Midnight Sky Show

Source - Space Weather News for May 21, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

MIDNIGHT SKY SHOW: Tonight, the full Moon gets together with Mars and Saturn to form a bright triangle in the constellation Scorpius. The beautiful midnight encounter is visible around the world, and happens just one week before Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in more than a decade.

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

Saturn's moon Titan has a very salty ocean

Source - NASA Science News for July 2, 2014

Scientists analyzing data from NASA’s Cassini mission have found evidence of an ocean inside Saturn's largest moon, Titan, which might be as salty as the Earth's Dead Sea.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/02jul_saltyocean/

Possible New Moon Forming Around Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for April 14, 2014

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has documented the formation of a small icy object within the rings of Saturn that may be a new moon.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/14apr_newmoon/

Pale Blue Dot: Distant Spacecraft Photograph Earth

Source - NASA Science News for July 23, 2013

Images of Earth taken by two interplanetary spacecraft show our planet and its moon as bright beacons from millions of miles away in space.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/23jul_palebluedot/

The First Interplanetary Photobomb (Wave at Saturn)

Source - NASA Science News for July 17, 2013

On Friday, July 19th, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will photograph Earth through the rings of Saturn--and NASA wants you to jump into the shot.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/17jul_waveatsaturn/

Cassini to Photograph Earth From Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for June 19, 2013

One month from now, on July 19, 2013, NASA's Cassini spacecraft will photograph Earth through the rings of Saturn.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/18jun_bluedot/

Meteors Strike Saturn's Rings

Source - NASA Science News for April 29, 2013

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has provided the first direct evidence of small meteoroids crashing into Saturn's rings.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/26apr_saturnids/

Mysterious Hurricane Spotted on Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for April 29, 2013

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted a gigantic hurricane swirling inside a mysterious, six-sided weather pattern known as "the hexagon" on Saturn.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/29apr_saturnhurricane/

See Saturn at its Best and Brightest

Source - NASA Science News for April 25, 2013

Saturn and Earth are having a close encounter. See the ringed planet at its best and brightest on April 28th.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/25apr_saturn/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvTSB5B0d0w



License: Standard YouTube License

Mars Landing Sky Show

Source - NASA Science News for July 29, 2012

On the same night Curiosity lands on Mars, a "Martian Triangle" will appear in sunset skies of Earth. The first-magnitude apparition on August 5th gives space fans something to do while they wait for news from the Red Planet.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29jul_marslanding/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrxCA1leQyY

Is it Snowing Microbes on Enceladus?

Source - NASA Science News for March 28, 2012

Is it snowing microbes on Enceladus? The idea might not be so far-fetched, say researchers, as evidence mounts for a "uniquely accessible" habitable zone on Saturn's icy moon.

FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/27mar_enceladus/

Super Storm on Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for May 19, 2011

A storm of rare power has formed in Saturn's northern hemisphere. Wreaking havoc for months, it now stretches around the entire planet and can be seen through backyard telescopes.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/19may_saturnstorm/

Secret Space Plane Flares

Source - Space Weather News for April 1, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

SPACE PLANE FLARES: The US Air Force X-37B space plane is circling Earth on a classified mission. Although its orbit is officially unpublished, amateur sky watchers have spotted it and are monitoring its progress. This week, a veteran observer witnessed a spectacular flare from the X-37B, exceeding the brightness of Venus. Details may be found on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

Bonus: You can turn your cell phone into a space plane tracker by downloading our field-tested Simple Flybys app: http://simpleflybys.com.

SATURN'S RINGS SURGE IN BRIGHTNESS: This weekend, Saturn will be at opposition--that is, opposite the sun in the skies of Earth. Whenever this happens, Saturn's rings surge in brightness due to backscattering of sunlight. Even a small telescope will show the effect. Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and a sky map.

A Fizzy Ocean on Enceladus

Source - NASA Science News for Jan. 26, 2011

Evidence is mounting that Saturn's moon Enceladus harbors a bubbly subterranean ocean where conditions might be friendly to life.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26jan_fizzyocean/

A Cassini image of vaporous, icy jets emerging from fissures on Enceladus.

