Surprise! An Asteroid with Rings

Source - Space Weather News for March 26, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

STRANGE BUT TRUE:  Astronomers peering into the outer solar system have found something surprising--an asteroid with rings.  The discovery has sparked a debate about how such a thing is possible and prompted a search for tiny moons threading through the asteroid's ring system.

Get the full story from http://spaceweather.com

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/

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 Although its orbit is officially unpublished, amateur sky watchers have spotted it and are monitoring its progress.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.

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 .

Saturn's Crazy Christmas Tilt

Source - NASA Science News for December 22, 2008

The planet Saturn is doing something rare and beautiful this holiday season. Find out what in today's story from Science@NASA.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/22dec_crazytilt.htm?list894285

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