spaceweather's Satellite Tracker for a schedule of flybys over your location: http://simpleflybys.com

Chinese Space Station Transits the Sun

Source - Space Weather News for May 14, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR TRANSIT: A photographer in France has caught China's experimental space station, the Tiangong-1, passing directly in front of the sun.  The photo shows the winged spacecraft backlit by hot plasma as it flits across the solar disk in the neighborhood of giant sunspot AR1476.  Check it out on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

TIANGONG-1 SIGHTINGS:  The Tiangong-1 is much smaller than the International Space Station.  Nevertheless, it can be seen with the naked eye shining in the night sky as brightly as the stars of the Big Dipper.  Download the Simple Flybys app for sighting opportunities in your neighborhood: http://simpleflybys.com

Doomed Mars Probe Photographed

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 5, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

MARS PROBE PHOTOGRAPHED: Phobos-Grunt, a Russian Mars probe stuck in Earth orbit since November, is sinking back into the atmosphere. Best estimates suggest re-entry will occur on Jan. 15th or 16th. Meanwhile, citizen scientists can see the probe moving through the night sky sometimes shining as brightly as a first-magnitude star. French astrophotographer Thierry Legault recently photographed Phobos-Grunt through a 14-inch telescope, revealing its outlines and perhaps a clue as to why the probe has had difficulty communicating with Earth. His images and video are highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com .

Local flyby times for Phobos-Grunt may be found using SpaceWeather's online satellite tracker (http://spaceweather.com/flybys) or on your smartphone: http://simpleflybys.com

Significant Asteroid Flyby on Nov. 8

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 7, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: NASA radars are monitoring 2005 YU55, an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier, as it heads for a Nov. 8th flyby of the Earth-Moon system. There is no danger to our planet. At closest approach on Tuesday at 3:28 pm PST (23:28 UT), the space rock will be 324,600 kilometers away. Nevertheless, professional astronomers are eagerly anticipating the flyby as the asteroid presents an exceptionally strong radar target. Even amateur astronomers might be able to photograph it during the hours around closest approach. Check http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and more information.

OWN YOUR OWN SPACE ROCK: They came from outer space--and you can have one. Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store: http://www.shopspaceweather.com/ownameteorite.aspx

Bus-sized satellite to re-enter Earth's atmosphere this week

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 20, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

UARS, a NASA satellite the size of a small bus, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this week producing a brilliant fireball somewhere over our planet. Best estimates place the re-entry time during the late hours of Sept. 23rd over a still-unknown region of Earth. Observers of the rapidly-decaying satellite say it is tumbling and flashing, sometimes almost as brightly as Venus. Video images featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com show how the doomed satellite looks through a backyard telescope.

Readers who would like to catch a last glimpse of UARS streaking across the night sky should check SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker for flyby times: http://spaceweather.com/flybys . You can also turn your smartphone into a UARS tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app: http://simpleflybys.com

Perseid Meteor Shower

Source - Space Weather News for Aug. 12, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

METEOR SHOWER: The Perseid meteor shower is underway. International observers are now reporting more than 20 meteors per hour as Earth passes through a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on the night of Aug. 12-13. The best time to look is during the hours before dawn on Saturday morning, August 13th, when the glaring Moon is relatively low and meteor rates are highest. Visit http://spaceweather.com for full coverage.

WATCH OUT FOR THE SPACE STATION, TOO: Consider it a cosmic coincidence. During the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, the International Space Station will fly over many US towns and cities. The behemoth spacecraft is easy to see if you know when to look. Check SpaceWeather.com's Simple Satellite Tracker for flyby times: http://spaceweather.com/flybys/

ISS-Perseid Sky Show This Weekend

Source - NASA Science News for August 9, 2011

The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, and the International Space Station is joining the show. Sky watchers in many US towns and cities are favored with ISS flybys on August 12-13 just when Perseid meteor activity is expected to crest under full moonlight.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/09aug_perseids2011/

Night-shining Clouds Sighted over the United States

Source - Space Weather News for July 2, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Last night, a bank of rippling electric-blue noctilucent clouds spilled across the Canadian border into the lower United States. In doing so, the glowing clouds made the farthest excursion of the year away from their usual polar realm. Reports of bright NLCs are coming in from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota and elsewhere. Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and observing tips.

