TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
November 28, 2024
NGC 206 and the Star Clouds of Andromeda
The large stellar association cataloged as NGC 206 is nestled within the dusty arms of the neighboring Andromeda galaxy along with the galaxy's pinkish star-forming regions. Also known as M31, the spiral galaxy is a mere 2.5 million light-years away. NGC 206 is found at the center of this sharp and detailed close-up of the southwestern extent of Andromeda's disk. The bright, blue stars of NGC 206 indicate its youth. In fact, its youngest massive stars are less than 10 million years old. Much larger than the open or galactic clusters of young stars in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy, NGC 206 spans about 4,000 light-years. That's comparable in size to the giant stellar nurseries NGC 604 in nearby spiral M33 and the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
NASA Image Reveals Lava Pouring from Iceland Volcano Eruption
Updated Nov 28, 2024 at 8:18 AM EST
An image of red-hot lava from Iceland's most recent volcanic eruption has been captured from space by a satellite.
The shot, snapped by OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9 on November 24, reveals lava oozing from a fissure in the Sundhnúkur crater series on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula.
This most recent eruption began on November 20, and is the seventh to occur in this region in less than a year, with previous eruptions (going back in time) beginning on August 22, May 29, March 16, February 8, and January 14 this year, and on December 18 last year.
The satellite image shows how the lava poured from a 1.8 mile-long fissure in the ground near Stóra Skógfell peak, to the northeast of the town of Grindavík, creeping both east and westwards towards the famous Blue Lagoon, eventually engulfing its parking lot.
The current eruption occurred in a similar location to the February 2024 eruption. The Blue Lagoon was evacuated ahead of the lava's arrival, as were 50 homes in the town of Grindavík, which is home to 3,800 residents.
The town has had to be evacuated several times over the course of the previous eruptions, one of which even reached the outskirts of the town and burned down a few houses.
"Iceland's current eruption is a fissure eruption. A fissure is a fracture through which a sheet of magma flows; where this fracture intersects with the surface, lava erupts onto the surface," Rachel Beane, a professor of natural sciences at Bowdoin College, told Newsweek.
She added: "Where the magma remains in a fracture-generated conduits below the surface are called dikes. Magma can travel several kilometers laterally within dikes and fissures such as is occurring near Grindavik."
According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, this eruption's activity had not decreased as quickly as was seen in previous eruptions, and was still going strong five days after the eruption began
"For comparison, it can be mentioned that the lava flow in the eruption at this moment is comparable to the lava flow in the most powerful eruptions in Fagradalsfjall," they said on November 25.
On the day of the eruption, the lava flow was estimated to be around 1,300 cubic meters per second (m3/s), which is much lower than the 2,500 m3/s rate seen during the August eruption.
"What is interesting is that the seismic activity did not increase in the weeks before the eruption, as had happened in previous events," the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.
However, as of November 27, they state that the eruption has "remained stable for the past 24 hours and the lava stream from the crater is flowing east towards Fagradalsfjall".
Another image, taken by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite, shows the heat signature radiating from the Reykjanes Peninsula around five hours after the eruption began—shining brighter even than the nearby capital city of Reykjavík.
Experts are concerned that these eruptions could carry on at this rate for tens or even hundreds of years.
"The last time we saw this, it lasted decades to hundreds of years," David Pyle, professor of Earth sciences at the University of Oxford, previously told Newsweek.
"We're seeing the slow release of accumulated strain as the American Plate and the Eurasian Plate pull apart."
"One sequence of events that people have anticipated but that we haven't seen yet in this eruption is if the fissures propagate through Grindavik and then erupt underwater.
Then there's a prospect of more violent eruptions," Pyle said.
https://www.newsweek.com/iceland-volcano-eruption-nasa-image-lava-flow-reykjanes-peninsula-1993047
Warm up this holiday season with NASA's new SLS rocket engine fireplace
November 28, 2024
NASA is inviting you to sit by a homey, rocket-powered hearth this holiday season.
The space agency created a virtual fireplace lit by the engines of its huge Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which sent the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission to the moon in November 2022.
"Just what you need for the holidays — the coziness of a crackling and roaring rocket engine!" NASA wrote in a description of the eight-hour-long fireplace video, which it posted on YouTube on Tuesday (Nov. 26).
"Technically, this fireplace packs the heat of FOUR RS-25 rocket engines and a pair of solid rocket boosters — just enough to get you to the moon! (And get through the holidays with your in-laws.)" the agency wrote.
