Space News Update- Aug 17, 2012 -

In the News

Story 1: ChemCam laser sets its sights on first Martian target

Story 2: Dawn Engineers Assess Reaction Wheel

Story 3: Star Clusters on a Clandestine Collision Course

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

ChemCam laser sets its sights on first Martian target

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Dawn Engineers Assess Reaction Wheel

Star Clusters on a Clandestine Collision Course

The Night SkyFriday, August 17 · The brightest star in the west these evenings is champaign-colored Arcturus. Look to its right in the northwest for the Big Dipper dipping down. At the bend of the Dipper's handle, you'll know to look for little Alcor shining directly above Mizar. That's because the line from Mizar through Alcor always points to Vega, and Vega is now near the zenith (as seen from mid-northern latitudes).

Saturday, August 18 · In these waning weeks of summer, autumn's Great Square of Pegasus is already looming up in the east after dark. It's somewhat larger than your fist at arm's length, and is balancing on one corner.

Sunday, August 19 · As soon as it's dark enough to see moderately faint stars, look high in the southeast for Altair. Above it by about a finger-width at arm's length is its eternal little companion Tarazed (Gamma Aquilae) in the far background. This is the time of year when the two stand vertically at nightfall.

Monday, August 20 · Nine Messier objects float within just a couple binocular fields above the lid star of the Sagittarius Teapot, now at its highest in the south in early evening. How many can you detect? Some are easy in binoculars, some are tougher and require a dark sky. Use the finder chart in Gary Seronik's Binocular Highlight column in the August Sky & Telescope, page 45.

ISS Sighting Opportunities

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

For Denver:

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATIONMAX ELEV

APPROACH DEPARTURE

DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Fri Aug 17/09:28 PM 2 11 10 above NNW 10 above NNE

ISS Sat Aug 18/08:36 PM 1 10 10 above N 10 above NNE

ISS Sat Aug 18/10:13 PM 1 19 14 above NNW 19 above N

ISS Sun Aug 19/09:21 PM 3 15 11 above NNW 12 above NE

ISS Mon Aug 20/08:29 PM 3 12 10 above NNW 10 above NE

ISS Mon Aug 20/10:06 PM 1 29 18 above NNW 29 above NNW

NASA-TV Highlights

Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

August 20, Monday10 a.m. - ISS Expedition 32 Russian Spacewalk Coverage (Hatch open to begin the spacewalk is scheduled at 10:40 a.m. ET) - JSC (All Channels)1 p.m. – Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Prelaunch Press Conference – KSC (Media Channel)2 p.m. – Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Mission Science Briefing – KSC (Media Channel)

Space Calendar

Aug 17 - Mars Passes 2.9 Degrees From SaturnAug 17 - Comet C/2011 P2 (PANSTARRS) Closest Approach To Earth (5.800 AU)Aug 17 - Asteroid 4330 Vivaldi Closest Approach To Earth (1.223 AU)Aug 17 - Asteroid 54439 Topeka Closest Approach To Earth (1.406 AU)Aug 17 - 135th Anniversary (1877), Asaph Hall's Discovery of Mars Moon PhobosAug 17 - 255th Anniversary (1757), The Opening of the Macfarlane ObservatoryAug 18 - Comet C/2011 O1 (LINEAR) Perihelion (3.891 AU)Aug 18 - Kuiper Belt Object 307982 (2004 PG115) At Opposition (36.185 AU)Aug 19 - Asteroid 3767 DiMaggio Closest Approach To Earth (1.826 AU)Aug 19 - Asteroid 3162 Nostalgia Closest Approach To Earth (2.341 AU)Aug 19 - 15th Anniversary (1997), Mabuhay 1 Launch (1st Philippine Satellite)Aug 20 - Asteroid 2012 EC Near-Earth Flyby (0.081 AU)Aug 20 - Asteroid 3688 Navajo Closest Approach To Earth (3.715 AU)Aug 20 - 35th Anniversary (1977), Voyager 2 Launch

JPL Space Calendar

Food for Thought

US Astronomy Facing Severe Budget Cuts and Facility Closures

Space Image of the Week