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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Mar 9, 2024
Comet Pons-Brooks in Northern Spring
As spring approaches for northern skygazers Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is growing brighter. Currently visible with small telescopes and binoculars the Halley-type comet could reach naked eye visibility in the coming weeks. Seen despite a foggy atmosphere, the comet's green coma and long tail hover near the horizon, in this well-composed deep night skyscape from Revuca, Slovakia recorded on March 5. In the sky above the Halley-type comet, the Andromeda (right) and Triangulum galaxies flank bright star Mirach, beta star of the constellation Andromeda. The two spiral galaxies are members of our local galaxy group and over 2.5 million light-years distant. Comet Pons-Brooks is a periodic visitor to the inner Solar System and less than 14 light-minutes away. Reaching its perihelion on April 21, this comet should be visible in the sky during the April 8 total solar eclipse.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
NASA Unveils Design for Message Heading to Jupiter’s Moon Europa
March 8, 2024
Following in NASA’s storied tradition of sending inspirational messages into space, the agency has special plans for Europa Clipper, which later this year will launch toward Jupiter’s moon Europa. The moon shows strong evidence of an ocean under its icy crust, with more than twice the amount of water of all of Earth’s oceans combined. A triangular metal plate on the spacecraft will honor that connection to Earth in several ways.
At the heart of the artifact is an engraving of U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s handwritten “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa,” along with a silicon microchip stenciled with more than 2.6 million names submitted by the public. The microchip will be the centerpiece of an illustration of a bottle amid the Jovian system – a reference to NASA’s “Message in a Bottle” campaign, which invited the public to send their names with the spacecraft.
A ‘Golden Record’ for Europa
Made of the metal tantalum and about 7 by 11 inches (18 by 28 centimeters), the plate features graphic elements on both sides. The outward-facing panel features art that highlights Earth’s connection to Europa. Linguists collected recordings of the word “water” spoken in 103 languages, from families of languages around the world. The audio files were converted into waveforms (visual representations of sound waves) and etched into the plate. The waveforms radiate out from a symbol representing the American Sign Language sign for “water.”
To hear audio of the spoken languages and see the sign, go to: go.nasa.gov/MakeWaves.
In the spirit of the Voyager spacecraft’s Golden Record, which carries sounds and images to convey the richness and diversity of life on Earth, the layered message on Europa Clipper aims to spark the imagination and offer a unifying vision.
“The content and design of Europa Clipper’s vault plate are swimming with meaning,” said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The plate combines the best humanity has to offer across the universe – science, technology, education, art, and math. The message of connection through water, essential for all forms of life as we know it, perfectly illustrates Earth’s tie to this mysterious ocean world we are setting out to explore.”
Reaching Out to the Cosmos
In 2030, after a 1.6-billion-mile (2.6-billion-kilometer) journey, Europa Clipper will begin orbiting Jupiter, making 49 close flybys of Europa. To determine if there are conditions that could support life, the spacecraft’s powerful suite of science instruments will gather data about the moon’s subsurface ocean, icy crust, thin atmosphere, and space environment. The electronics for those instruments are housed in a massive metal vault designed to protect them from Jupiter’s punishing radiation. The commemorative plate will seal an opening in the vault.
Because searching for habitable conditions is central to the mission, the Drake Equation is etched onto the plate as well – on the inward-facing side. Astronomer Frank Drake developed the mathematical formulation in 1961 to estimate the possibility of finding advanced civilizations beyond Earth. The equation has inspired and guided research in astrobiology and related fields ever since.
In addition, artwork on the inward-facing side of the plate will include a reference to the radio frequencies considered plausible for interstellar communication, symbolizing how humanity uses this radio band to listen for messages from the cosmos. These particular frequencies match the radio waves emitted in space by the components of water and are known by astronomers as the “water hole.” On the plate, they are depicted as radio emission lines.
Finally, the plate includes a portrait of one of the founders of planetary science, Ron Greeley, whose early efforts to develop a Europa mission two decades ago laid the foundation for Europa Clipper.
“We’ve packed a lot of thought and inspiration into this plate design, as we have into this mission itself,” says Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “It’s been a decades-long journey, and we can’t wait to see what Europa Clipper shows us at this water world.”