NASA added a few other touches to the fireplace as well. For example, the hearth sports a framed photo of the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit, and another of the logo of the agency's Artemis program.
https://www.space.com/entertainment/warm-up-this-holiday-season-with-nasas-new-sls-rocket-engine-fireplace-video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cgTVTwu4nw
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14124415/nasa-slam-woke-dei-policies-costing-americans-millions.html
NASA staff slam 'woke' DEI policies that cost Americans $22 million a year
Updated: 17:09 EST, 26 November 2024
NASA staff have slammed the space agency for what they have described as a 'DEI takeover' that is compromising the 'real work' done by scientists.
One former employee said that NASA's focus on diversity, equality and inclusion is 'destroying America's ability to compete with China in space because the Biden-Harris administration will only fund programs that feature it.'
Several disgruntled members, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed 'middle managers' for the 'bulls*** DEI policies.'
'The DEI thing can create an environment where things are not focused and accountability gets diluted,' another NASA employee, who still works at the agency, said.
'Real scientists don't give a hoot about DEI or other hyper-political c***.
'There are good scientists doing real, good work there. [NASA] has become extremely bureaucratic.'
NASA is spending $22.4 million per year on programs that involve inclusive hiring, employee resource groups and environmental justice research.
DailyMail.com uncovered millions of taxpayer dollars were spent on DEI data analytics and to help the agency 'embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.'
NASA receives, on average, about 0.4 percent of what the US government spends each year, but is still given a budget of at least $20 billion.
While the space agency has dished out millions for DEI, its data showed it generated more than $75.6 billion in economic output across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in fiscal year 2023.
NASA has engaged in DEI efforts for over a decade, first creating the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Implementation Plan in 2012.
In its 'Strategic Plan for DEIA, for fiscal years 2022 to 2026' it lays out four main goals: workforce diversity; workforce equity and inclusion (employee experience); accessibility and accommodation; and DEIA integration into the NASA mission.
DailyMail.com has contacted NASA for comment.
NASA's DEI spending from 2022 to present has largely focused on environmental programs.
More than $1 million in grants went to 'assessing environmental justice in air quality, 'advancing environmental justice in Los Angeles and 'examining environmental justice through open source cloud native tools.'
One grant, surpassing $150,00, was given to Cleveland State University to improve monitoring and management of urban tree equity.
1/2
Oregon State University was awarded a commitment of more than $450,000 to study refugee farming decisions in Uganda.
The grant's description showed that the results of the project will 'directly support place-based information of refugee self-sufficiency that is called for in Uganda's refugee response plan.'
It's unclear how the findings would advance NASA's aims.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of dollars were given to the Oceanography Society for 'building diversity, equity and inclusion in ocean sciences.'
LMI consulting received over $2 million in 2023 for NASA to 'embark on a venture to incorporate and deeply engrain diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in the culture and business.'
Another $3 million went to Booze Allen Hamilton in March to support NASA's 'Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity DEI data analytic specialty,' and $7 million was announced last month for six 'minority-serving institutions.'
'What I do see is that budgets are tight (and so timing and planning takes a hit in our case),' the NASA employee said.
'We have a difficult project in a very small window. Further, I'm aware that they have gone through at least two rounds of layoffs this year. I can tell they are very constrained and not running optimally.
Amid these expenditures, staff have voiced concerns online about budget shortages, citing struggles with 'limited funds' due to 'wasteful spending.'
'I worked for NASA and I have friends that still do. NASA has become an inefficient government bureaucracy. It's sad but there's no use denying it,' a former employee shared on X.
William F Cook posted: 'I grew up in Clear Lake and my mother worked in the space program for 35 years. Even she recognizes that NASA has lost its way and seems to be more focused on DEI and community outreach than actually going into space.'
A report from the Congressional Budget Office, released in July, showed that NASA had nine programs in 2023 that were approved by the government for more than $25 million.
However, the time period for those authorizations has expired, yet Congress is still giving NASA money for them.
The space agency had another nine a year later valued at over $24 million.
'If the spending isn't authorized, then we shouldn't be spending it,' Ramaswamy posted on X last Thursday. 'That shouldn't be controversial.'
2/2
So very grateful for this rad POTUS
United States Space Force
@SpaceForceDoD
Today, we wish all of our #Guardians and their families around the globe a safe and happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for your service.
#HappyThanksgiving 🦃
https://x.com/SpaceForceDoD/status/1862152753180487919
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/nov/27/rep-nancy-mace-ufo-secrecy-keeping-president-unite/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjoUqwMBACU
Rep. Nancy Mace on UFO secrecy: ‘Are they keeping the president of the United States in the dark?’