(Image copyright NASA)

Storms on Saturn and Earth

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 28, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

BIG STORM ON SATURN: Got a telescope for Christmas? Point it at Saturn. A giant storm even brighter than Saturn's rings is raging through the planet's cloudtops. Amateur images and sky maps are featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: At the time this alert is being written (mid-day UT on Dec. 28), a polar geomagnetic storm is in progress (Kindex=5). Observers report electric currents in the ground and intensifying Northern Lights over Scandinavia. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras: http://spaceweathertext.com .

Video: Saturn's Northern/Southern Lights

If you are interested in aurorae then you should check out this article by Nancy Atkinson orver at Universe Today: Hubble Captures Double Aurorae Light Show on Saturn

The article features this edge on video of Saturn showing the aurorae lights at both poles.



The video was originally posted on YouTube by djxatlanta who has a nice collection of space related videos.

A Flash of Light from Titan

Source - NASA Science News for December 18, 2009

NASA's Cassini Spacecraft has captured the first flash of sunlight reflected off a lake on Saturn's moon Titan, confirming the presence of liquid on the part of the moon dotted with many large, lake-shaped basins.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/18dec_titanglint.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

And here are three related articles ~ Jim

• Science Daily: Fog Discovered on Saturn's Largest Moon, Titan
• Wired News: Photo: Shining Lake Confirms Presence of Liquid on Titan
• Bild.com: German astronomers find giant lake on Saturn's moon Titan

Are We Alone for 12/014/09 - A Man, A Planet, A Tenal: Panama!

Are We Alone - A Man, A Planet, A Tenal: Panama!

While the Kepler spacecraft hunts for habitable planets beyond the solar system, we’ve let one of our own planets slip away! Find out why Pluto’s demotion to dwarf status created a public uproar as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson reads us his hate mail. From third-graders!

Also, how we might find Earth-like planets… the possibility of life on Saturn’s moon Titan… and TED Prize winner Jill Tarter’s vision for finding E.T.

And, the man who made it all possible: 400 years of Galileo and the telescope. Part of our series for the International Year of Astronomy.

Guests

• Neil deGrasse Tyson – Astrophysicist, Head of the Hayden Planetarium, and author of The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet
• Alan Stern – Planetary Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, lead investigator on NASA’s New Horizons Mission
• Jeffrey Van Cleve – Astronomer at the Kepler Mission Science Office
• Carolyn Porco – Planetary scientist and Lead for NASA’s Cassini Mission
• Jill Tarter – Director of SETI Research at the SETI Institute
• Andy Fraknoi – Astronomer at Foothill College and author of Voyages Through the Universe (with CD-ROM, Virtual Astronomy Labs, and InfoTrac )

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.

Giant Ring Discovered Around Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for October 7, 2009

Just when you thought every big thing in the Solar System had already been discovered, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found an extraordinary new "supersized" ring around Saturn.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/07oct_giantring.htm?list894285

Check out our RSS feed at http://science.nasa.gov/rss.xml

Are We Alone for 03/02/09 - A Man, A Planet, A Tenal: Panama!

Are We Alone - "A Man, A Planet, A Tenal: Panama!"
While the Kepler spacecraft hunts for habitable planets outside our galaxy, we’ve let one of our own planets slip away! Find out why Pluto’s demotion to dwarf status created a public uproar as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson reads us his hate mail. From third-graders!

Also, how we might find Earth-like planets… the possibility of life on Saturn’s moon Titan… and TED Prize winner Jill Tarter’s vision for finding E.T.
And, the man who made it all possible: 400 years of Galileo and the telescope. Part of our series for the International Year of Astronomy.

Guests

• Neil deGrasse Tyson - Astrophysicist, Head of the Hayden Planetarium, and author of The Pluto Files:The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet
• Alan Stern - Planetary Scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, lead investigator on NASA’s New Horizons Mission
• Jeffrey Van Cleve - Astronomer at the Kepler Mission Science Office
• Carolyn Porco - Planetary scientist and Lead for NASA’s Cassini Mission
• Jill Tarter - Director of SETI Research at the SETI Institute
• Andy Fraknoi - Astronomer at Foothill College and author of Voyages Through the Universe

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.