Once assembly of Europa Clipper has been completed at JPL, the spacecraft will be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for its October launch.
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-unveils-design-for-message-heading-to-jupiters-moon-europa
Hubble Sees a Spiral Galaxy Edge-On
MAR 08, 2024
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 4423, a galaxy that lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. In this image, NGC 4423 appears to have quite an irregular, tubular form, so it might be surprising to find out that it is in fact a spiral galaxy. Knowing this, we can make out the denser central bulge of the galaxy, and the less crowded surrounding disk (the part that comprises the spiral arms).
If NGC 4423 were viewed face-on it would resemble the shape that we most associate with spiral galaxies: the spectacular curving arms sweeping out from a bright center, interspersed with dimmer, darker, less populated regions. But when observing the skies, we are constrained by the relative alignments between Earth and the objects that we are observing.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-sees-a-spiral-galaxy-edge-on/
NASA to Highlight Artemis, US Space Leadership During Annual Address
MAR 08, 2024
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will discuss the agency’s goals for the benefit of humanity during the annual State of NASA address on Monday, March 11. The event will coincide with the release of the Biden-Harris Administration’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal.
The event will air live at 1 p.m. EDT on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. NASA TV can be streamed on a variety of platforms, including social media.
During State of NASA, Nelson will speak about the agency’s plans for promoting U.S. leadership in space exploration, improving life on Earth through innovation, humanity’s return to the Moon under the Artemis campaign, and more. Senior leaders from each of NASA’s mission directorates also will discuss advancements in their areas ranging from aeronautics and science research to space operations.
At 2:30 p.m., Nelson will kick off a media teleconference with Chief Financial Officer Margaret Vo Schaus, who will present information about the fiscal year 2025 funding request for the agency. Media interested in participating in the teleconference must RSVP no later than two hours prior to the start of the call to: hq-media@mail.nasa.gov.
The schedule of activities is based on the president’s budget release on Monday and is subject to change.
The budget proposal for NASA and supporting information will be available online that afternoon at:
https://www.nasa.gov/budget
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-highlight-artemis-us-space-leadership-during-annual-address/
USSF rolls out new Physical Training Uniform at BMT
March 8, 2024
The United States Space Force began the roll-out of its Physical Training Uniform March 8, when it was provided to the newest Basic Military Training Guardian trainees.
“This is more than a uniform rollout, this is the first finalized service-specific uniform that Guardians can wear with pride,” said Maj. Gen. Steven Whitney, Space Force Director of Staff.
The new uniform now includes performance features such as breathable, moisture-wicking shorts designed for running, and soft, quick-drying material to help curb sweat and odor. The uniforms will be available in both men’s and women’s sizes, rather than unisex, for a better fit.
Overcoming material shortages and supply chain delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the uniform development team diligently worked to design the Space Force PT uniform with Guardians in mind.
“From the word ‘go’ we have been committed to keeping Guardian feedback at the forefront of developing service-specific uniforms,” said Catherine Lovelady, Space Force change management team program analyst. “We are grateful to our partners at the Air Force Uniform Office who helped make this a reality for Guardians.”
The Space Force will celebrate its fifth anniversary Dec. 20, 2024; this rollout is significant as the youngest military service continues building its culture and identity.
“The Space Force is committed to making the Guardian experience something that our service members can be proud of,” said Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna. “The uniform connects Guardians to each other and their service. It represents our spirit and our strength operating as one team.”
Uniform delivery to select AAFES locations will begin in the next several months at Peterson, Schriever, Buckley, Vandenberg, and Patrick Space Force Bases, Los Angeles Air Force Base, and the Pentagon.
Guardians will utilize the same wear instructions as the U.S. Air Force physical training uniform utilizing DAFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of United States Air Force and United States Space Force Personnel, until a standalone Space Force Instruction for Dress and Appearance is released later this year.
The PT uniform cost will be calculated into the Guardian uniform replacement allowance beginning April 2024. Guardians are encouraged to only purchase one set of the uniform as supplies will be limited as rollout begins.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3701784/ussf-rolls-out-new-physical-training-uniform-at-bmt/