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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
July 30, 2024
Arp 142: Interacting Galaxies from Webb
To some, it looks like a penguin. But to people who study the universe, it is an interesting example of two big galaxies interacting. Just a few hundred million years ago, the upper NGC 2936 was likely a normal spiral galaxy: spinning, creating stars, and minding its own business. Then it got too close to the massive elliptical galaxy NGC 2937, below, and took a dive. Together known as Arp 142, they are featured in this new Webb infrared image, while a visible light Hubble image appears in comparison. NGC 2936 is not only being deflected, but distorted, by this close gravitational interaction. When massive galaxies pass near each other, gas is typically condensed from which new stars form. A young group of stars appears as the nose of the penguin toward the right of the upper galaxy, while in the center of the spiral, bright stars together appear as an eye. Before a billion years, the two galaxies will likely merge into one larger galaxy.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
He's got that galactic do.
NASA Data Shows July 22 Was Earth’s Hottest Day on Record
Jul 29, 2024
July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record, according to a NASA analysis of global daily temperature data.
July 21 and 23 of this year also exceeded the previous daily record, set in July 2023.
These record-breaking temperatures are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases.
As part of its mission to expand our understanding of Earth, NASA collects critical long-term observations of our changing planet.
“In a year that has been the hottest on record to date, these past two weeks have been particularly brutal,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
“Through our over two dozen Earth-observing satellites and over 60 years of data, NASA is providing critical analyses of how our planet is changing and how local communities can prepare, adapt, and stay safe. We are proud to be part of the Biden-Harris Administration efforts to protect communities from extreme heat.”
This preliminary finding comes from data analyses from Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) and Goddard Earth Observing System Forward Processing (GEOS-FP) systems, which combine millions of global observations from instruments on land, sea, air, and satellites using atmospheric models.
GEOS-FP provides rapid, near-real time weather data, while the MERRA-2 climate reanalysis takes longer but ensures the use of best quality observations.
These models are run by the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Daily global average temperature values from MERRA-2 for the years 1980-2022 are shown in white, values for the year 2023 are shown in pink, and values from 2024 through June are shown in red. Daily global temperature values from July 1 to 23, 2024, from GEOS-FP are shown in purple.
The results agree with an independent analysis from the European Union’s Copernicus Earth Observation Programme.
While the analyses have small differences, they show broad agreement in the change in temperature over time and hottest days.
The latest daily temperature records follow 13 months of consecutive monthly temperature records, according to scientists from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.
Their analysis was based on the GISTEMP record, which uses surface instrumental data alone and provides a longer-term view of changes in global temperatures at monthly and annual resolutions going back to the late 19th century.
https://www.nasa.gov/earth/nasa-data-shows-july-22-was-earths-hottest-day-on-record/
NASA Offers Virtual Activities for 21st Northrop Grumman Resupply Mission
Jul 29, 2024
NASA invites the public to participate in virtual activities ahead of the launch of Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply services mission for the agency.
Mission teams are targeting 11:28 a.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 3, for the launch of the company’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Cygnus will deliver new scientific investigations, food, supplies, and equipment to the crew aboard the International Space Station.
Members of the public can register to attend the launch virtually. As a virtual guest, you’ll gain access to curated resources, receive schedule changes, and mission-specific information delivered straight to your inbox.
Following each activity, virtual guests will receive a commemorative stamp for their virtual guest passport.
NASA’s live launch coverage will begin at 11:10 a.m. EDT on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms, including social media.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/nasa-offers-virtual-activities-for-21st-northrop-grumman-resupply-mission/
Earth to Gateway: Electric Field Tests Enhance Lunar Communication
Jul 29, 2024
Engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center recently began electric field testing on representative communications hardware for Gateway, humanity’s first space station to orbit the Moon.
An orbiting laboratory for deep space science and a staging ground for lunar exploration, Gateway will help NASA and its international partners establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon in preparation for the next giant leap – human exploration of Mars.
High-gain antennas are an important component of Gateway’s communication and tracking system that connects operations across the vast distances of the lunar South Pole region, to Gateway in orbit around the Moon, to Earth, and back again.
NASA is conducting rigorous testing on the electric field levels radiated by the antennas to ensure safe and efficient communication and to avoid any interference with Gateway’s crew and equipment.
By validating simulation models to accurately predict electric field levels, NASA can establish precise safety zones around the K/Ka-band parabolic reflector antennas to protect astronauts and hardware without sacrificing high-rate communications.
During the meticulous testing process, engineers use electric field and waveguide probes, which measure the strength and quality of electromagnetic signals, to scan the near fields of a representative high-gain antenna.
Robotic arms and optical tracking systems provide the precise measurements needed for model validation.
The testing is being conducted in an anechoic chamber, a specialized room that provides a controlled environment for measurements of electromagnetic waves.
