NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

January 29, 2025

Dust Shells around WR 140 from Webb

What are those strange rings? Rich in dust, the rings are likely 3D shells but how they were created remains a topic of research. Where they were created is well known: in a binary star system that lies about 6,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus) a system dominated by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 140. Wolf-Rayet stars are massive, bright, and known for their tumultuous winds. They are also known for creating and dispersing heavy elements such as carbon, which is a building block of interstellar dust. The other star in the binary is also bright and massive but not as active. The two great stars joust in an oblong orbit as they approach each other about every eight years. When at closest approach, the X-ray emission from the system increases, as, apparently, does the dust expelled into space creating another shell. The featured infrared image by the Webb Space Telescope resolves greater details and more dust shells than ever before. Images taken over consecutive years show the shells moving outward.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

NASA Image Captures Ice Pile Up on Lake Michigan

Jan 29, 2025 at 7:53 AM EST

Arecent satellite image revealed the aftermath of a brutal cold snap that gripped Chicago between January 19 and 24, leaving Lake Michigan covered with ice.

Captured on January 24 by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard NASA's Landsat 8 satellite, the image showcases a snow-blanketed Chicago and ice formations on the Great Lake.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the cold spell brought Chicago's air temperature down to a bone-chilling minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit on January 21.

Unusually, the city experienced little to no snow during the peak of the frigid temperatures.

However, waves of snowfall between January 22 and 23 covered the city in white, creating the wintry scene seen in the satellite image.

The image also highlights an expanse of white atop Lake Michigan—an area of ice that forms annually on the Great Lakes, though its extent varies each year.

On January 24, offshore winds pushed ice away from the coastline, creating a dynamic ice landscape.

Jia Wang, an ice climatologist at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), told the NASA Earth Observatory that the brighter white areas of the ice may indicate ice that has piled up, forming rough surfaces.

Data from GLERL indicates that as of late January 2025, ice coverage on Lake Michigan was around the historical average (1973-2024) for this time of year, with approximately 20 percent of the lake covered in ice.

A short-term peak of 21 percent ice cover was recorded last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ice coverage on Lake Erie spiked well above average, reaching over 80 percent in late January. The thick ice even temporarily stranded a Canadian cargo freighter.

Scientists are actively researching ways to utilize altimetry data from NASA's ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2) to measure ice thickness on the Great Lakes.

According to Eric Anderson, a researcher at the Colorado School of Mines, improved ice measurements could enhance weather forecasting and provide valuable insights into changes in Earth's surface freshwater systems.

Despite this winter's cold snap leading to increased ice formation, the Great Lakes are experiencing a long-term decline in ice coverage.

Since 1973, the Great Lakes have had eight to 46 fewer frozen days, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The most significant decreases have occurred on Lakes Ontario and Superior.

As global temperatures rise, ice cover is expected to decline on the Great Lakes, which could have a significant impact on the region. Ice affects aquatic ecosystems, recreation and even weather patterns over the Great Lakes.

"While reduced ice cover could lengthen the shipping season, it also allows more water to evaporate from the lakes, which can lead to lower water levels and restrict shipping channels ," the EPA says on its website.

"More evaporation can also lead to an increase in precipitation over nearby land, especially 'lake effect' snow."

https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-image-ice-pile-lake-michigan-chicago-snow-2022743

https://spacecoastdaily.com/2025/01/two-veteran-nasa-astronauts-to-be-inducted-into-u-s-astronaut-hall-of-fame-at-kennedy-space-center/

Two Veteran NASA Astronauts to be Inducted into U. S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center

January 29, 2025

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s Curt Brown has announced the 2025 U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees.

Veteran NASA astronauts Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson will join the 109 astronauts who have been inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, located at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Induction is scheduled for May 31.

“The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame welcomes two exceptional and trailblazing veterans of the space program who contributed significantly to NASA’s mission and program,” said Curt Brown, board chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which stewards the selection process.

“Harris and Whitson continue to serve as exemplary role models in their post-NASA careers. What a tremendous honor to induct them into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.”

An official ceremony and gala will take place at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on May 31, 2025.

Set against the historic and stunning backdrop of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the ceremony will be attended by a number of astronaut legends.

Following the induction, the newest Hall of Fame members will be celebrated at an evening black-tie event hosted by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Both Harris and Whitson had careers with NASA beyond the time they served as astronauts, with Harris working with NASA for 10 years and Whitson for 37 years.

Currently, Harris works in the venture capital field, while Whitson has continued her passion for space and exploration as astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space.

Bernard Harris, MD, MBA, FACP, STS-55 & STS-63

Since 1986, Dr. Harris has served the space program, at NASA Ames Space Flight Center, NASA Johnson Space Flight Center and NASA Headquarters in various roles as research scientist, flight surgeon, astronaut, and advisor.

During his NASA career, Dr. Bernard Harris conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation, where he developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space.

A veteran astronaut for more than thirty years, Harris served as mission specialist on STS-55 and was the Payload Commander on STS-63. He has logged more than 438 hours and traveled more than 7.2 million miles in space.

