Astronomy, cosmology and space thread

[STEVE G]

I found it interesting that NASA were going up to photograph the eclipse with their old modified B57 aircraft which were originally based on the British Canberra bomber:
https://www.outono.net/elentir/2024/04/ ... -eclipses/

[STEVE G]

NASA’s Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Engineering Updates to Earth

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-voy ... s-to-earth

"After some inventive sleuthing, the mission team can — for the first time in five months — check the health and status of the most distant human-made object in existence.

For the first time since November, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is returning usable data about the health and status of its onboard engineering systems. The next step is to enable the spacecraft to begin returning science data again. The probe and its twin, Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft to ever fly in interstellar space (the space between stars)."

[Nereus]

Stunning auroras seen worldwide as geomagnetic storm hits earth

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-11/ ... /103834604

Skies around the world have been lit up overnight with colourful hues.

The Aurora Borealis and Australis — northern and southern lights — were captured by spectators.

A strong geomagnetic storm not seen in 20 years was behind the phenomena.

Here is a selection of some of the most stunning displays:

at the link..................if some body wants to copy and convert them:

[pharvey]

^ Sod's Law, no warning/notice and a day when I'm under the weather!! Cracking views apparently just a mile or 2 form our place away from the lights and close to the witching hour... There was a chance to see yesterday, but the conditions just didn't allow. Yet another chance missed and this time on my backdoor!

Boing's "Starliner" launch to the ISS again put back - aren't they doing well! Next scheduled for 23:16 (UK) Friday May 17th.

Perhaps though this is on schedule (and will hopefully miss us - despite the date)!

"In just under half a decade, a 1,000-foot-wide (305-meter-wide) asteroid named after the Egyptian god of chaos and destruction, Apophis, will pass within 30,000 miles (48,300 kilometers) of Earth. Scientists don't intend to allow the rare close passage of a space rock of this size to go to waste.

On April 13, 2029 — a Friday, no less — when Apophis, formally known as (99942) Apophis, makes its closest approach to Earth, it will become so prominent over our planet that it will visible with the unaided eye. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft (once known as OSIRIS-REx) will be on hand to meet the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) personally. But, if things shape up, that NASA mission could be joined by a host of little satellites during its rendezvous."

https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis- ... ign=MANUAL

[KhunLA]

[pharvey]

^ Hence the certain "Windows" for any and all missions - especially the likes of Mars and Saturn currently in the works.

It also makes the Voyager(s) quite incredible, now out of our own solar system, but the calculations to "slingshot" around planets in the system initially? Truly out of this world (pun intended)...