4TH OF JULY SKY SHOW: Perfectly timed for the 4th of July holiday weekend, the International Space Station is making a series of evening flybys over the USA. The bright spaceship can be seen even through fireworks. You can turn your cell phone into an ISS tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app: http://simpleflybys.com . Or check the Simple Satellite Tracker for web-based predictions: http://spaceweather.com/flybys .

Close Asteroid Flyby on June 27th

Source - Space Weather News for June 24, 2011:http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly-discovered asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above Earth's surface on Monday, June 27th. NASA analysts say there is no chance the space rock will strike Earth. Nevertheless, the encounter is so close that Earth's gravity will sharply perturb the asteroid's trajectory. Details at http://spaceweather.com .

GEOMAGNETIC OUTLOOK: A fast-moving stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field. The combined effect of this stream plus a CME expected to arrive on June 24th has prompted NOAA forecasters to declare a ~30% chance of high-latitude geomagnetic storms during the next 24 hours. Storm alerts are available from Spaceweather.com in two forms: voice (http://spaceweatherphone.com) or text (http://spaceweathertext.com).

Double Flyby Alert: Last Chance to See Space Shuttle Endeavour

Source - Space Weather News for May 30, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: Space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station on Sunday evening, May 29th, at 11:55 pm EDT. This sets the stage for a series of beautiful double flybys: The shuttle and station will soar through the night sky side-by-side in advance of Endeavour's final landing on June 1st. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker to see if you are favored with an apparition: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

BONUS: You can also turn your cell phone into a shuttle tracker. Our "Simple Flybys" app works on both iPhone and Android devices. Details at http://simpleflybys.com

Flashes of Light in the Night Sky from NASA's NanoSail-D

Source - Space Weather News for May 27, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR SAIL FLASHES: NASA's Nanosail-D, the first solar sail to orbit Earth, is flashing as it glides through the night sky. Observers in Europe report luminous peaks as bright as a 1st magnitude star. The irregular period of the flashes suggests that the sail might be tumbling, although no one is certain at this moment what is causing the phenomenon. Sky watchers are encouraged to check the Simple Satellite Tracker for local flyby times and watch this unique spacecraft strobe overhead: http://spaceweather.com/flybys

DON'T FORGET THE SPACE SHUTTLE: Meanwhile, space shuttle Endeavour and the ISS are putting on a show of their own. The docked spacecraft are making a series of brilliant dawn flybys over North America and Europe, providing early risers with a chance to see Endeavour one last time before it returns to Earth for retirement. Tracking them is easy; just use your cell phone: http://simpleflybys.com.

Endeavour Lifts Off with Dark Matter Physics Experiment

Source - Space Weather News for May 16, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

Endeavour has left the planet. The space shuttle lifted off this morning at 8:56 am EDT on a two week mission to the International Space Station. There it will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer--a $1.5 billion cosmic ray detector that could reveal the nature of dark matter and find whole galaxies made of antimatter. Links to more information are available at http://spaceweather.com.

This is Endeavour's final flight as the shuttle program winds down. During the mission, Endeavour will make numerous passes over North America, Australia, and other places. Would you like to see it one last time? You can turn your cell phone into a field tested shuttle tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app. Details at http://simpleflybys.com

Spinning Asteroid Flyby

Source - Space Weather News for April 15, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

SPINNING ASTEROID FLYBY: A 50-meter asteroid is flying past the Earth-Moon system on April 15th. There's no danger of a collision, but the 50-meter space rock is remarkable. It is elongated and spinning, which causes the asteroid to flash like a strobe light in amateur telescopes. Video and observing tips are highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com

GET YOUR OWN SPACE ROCK: Would you like to own your own piece of an asteroid? Authentic fragments of space rocks are available from the Space Weather Store: http://www.shopspaceweather.com/ownameteorite.aspx