Space News Update- April 29, 2014 -

In the News

Story 1: Curiosity Reaches Out to Scrutinize Next Martian Drill Target at Mount Remarkable

Story 2:What Steps Are Needed To Find More Earths?

Story 3:

NASA Seeks External Concepts for Mission to Oceanic Jovian Moon

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Curiosity Reaches Out to Scrutinize Next Martian Drill Target at Mount

Remarkable

What Steps Are Needed To Find More Earths?

NASA Seeks External Concepts for Mission to Oceanic Jovian Moon

The Night SkyTuesday, April 29New Moon (exact at 2:14 a.m. on this date EDT). A partial eclipse of the Sun occurs for Australia, and the eclipse is annular on the horizon for a bit of Antarctica. Map and details.The thin waxing crescent returns to the evening sky, passing through Taurus.

Wednesday, April 30Can you see the hairline Moon yet in the west in twilight? It's about a fist-width to the lower right of Aldebaran for North American skywatchers. Binoculars will help. How about the departing Pleiades?

Thursday, May 1Look for Aldebaran now below the waxing crescent Moon in twilight. Farther to the Moon's left, Orion is sinking away.

Friday, May 2How soon after sunset can you see the first stars and planets coming out? The brightest is Jupiter. Look for it high in the west, almost two fist-widths at arm's length above or upper left of the Moon. The second brightest is Sirius, sinking in the southwest.

Saturday, May 3The waxing crescent Moon shines below Jupiter in the west at dusk. Above Jupiter are Pollux and Castor.

Sky & Telescope

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

ISS For Denver:

No sightings this week

NASA-TV Highlights

(all times Eastern Daylight Time)

Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA website

April 29, Tuesday10:20 a.m. - ISS Expedition 39 In-Flight Event for “Destination Station” in Indianapolis, IN - JSC (All Channels)  12:30 - 3 p.m. - Live coverage of NASA Exploration Forum: The Human Path to Mar – HQ (All Channels) MayMay 2, Friday12:30 p.m. - ISS Expedition 39 In-Flight Program for a Music Day Event with the Digital Learning Network (in-flight interview with ISS Commander Koichi Wakata for the event occurs at 12:55 p.m. EDT) - JSC (All Channels)  

Space Calendar

JPL Space Calendar

•Apr 29 - [Apr 22] Annular Solar Eclipse •Apr 29 - Comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) Closest Approach To Earth (1.464 AU) •Apr 29 - Comet 274P/Tombaugh-Tenagra At Opposition (2.730 AU) •Apr 29 - Comet C/2013 G3 (PANSTARRS) At Opposition (3.494 AU) •Apr 29 - Comet 198P/ODAS At Opposition (3.705 AU) •Apr 29 - [Apr 23] Comet 229P/LINEAR At Opposition (4.327 AU) •Apr 29 - Comet C/2013 G9 (Tenagra) At Opposition (4.671 AU) •Apr 29 - [Apr 25] Asteroid 2014 HV2 Near-Earth Flyby (0.003 AU) •Apr 29 -[Apr 26] Asteroid 2014 HE5 Near-Earth Flyby (0.025 AU) •Apr 29 - Asteroid 2013 JX28 Near-Earth Flyby (0.084 AU) •Apr 29 - Asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3) Near-Earth Flyby (0.089 AU) •Apr 30 - KazEOSat 2 (DZZ-HR) Vega Launch •Apr 30 - Comet P/2014 E1 (Larson) Closest Approach To Earth (1.143 AU) •Apr 30 - Asteroid 2014 FR52 Near-Earth Flyby (0.043 AU) •Apr 30 - Asteroid 2044 Wirt Closest Approach To Earth (1.594 AU) •May 01 - 10th Anniversary (2004), Genesis, Earth Flyby •May 01 - 65th Anniversary (1949), Gerard Kuiper's Discovery of Neptune Moon Nereid •May 02 - Comet C/2013 P2 (PANSTARRS) Closest Approach To Earth (2.273 AU) •May 02 - Asteroid 101955 Bennu Closest Approach To Earth (1.635 AU) •May 02 - Asteroid 6336 Dodo Closest Approach To Earth (1.697 AU) •May 02 - Asteroid 2101 Adonis Closest Approach To Earth (2.263 AU) •May 03 - Asteroid 2 Pallas Occults 2UCAC 35935783 (11.9 Magnitude Star) •May 03 - Asteroid 4034 Vishnu Closest Approach To Earth (0.486 AU) •May 03 - Asteroid 9957 Rafaellosanti Closest Approach To Earth (1.342 AU)

Food for Thought

Pair of supermassive black holes in an ordinary galaxy

Space Image of the Week

Image Credit: ISS Expedition 12 Crew, NASA

SuitSat-1: A Spacesuit Floats Free