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)...

[pharvey]

This is an interesting read for followers of Astronomy and the Lunar and Solar Eclipses. The website mentioned "EclipseWise.com" is also well worth a visit.

"If one were to mention the name, "Mr. Eclipse," most amateur and professional astronomers would immediately recognize it as the nom de plume for Fred Espenak, a retired emeritus American astrophysicist who worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center. But he is far better known for his work on eclipse predictions.

The first total solar eclipse Espenak saw was in March 1970, which sparked his interest in eclipses at the age of 16. Eight years later, he began providing eclipse bulletins for NASA, and today he is the author of many highly-regarded canonical works on eclipse predictions. Many eclipse chasers who desire information on past and especially future eclipses, go to EclipseWise.com where Dr. Espenak has developed a website dedicated to comprehensive predictions and information on eclipses of the sun and moon.

To be sure, he has earned the title of "Mr. Eclipse." But in the late 19th century, there was a man who, during his time, could have also been branded as "Mr. Eclipse." His name was Theodor Ritter von Oppolzer."

Full Article @ https://www.space.com/eclipses-canon-or ... SmartBrief

[pharvey]

'It's so complicated:' - So say Boing regarding the continually delayed launch of the Starliner.... Really, Space Travel is complicated?!! State the fecking obvious, but others seem to be managing things far better than Boeing - I guess that also goes for Air Travel at the moment!!
I've been following the news, getting up at silly hours to watch the launch only to be disappointed at the last minute.. and it still continues. Of course there are huge safety issues especially with it being a manned flight, but...

"Starliner is still set to fly on its historic first flight with astronauts on June 1, but that could change as the team works through "complicated" issues following a small helium leak.

NASA and Boeing officials emphasized they are carefully weighing the decision to launch Starliner's first test mission with astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The approximately one-week mission is known as Crew Flight Test (CFT) and includes NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots.

"It's so complicated. There's so many things going on. We really just needed to work through it as a team," Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate and a former astronaut, told reporters in a teleconference Friday (May 24). He added that addressing the issues have taken a lot of time, which is part of why few updates have been forthcoming from the team in recent weeks."

Watch this "Space": - https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner- ... elium-leak

[pharvey]

Surprised? Nope.... FFS, delayed yet again!!

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/b ... rcna154666

[pharvey]

Well, they're giving it another go @ +/- 10:50 EDT today.....

https://blogs.nasa.gov/boeing-crew-flig ... -underway/

[STEVE G]

Voyager 1 is back online! NASA's most distant spacecraft returns data from all 4 instruments

The spacecraft has resumed full science operations after a technical issue began creating complications in November 2023.

The problems began in November 2023, when Voyager 1 lost its ability to "speak" with us. More specifically, it started sending to Earth unintelligible data instead of its normal 0s and 1s of binary code. Of course, Voyager 1 is 46 years old — ancient for a spacecraft — so it wasn't entirely a surprise that its health might be waning. And that's not to mention that it's in entirely uncharted interstellar territory, some 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth.

Voyager 1's dogged team was determined to not only figure out what went wrong, but also to fix the problem. And they've succeeded! Controllers identified where the issue was located: the flight data subsystem (FDS), used to "package" data to be sent to Earth. Further sleuthing revealed the exact chip causing the problem, which allowed them to find a workaround. After the team relocated the code to a new location in the FDS, Voyager 1 finally sent back intelligible data on April 20, 2024 — but only from two of its four science instruments. Now, just two months later, Voyager 1's remaining two science instruments are back up and running, communicating effectively with mission control on Earth.
https://www.space.com/voyager-1-fully-operational

[404cameljockey]

That's great news from our first tiny step into the cosmos. I was 21 when it launched!

[pharvey]

Always been a huge fan of the Voyager missions and it's one of the main aspects that gave me a love of space travel and exploration. Absolutely incredible how these craft have lasted and how far they've travelled.

So much to look forward to (a return to the Moon, travel to Mars) and a great deal to fear with the likes of Russia, China and the US vying to weaponise Space.

Still though, are Boeing going to be a part of the future...? Boeing's Starliner was plagued with problems and countless delays prior to lift-off to the ISS and now it seems further issues have come to light which must be resolved before the craft can disconnect and the crew depart the ISS. Musk would no doubt take full advantage if a rescue mission were to be launched....

"Its Starliner spacecraft - which carried two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) last week - is unable to undock after several faults were found on the ship. Teams have discovered five different leaks in the craft's propulsion system which would navigate the craft through space as it returns to Earth. The astronauts were set to return on June 14, but that has been delayed until June 22 while Boeing and NASA scramble to fix issues , leaving the astronauts stranded until then.
Now, experts have said that NASA could be forced to launch a rescue mission that would be a highly embarrassing blow for the embattled Boeing which is dealing with spate of issues plaguing its commercial jets. A Boeing spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'The integrated NASA-Boeing Starliner Mission Management Team is monitoring the overall health of the spacecraft and adhering to our mission flight rules.
Boeing's Starliner can only stay docked on the ISS for a total of 45 days due to limited fuel on the orbit laboratory - it is unclear what NASA has planned if the time is exceeded. But if the ground teams deem the capsule space worthy, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will board the craft for another 24-hour trip through space and back to Earth. Starliner was previously set to launch on May 6, but teams detected a valve leaking helium and scrubbed the mission.
'But I wouldn't be surprised if someone at NASA is getting a SpaceX Dragon capsule ready for a rescue mission.' Elon Musk's company has inked contracts with space agency to shuttle astronauts to and from the ISS, performing 10 missions since 2020. Katsuo Kurabayashi, professor of aerospace engineering at New York University said: 'Given the current situation with the Starliner, it is possible that NASA could decide to use an alternative spacecraft, like SpaceX's Crew Dragon, to bring the astronauts home safely. 'The final decision would depend on the severity of the helium leaks, the feasibility of repairs, and the logistics of arranging another spacecraft for the return mission.'"

Taken From: - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/a ... on_desktop (more info & pics at link).

[PeteC]

Scientists may have found an answer to the mystery of dark matter. It involves an unexpected byproduct

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/17/scie ... index.html

[Nereus]

For those in the northern hemisphere today is summer soltice, and conversely, winter soltice in the southern hemisphere.

Don't know about what happens at Stonehenge, but these nutters in Tasmania have their own ritual:

Dark Mofo solstice nude swim in 2024 breaks record with 3,000 naked swimmers on chilly Hobart morning

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-21/ ... /103999600

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The following is also a ritual in some countries:

Everything to know about 'Strawberry Moon' in Australia, coinciding with this year's winter solstice

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-21/ ... /104006040

The phrase "Strawberry Moon" may have piqued your interest in recent weeks having made the social media rounds over the world, but there's less to it than it sounds.

It happens every year, and simply put, it is the full moon of June — not a rare phenomenon.

Although, this month's full moon is happening at the same time as a winter solstice, which is a once-in-a-two-decade coincidence, meaning the size and placement of the Moon is altered.

The moniker has naturally left many expecting a red or pink coloured moon light up their skies or something resembling the actual shape of a strawberry, but it's neither.

Why is it called a Strawberry Moon?

The name is of Native American origin and was assigned by farmers who observed the full moon's occurrence in June — summer in the northern hemisphere — as the optimal time of year for the fruit's harvest.

"In the 1930s the Maine Farmer's Almanac began publishing Indian names for full moons and these names are now widely known and used," NASA says.

"According to this Almanac, as the full moon in June this is the Strawberry Moon, a name that comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in the north-eastern United States."

June's full moon varies by name across the world based on each region's norms, traditions, and seasonal patterns.