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
UFO research remains one of the federal government’s most closely guarded secrets. Rep. Nancy Mace wants that to change.
The South Carolina Republican argues that an overclassification of data, including reports involving military and commercial pilots’ close and sometimes dangerous encounters with unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, only fuels more questions and undermines Americans’ faith in their government.
Ms. Mace cited the annual budget for the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as one example of unnecessary secrecy.
“I know how much AARO costs every year. I know how much they’re requesting for their future budget.
But I can’t tell you that number — and it’s not zero — I can’t tell you that number, and it’s a pretty steep number, because that number is classified,” she told the Threat Status Weekly Podcast in an exclusive interview.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Ms. Mace also said it’s imperative that the U.S. government remain aggressive in cyberspace and push back against hacking operations by adversaries, in particular China.
And she spoke highly of tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is heading President-elect Donald Trump’s commission to improve government efficiency, and his social media platform X, which she said is challenging the power and influence of left-leaning legacy media outlets and getting out previously suppressed viewpoints.
“I think disruption is good right now, 100%. Because disruption leads to truth,” she said.
Ms. Mace, who chairs the House Oversight subcommittee on cybersecurity, information technology, and government innovation, presided over a remarkable congressional hearing earlier this month that included claims by witnesses that the government has operated a decades-long UFO crash retrieval program, among many other bombshell accusations.
The government has denied many of those, including the crash retrieval claims.
But the hearing underscored rapidly shifting attitudes on the subject, including on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers such as Ms. Mace are unafraid to push the issue into the public spotlight.
She and other lawmakers are seeking greater legal protections for whistleblowers who come forward with new information about government UFO-research programs.
At a minimum, publicly available Pentagon information strongly suggests there is incredible aerospace technology being fielded today that the American public, and even most members of Congress, are unaware of.
“I’m not saying share everything. Maybe there are weapons programs we’re testing that it’s a fair thing we don’t want the American public to know about,” Ms. Mace said.
“But, you know, my question is: Does China, Russia or Iran, do they have access to this technology?
If this technology exists and it’s in the hands of private contractors, as has been stated by multiple witnesses under oath now in the two [congressional] hearings, then are they skirting constitutional law to avoid disclosure to Congress?
Yes. Is that breaking the law? Yes.”
“And then,” she added, “if it’s the private contractor, who has access to that information? Are there Chinese spies in that organization? Does China have access to it? Does Russia? Does Iran?”
In a worst-case scenario, Ms. Mace said, individuals or departments within the Pentagon, intelligence community and other corners of the government could be keeping secrets from the White House itself.
“Are they keeping the president of the United States in the dark?” she said.
1/2
The AARO’s most recent report tried to shoot down the most shocking allegations around UFOs.
“It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity or technology,” the study reads in part.
But the report does acknowledge hundreds of mysterious encounters with UAP, most in the air but some also taking place in outer space.
The AARO said it received 757 reports of UAP encounters during the reporting period, with 485 taking place between May 2023 and June 1, and another 272 taking place between 2021 and 2022 but not reported until recently.
The reports came from military personnel and other sources, such as the Federal Aviation Administration.
Most of those incidents have not been resolved, meaning the origin or exact nature of the objects in question remains a mystery.
There are reasons to believe that at least some of them could pose direct threats to U.S. national security.
Just this week, U.S. Air Forces Europe said that mysterious drones were seen recently near the British bases RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.
U.S. Air Force personnel operate out of each location and the American detachments there are a key piece of U.S. combat capabilities in Europe.
The most recent AARO report said that strange drones were seen flying over U.S. nuclear infrastructure, weapons and launch sites at least 18 times between May 2023 and June 1 of this year.
And earlier this year, an unexplained drone swarm also flew over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
Such incidents have fueled fear that U.S. adversaries, perhaps China or Russia, are routinely flying drones over American military facilities as part of an intelligence-gathering operation that could involve groundbreaking technologies.
“If they are, it’s deeply concerning and Congress ought to know about it,” Ms. Mace said. “If there is an arms race, I want to make sure we’re winning it.”
2/2
UFO allegedly shot at Manchester Airport causes theory frenzy on Reddit with alien fans
Updated11:23, 28 NOV 2024
A UFO supposedly captured on film at Manchester Airport has caused a frenzy with alien fans on social media.
Footage and images of a spherical object allegedly taken by a co-pilot on the runway in June were shared to X, formerly Twitter.
