Space News Update- February 18, 2013 -

In the News

Story 1: A Parting Look at 2012 DA14: Was This a Warning Shot from Space?

Story 2: Proton/Breeze M mishap blamed on warm propellant

Story 3: NASA's MAVEN Mission Completes Assembly

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

A Parting Look at 2012 DA14: Was This a Warning Shot from Space?

Proton/Breeze M mishap blamed on warm propellant

>

NASA's MAVEN Mission Completes Assembly

The Night Sky

Wednesday, February 20Have you ever seen Canopus, the second-brightest star after Sirius? Canopus lies almost due south of Sirius, by 36°. That's far enough south that it never appears above your horizon unless you're below latitude 37° N (southern Virginia, southern Missouri, central California). And there, you'll need a flat south horizon. Canopus transits the sky's north-south meridian just 21 minutes before Sirius does.When to look? Canopus is at its highest point when Beta Canis Majoris — Mirzim, the star three finger-widths to the right of Sirius — is at its highest point crossing the meridian. Look straight down from Mirzim then.

Thursday, February 21Early this evening, look lower right of the Moon for Procyon and upper left of the Moon for Castor and Pollux. Much farther to the lower right of Procyon shines bright Sirius.

Friday, February 22This evening the Moon is left of Procyon and below Castor and Pollux.

Monday, February 18The Moon now shines to the left or upper left of Jupiter and Aldebaran, drawing farther away from them through the evening.

Tuesday, February 19The Moon after dark stands straight over Orion, who's standing straight upright in the south.

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 Mon Feb 18/06:57 PM 2 11 10 above NNW 11 above NNE

ISS Tue Feb 19/06:06 PM 2 10 10 above NNW 10 above NNE

ISS Tue Feb 19/07:42 PM < 1 14 10 above NNW 14 above NNW

ISS Wed Feb 20/06:52 PM 2 15 10 above NNW 14 above NNE

ISS Thu Feb 21/06:04 PM < 1 10 10 above NE 10 above NE

ISS Thu Feb 21/07:37 PM 2 23 10 above NW 23 above NNW

ISS Fri Feb 22/06:47 PM 3 23 11 above NNW 21 above NE

ISS Fri Feb 22/08:23 PM < 1 12 12 above WNW 12 above WNW

NASA-TV Highlights

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

February 20, Wednesday9 a.m. - ISS Update - JSC (Public and Media Channels)10 a.m. - NASA Social: “Science on the International Space Station…Gateway to the Universe” (ISS Expedition 34 In-Flight Event for the Social scheduled at 10:25 a.m. ET) - HQ/JSC (All Channels)12:05 p.m. - ISS Mission Control Console Interview with the Digital Learning Network - JSC (All Channels)

February 21, Thursday11:45 a.m. - ISS Expedition 34 In-Flight Event for the Canadian Space Agency with the TVA Network, Canada - JSC (Will be broadcast in French; Public and Media Channels)12:30 p.m. - ISS Mission Control Console Interview with the Digital Learning Network - JSC (All Channels)1 p.m. - English Interpreted Replay of the Canadian Space Agency In-Flight Event with the TVA Network, Canada – JSC (Public and Media Channels)

February 22, Friday11 a.m. - ISS Expedition 34 In-Flight Event for a Google + Hangout - JSC (All Channels)11:20 a.m. - ISS Update – JSC (Public and Media Channels)

Space Calendar

Feb 18 - Moon Occults JupiterFeb 18 - Moon Occults Asteroid 4 VestaFeb 18 -[Feb 19] Asteroid 2013 CW129 Near-Earth Flyby (0.003 AU)Feb 18 - Asteroid 9387 Tweeddledee Closest Approach To Earth (1.030 AU)Feb 18 - Asteroid 3043 San Diego Closest Approach To Earth (1.063 AU)Feb 18 - Asteroid 5062 Glennmiller Closest Approach To Earth (1.411 AU)Feb 18 - Asteroid 4099 Wiggins Closest Approach To Earth (1.529 AU)Feb 19 -[Feb 15] Asteroid 2013 CZ87 Near-Earth Flyby (0.018 AU)Feb 19 - Asteroid 4017 Disneya Closest Approach To Earth (1.849 AU)Feb 19 - Nicolaus Copernicus' 540th Birthday (1473)Feb 20 - Asteroid 3353 Jarvis Closest Approach To Earth (1.102 AU)Feb 20 - Asteroid 9769 Nautilus Closest Approach To Earth (1.020 AU)Feb 20 - Asteroid 797 Montana Closest Approach To Earth (1.531 AU)Feb 21 - Asteroid 1034 Mozartia Closest Approach To Earth (1.901 AU)Feb 21 - Asteroid 35165 Quebec Closest Approach To Earth (2.224 AU)Feb 21 - Asteroid 588 Achilles Closest Approach To Earth (3.811 AU)Feb 21 - Asteroid 5661 Hildebrand Closest Approach To Earth (3.867 AU)Feb 21 - Asteroid 624 Hektor Closest Approach To Earth (4.137 AU)Feb 22 - SARAL/ Sapphire/ CanX-3/ Tugsat 1 (Brite-Austria) PSLV-C20 LaunchFeb 22 - Comet 120P/Mueller Perihelion (2.729 AU)Feb 22 - Asteroid 469 Argentina Occults HIP 25363 (6.8 Magnitude Star)Feb 22 - Asteroid 2002 Euler Closest Approach To Earth (1.399 AU)Feb 22 - Kuiper Belt Object 90482 Orcus At Opposition (47.053 AU)

JPL Space Calendar

Food for ThoughtNASA's Chandra Suggests Rare Explosion Created

Our Galaxy's Youngest Black Hole

Space Image of the Week

Composite Image of NGC 5189 Courtesy of Robert Gendler

Portrait Of NGC 5189: New Light On An Old Planetary Nebula