On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform an extra-vehicular activity during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights.

Harris is currently CEO & Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc. – a venture capital firm, that invests in early to mid-stage Healthcare technologies and companies.

Previously, he served as CEO and Executive Director of the National Math & Science Initiative, leading the organization’s efforts to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in communities across the country.

He has been involved in math and science education for more than 25 years through his philanthropy as founder of the Harris Institute & Foundation.

A member of the Board of Directors for Raytheon Technologies, MassMutual, Solventum and U.S. Physical Therapy, Harris also served as a Board Director/Trustee for Salient Midstream & MLP Fund and Salient MF Trust, Barings Fund and BBDC.

Additionally, he is on the nonprofit boards of the Texas Medical Center (past Chair), the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and the Harris Institute & Foundation.

Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine.

Harris completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a Flight Surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base.

He is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver.

Harris has received numerous prestigious awards. Among them are nine honorary doctorate, two NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Award of Merit, the National Space Grant Distinguished Services Award and the James Bryant Conant Award.

He also is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of the 2000 Horatio Alger Award and 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to his other notable accomplishments, Harris is the author of “Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration” and “Embracing Infinite Possibilities: Letting Go Of Fear To Find Your Highest Potential”.

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>>22459183

Peggy Whitson, Ph.D., STS-111, ISS Expedition 5, STS-113, ISS Expedition 16, ISS Expedition 50/51/52

Peggy Whitson, Ph.D., grew up on a farm outside of Beaconsfield, Iowa, with her siblings and parents, who were farmers. She decided to become an astronaut after she watched the first moon landing on television as a child in 1969.

As an astronaut, she flew on three NASA long-duration space flights and served as commander of Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), accumulating 675 days in space, more than any other American astronaut or woman astronaut in the world.

Whitson has more than 38 years of space and science experience combined with NASA and Axiom Space. Throughout her career, she has held various positions, including NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office, two-time Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Chair of NASA’s Astronaut Selection Board, NASA Operations Branch Chief, NASA Deputy Division Chief for both Medical Sciences and the Astronaut Office, and co-chair of the US/Russian Mission Science Working Group.

During her three NASA missions to the ISS (Expeditions 5, 16 and 50/51/52), Whitson conducted 10 spacewalks – totaling more than 60 hours – and performed hundreds of research experiments.

On her first long-duration ISS mission on Expedition 5, she was named the first NASA science officer, conducting 21 investigations in human life sciences and microgravity sciences, as well as commercial payloads.

Throughout her career she has contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical and Earth science and welcomed several cargo spacecraft delivering tons of supplies and research experiments.

On Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), she became the first female commander of a private astronaut mission, adding to her accomplishments as the first female commander of the ISS and the first female and nonmilitary Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office.

Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), targeted to launch no earlier than spring 2025 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Whitson received degrees in biology and chemistry from Iowa Wesleyan University and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from Rice University.

She has been honored with various NASA medals in leadership, outstanding leadership, and exceptional service, as well as National Air and Space Museum’s Michael Collins Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), Forbes 50 Over 50, Innovation (2023), Glamour’s Woman of the Year (2017), TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World (2018), and Women in Aviation Lifetime Achievement Award (2017) among numerous other prestigious awards.

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OBITUARY: Prominent Retired NASA Scientist Addison Bain, 89, of Melbourne, Passed Away Jan. 22

January 29, 2025

Addison Leroy Bain, 89, passed away in Melbourne, Florida, on January 22, 2025.

It was determined that another scientist was needed in the universe to study the galaxy and stars. You can determine that, if you see his room with various rockets and pictures from the Hubble telescope.

He was born in Kalispell, Montana, on September 23, 1935, the first child of Arthur and Dorothy Bain.

He is survived by daughter Debra Lindsay, grandson Justin, and granddaughter Tiffany of Prineville, Oregon. Brothers Stanley Bain of Melbourne, Florida, and Daryl Bain of Kalispell, Montana, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

After graduating from Flathead High School, he went to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, to earn his degree in Engineering.

Addison’s first significant job was to work with an engineering firm to build the Noxon Rapids Dam in Noxon, Mt. He then was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Ft. Ord, California.

After basic training, he was assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. That began his venture in the aerospace community.

He was assigned to Dr. Wernher von Braun’s engineering team with the mission of developing and testing rocket systems.

Later, NASA offered him a job to continue the same work in developing mainly propellants and life support systems.

He worked on space programs, including the Atlas V, Delta II, Taurus, Saturn, and Falcon, as well as orbiting programs Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, as well as the first space shuttles.

He became friends with many of the Astronauts and was awarded the snoopy pin, a symbol of the Astronaut corps.

During his career, he designed a safe way to transport hydrogen and other fuels. His responsibility became Chief of Propellant and life support systems.

During that time, he squeezed in time to go to night school to earn his MS and PhD. Degrees.

Addison became involved with hydrogen capabilities, which led him to the Hindenburg airship disaster.