The original poster's account disappeared, however, eagle-eyed extra-terrestrial followers made sure the images didn't disappear with the OP, and re-shared them.
In one particular image the strange phenomenon can be seen "hovering" just above the ground, with an airplane in the background.
The footage comes after one could-be alien spotter filmed a cube-shaped stationary UAP hovering over a neighbourhood in Colorado Springs.
And there was also a video showing a pulsating UFO with red, green and purple lights which was taken by a driver in Kansas, earlier this month.
According to the sharer, the unexplained aerial phenomenon was about the size of a small car.
The image sharer said that the original poster created a Reddit account and answered questions before deleting said account, adding: "But rest assured we know what we are looking at in the skies.
This is not a balloon or a drone and has been a hot topic of conversation in our community for quite a while."
One Reddit user said: "Finally something on this sub in recent times which is a real wtf moment."
Another said: "The vid looks just about like the other metal sphere ufos/uaps reparted wayy up in the sky but just in HD."
To which the OP replied: "It's actually the same UAP. The pilot says when they got close it shot straight up. The orientation in the pic seems to be accurate."
A third wrote: "If this is an actual picture of a UAP, it looks like the best one an average camera has taken.
While a fourth added: "This is really beginning to get alarming."
Meanwhile over on X, there was a more sceptical take on what people were seeing.
One poster wrote: "Looks like a reflective balloon bogged down by rain. The wind could of taken it up afterwards. Without credibility of actual poster, seems to be mistaken identity. Size is hard to judge just from that, but curious what others take is.
Another said: "Or maybe it was the other way around. Maybe a balloon in the air, filmed, then photos were taken when it's resting on the ground. We need more data, more witnesses."
While a third added: "Conveniently no video of the landed spaceship."
The Daily Star has reached out to Manchester Airport for comment.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/us-news/ufo-allegedly-shot-manchester-airport-34204320
https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1h151xm/manchester_airport_uk_orb_uap_25_nov/
https://x.com/PNWMPA/status/1861844994371535117
Police officer captures video of suspected UFO in Connecticut
Updated: Nov 27, 2024 / 10:26 PM CST
A veteran Connecticut police officer has come forward with a detailed account of what he describes as a close encounter with an unidentified aerial phenomenon during what was otherwise a routine midnight shift in April 2022.
In an exclusive interview, Robert Klein, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, told NewsNation’s “Banfield” on Wednesday about an incident near a local reservoir in Fairfield County, where he encountered a spherical object approximately the size of a “Mini Cooper,” hovering just 30 feet from his patrol car.
“I’ve seen my fair share of drones and meteors,” Klein told NewsNation. “This was something I’ve never come across before.”
Klein said the object emitted an intense, color-changing light that momentarily blinded him and filled his patrol vehicle.
The object cycled through colors including red, green, white and orange, appearing to have a “plasma-like” quality.
“There was a really strong light. It lit up the entire cab of my cruiser to the point where I was having a hard time driving because I really couldn’t see. I was blinded by it,” Klein said.
The officer described the object’s movement as “instantaneous,” claiming that when he illuminated it with his spotlight, it immediately traveled across the body of water.
“That’s when I sort of snapped out of it and took out my camera and started recording and taking pictures,” Klein said. “I couldn’t see it go from A to B, that’s how fast it moved.”
“It gave off a low hum, which was very distinct,” Klein said.
Ben Hansen, host of the Discovery+ show “UFO Witness” who investigated the case, has reportedly uncovered additional potential sightings in the same area, including a separate incident involving multiple orbs observed at a local community center.
“Our team is going to be going out to Connecticut on the ground,” Hansen told NewsNation.
Hansen said there was another prior incident at a community center where a witness reported two or three large orbs darting around in the sky and flying directly over her head.
“We’re looking for more witnesses,” Hansen said.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/police-suspected-ufo-video-connecticut/
How deep does Pope Francis’ faith in UAP really run?
Updated: Nov 27, 2024 / 05:54 PM CST
Pope Francis had confessed an interest in unidentifiable anomalous phenomena, but how far does his fascination with UFOs and alien life really go?
In the latest episode of NewsNation’s “Reality Check”, host Ross Coulthart sits down with doctor of theology and author Gabriel Piedra to answer those questions.
Coulthart and Piedra also dive deep into the vision that led Pope Francis to his papacy, Freemasonry, and whether religion is simply an explanation for UAP.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/how-deep-does-pope-francis-faith-in-uap-really-run/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2izhNXn1Msc