“We are sharpening our pencil in conducting model validation measurements – ensuring high accuracy in the analysis of electric fields radiated by the high-gain antennas on Gateway,” said Timothy Kennedy, one of the NASA engineers overseeing the tests.
“This enables reduced margins on antenna masking needed to protect equipment and crew, while maximizing communication coverage.”
Findings are expected to enhance NASA’s understanding of the electric field levels emitted by Gateway’s antennas and inform critical decisions for operating them safely during Artemis missions, ensuring that Gateway is a safe home for astronauts around the Moon.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/gateway/earth-to-gateway-electric-field-tests-enhance-lunar-communication/
NASA will shut down NASA TV on cable to focus on NASA+
Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 5:00 AM PDT
NASA TV is shutting down in August. The space agency is saying goodbye to its cable channel, which is available on Dish, DirecTV and similar services, as well as on local television providers.
Going forward, it will put all its focus on NASA+, its on-demand streaming service that will serve as home to all its documentaries and live event coverage.
NASA+ has apparently gained four times more viewership than the agency's traditional cable channel since it was launched in November last year.
"In a universe where the way we consume information is rapidly changing, NASA+ is helping us inspire and connect with our current generation of explorers: the Artemis Generation," said Marc Etkind from NASA's Office of Communication
The agency's streaming service is completely free and doesn't have ads.
Viewers can access it via the official NASA app for iOS and Android when they're on mobile devices, but they can also get the agency's app for Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV if they want to watch on a bigger screen.
To watch NASA's coverage and shows on a computer, users can visit the official NASA+ website on their browsers.
In addition to announcing its cable channel's closure, NASA has also revealed its upcoming lineup for new shows, episodes and live event coverage.
One of the upcoming documentaries entitled Planetary Defenders tackles humanity's efforts at asteroid detection and planetary defense, while Our Alien Earth will show NASA scientists' field work in the most extreme environments all over the world to aid in the discovery of extraterrestrial life in the universe.
https://engadget.com/nasa-will-shut-down-nasa-tv-on-cable-to-focus-on-nasa-120015334.html
NASA on alert as 150-foot asteroid set to come 'deathly' close to Earth. If it hits the planet it can…
Jul 30, 2024, 12:32 PM IST
NASA has issued warning after they spotted a 150-foot (46-metre) asteroid named 2024 NS1, hurtling towards Earth at a threatening speed of 27,274 km/h.
The asteroid, which is almost the size of an aeroplane, will make its closest approach to Earth on August 2 at 00:05 UTC (5:35 IST).
Asteroid 2024 NS1 has been classified as an Apollo asteroid, which is part of a group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits cross the path of the Earth.
Even though many of the NEOs don't come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.
Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within the distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth.
However, since asteroid 2024 NS1 is not a potentially hazardous asteroid, it will zoom at a safe distance of nearly 2 million kilometres from Earth.
It has not been identified as a potentially hazardous asteroid because of its size. However, NASA has been continuously monitoring it to ensure it is not undergoing any changes in its trajectory.
What will happen if asteroid 2024 NS1 hits Earth?
If an asteroid similar to 2024 NS1 hits Earth, the impact would depend on the asteroid's size, speed, and impact location.
A 150-foot asteroid has the potential to cause damage to property and extensive injuries. However, larger asteroids can cause catastrophic events, like climate changes and tsunamis.
NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.
The Minor Planet Centre's databases provided information regarding the orbital position of these asteroids.
The major chunk of the data is provided by NASA-funded observatories such as Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, and NASA’s NEOWISE mission.
The NEO Surveyor mission will bolster future observations. Planetary radar projects like JPL’s Goldstone Solar System Radar Group also play an important role in tracking the asteroids.
As of now, all the data collected shows that 2024 NS1 will pass by Earth without causing any harm.
https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-on-alert-as-150-foot-asteroid-set-to-come-deathly-close-to-earth-if-it-hits-the-planet-it-can-745461
NASA discovered a perfectly rectangular iceberg weighing one trillion tons in 2018
updated on Jul 29, 2024 at 7:22 PM (UTC+4)
On today’s episode of ‘Oddly Satisfying Things That Exist In Nature,’ we have a set of perfectly cut rectangular iceberg nodes that NASA once found in the middle of nowhere.
At first thought, anyone would assume that someone deliberately cut it into this perfect monolithic shape and placed it there.
However, there’s a catch — it weighed around a trillion tons, so it’s safe to say no human could have done that without anyone noticing.
The space agency found this contraption off the Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica.
Moreover, the first images appeared on the internet back in 2018 when NASA released a bunch of them, and they attracted a lot of attention.
Some of these started trending on some social media platforms as of late, and viewers who had never seen them before were left surprised.