The more he studied the Hindenburg and pictures of the flames from the fire, the more he knew something was not right. Addison speculated that hydrogen could not be the reason for the explosion and fire.

He made several trips to Germany, met with several survivors, and collected many artifacts from the event, along with several large pieces of the outer layer.

On one of his trips to Germany, he found a library that had original drawings and designs of the Hindenburg.

Through his tests, studies, and investigation, he discovered that the outer fabric of the Hindenburg was coated with a doping process that was highly flammable.

The Hindenburg landed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937.

From eye witness reports and research of the day, it appeared the airship acquired static electricity due to storms, when the airship touched the mooring mast the resulting static electricity ignited the fire which burned through the outer layer and eventually into the fuel cell, containing the hydrogen. The hydrogen fueled the fire.

Addison wrote the book Hindenburg about his research. A model of the Hindenburg is displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. His findings replaced the original plaque on the wall. Addison was invited to that unveiling.

His interest in hydrogen continued, and he converted his car, a Lincoln, to run on hydrogen. However, he needed a way to acquire the fuel, so he built his fueling station in his garage. Of course, that got the neighbors excited.

He demonstrated to the neighbors, fire department, and Mayor, along with the media, how the hydrogen was extracted from water and then pumped into storage containers. He drove the car for several years, donating the car and hydrogen system to the local university.

During his career, he received several awards and recognitions for his work. He traveled to many places, but his favorite was having a red beer at Moose’s Saloon in Kalispell, MT, and fishing at his favorite spot, Twin Creek’s on the South Fork of the Flathead River, and spending time at the Diamond R Ranch at Spotted Bear.

Addison’s request was to be cremated and buried near family at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell, Montana. Graveside services will be scheduled for later this summer.

https://spacecoastdaily.com/2025/01/obituary-prominent-retired-nasa-scientist-addison-bain-89-of-melbourne-passed-away-jan-22/

Wolf Moon in Washington

Jan 28, 2025

A NASA photographer captured the full “wolf” moon rising over the Lincoln Memorial and Memorial Bridge on Jan. 13, 2025.

The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing Native American names for full moons in the 1930s. Over time, these names have become widely known and used.

According to this almanac, the full moon in January is called the Wolf Moon, from the packs of wolves heard howling outside the villages amid the cold and deep snows of winter.

https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/wolf-moon-in-washington/

>>22459261

The Raelians approve

https://www.rael.org/hg/100-robert-f-kennedy-jr/

Astronaut stuck in space shares what she misses about Earth as Elon Musk vows to bring her back

January 29, 2025

An astronaut who has been stuck in space since June has revealed the regular things about Earth she misses as Elon Musk vows to bring her back home.

Suni Williams, 59, has been living at the International Space Station (ISS) along with fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, 61, after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft experienced mechanical issues and was sent back to Earth without them.

During a talk with students at Needham High School from the ISS on Monday (27 January), Williams gave a unique insight into life away from Earth.

“I’ve been up here long enough right now I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk,” she told students.

“I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down. You don’t have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here.”

She also told the students that her unexpectedly long stint in space came as “a little bit of a shock.”

Williams shared: “We knew that it would be probably a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different,” she explained, according to CBS affiliate WBZ-TV.

NASA confirmed in August last year it was asking SpaceX to bring Williams and Wilmore home aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule.

The return was originally due to happen in February, CNN reports, but in December 2024, NASA announced that the SpaceX spacecraft that will return the pair of astronauts home won’t be ready to launch “no earlier than late March 2025.”

“Fabrication, assembly, testing, and final integration of a new spacecraft is a painstaking endeavour that requires great attention to detail,” said Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program in a press release.

“We appreciate the hard work by the SpaceX team to expand the Dragon fleet in support of our missions and the flexibility of the station program and expedition crews as we work together to complete the new capsule’s readiness for flight.

”Due to the delay, the astronauts celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas in space and even voted in the 2024 US elections.

Speaking of the recent elections, on Tuesday (28 January) Elon Musk posted on his social media platform X that his company SpaceX has been asked by President Donald Trump to return the astronauts home “as soon as possible.”

Musk said: “We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

However, the two astronauts are already scheduled to fly back on a spacecraft NASA is working on with SpaceX.

Despite Musk throwing jabs at the Biden administration, NASA's plan to bring the astronauts back down to Earth with the help of SpaceX was confirmed in August.

Trump also made a statement on his own social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday:

"I have just asked Elon Musk and @SpaceX to 'go get' the 2 brave astronauts who have been virtually abandoned in space by the Biden Administration," he wrote.

“They have been waiting for many months on @Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe. Good luck Elon!!!"

The demand to retrieve the two astronauts, and the criticism of Biden’s administration, has been called “unusual” and reportedly came as a “surprise” to officials, Reuters reports.

Williams and Wilmore will travel back to Earth with other astronauts as part of a scheduled crew notation.

https://www.indy100.com/science-tech/elon-musk-spacex-nasa-suni-williams

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1884365928038563880