What’s more, it wasn’t the only one — NASA found several other icebergs, but they weren’t as perfect as this one.
If you’re wondering how these icebergs ended up there with no curves whatsoever, the scientists at the space agency actually have some answers.
For context, they found this iceberg during a survey that was part of Operation IceBridge — a project that monitors the changes in ice present in extreme regions.
Kelly Blunt, an ice scientist with the space agency, told Live Science, “So, here’s the deal, we get two types of icebergs: We get the type that everyone can envision in their head that sank the Titanic, and they look like prisms or triangles at the surface and you know they have a crazy subsurface.”
“And then you have what are called ‘tabular icebergs.'”
These scientific details certainly make you have a second though about the fascinating ways of nature.
So, how do these blocks of ice get cut into these oddly-satisfying shapes?
The edges of some tabular icebergs often separate from the entire thing and also have geometric shapes.
Hence, the iceberg in question looked like a precisely cut rectangular block of ice.
Whatever the science behind it may be, one thing’s clear — nature works in intriguing ways and never fails to amaze us.
https://supercarblondie.com/nasa-discovered-perfectly-rectangular-iceberg/
Atlas V rocket launches final national security mission
July 30, 2024
United Launch Alliance's (ULA) venerable Atlas V rocket flew its final national security mission on Tuesday morning (July 30).
The Atlas V launched from Florida's Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT), on a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force called USSF-51.
USSF-51 is a landmark mission: It was the last national security space launch (NSSL) for a member of the Atlas rocket family, which has been flying since 1957. (It was also the 100th national security mission for ULA overall, according to the company.)
"The Space Force Atlas V team has an amazing record of serving our National Security Space lift needs," Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for Launch Execution Delta, part of the Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC), said in an emailed statement on Friday (July 25).
"We have always worked extremely well with this team, and this mission, our last launch with the Atlas V, is looking great!" Horne added.
The Atlas V debuted in 2002 and has flown 100 missions to date.
The 100th launch, which occurred last month, was a notable one, sending Boeing's Starliner capsule toward the International Space Station with two NASA astronauts aboard.
It was the first crewed flight for both Atlas V and Starliner.
The workhorse rocket flew its first U.S. national security mission in 2007, then racked up more than 50 other such flights over the years.
"The Atlas V launch system has been the stalwart for national security launches over the past 20 years," Walt Lauderdale, USSF-51 mission director, said in the same statement.
"This mission, together with all those preceding, demonstrates the Atlas V integrated government/industry team’s commitment to safely deliver critical assets to space."
While it won't fly any more national security missions after Tuesday, the Atlas V isn't quite ready for retirement.
It still has 15 more launches on its docket, most of which will loft either Starliner or satellites for Amazon's planned Project Kuiper broadband constellation.
The Space Force, meanwhile, plans to use ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket for NSSL launches after the vehicle is certified. (Vulcan has one liftoff under its belt — the launch of Astrobotic's Peregrine moon lander in January of this year.
The launch was successful, but Peregrine ran into problems shortly after deploying into space and did not reach the moon as planned.)
We know very little about the payload(s) flying on USSF-51. That's hardly surprising, given that it's a classified national security mission.
https://www.space.com/atlas-v-final-national-security-launch-ussf-51-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhfwTfUseVw
Watch Rocket Lab launch Earth-observing radar satellite today
July 30, 2024
Rocket Lab will launch a private Earth-observing radar satellite today (July 30), and you can watch it live.
An Electron vehicle is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site today during a two-hour window that opens at 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT; 4:15 a.m. on July 31 New Zealand time).
Rocket Lab will stream the launch live, beginning about 30 minutes before the window opens. You can watch here at Space.com if, as expected, the company makes the webcast available.
Today's launch will send one of Japanese company Synspective's Strix synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites to low Earth orbit. "Strix" is a widespread genus of owls, which explains the name that Rocket Lab has given to the mission: "Owl for One, One for Owl."
Synspective's constellation is "designed to deliver imagery that can detect millimeter-level changes to the Earth's surface from space," Rocket Lab wrote in a mission description.
This constellation is in progress; it will be built via 16 Electron launches, four of which have already taken place.
If all goes according to plan today, the Strix satellite will be deployed into a circular orbit 337 miles (543 kilometers) above Earth about 57 minutes after liftoff.
Rocket Lab is working to make the first stage of the 59-foot-tall (18 meters) Electron reusable.
The company has recovered boosters from the ocean on multiple previous missions, for example, and has even reflown an engine.
But we shouldn't expect such activities on "Owl for One, One for Owl;" Rocket Lab's mission description doesn't mention anything about a booster recovery.
https://www.space.com/rocket-lab-owl-for-one-synspective-mission-launch
https://www.youtube.com/@RocketLabNZ/videos
Blunder Woman