Space News Update- February 20, 2012 -

In the News

Story 1: Moon's Scarred Crust Hints at Recent Activity, Scientists Say

Story 2:NASA Map Sees Earth's Trees in a New Light

Story 3: NASA's Hubble Spots a Relic from a Shredded Galaxy

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Moon's Scarred Crust Hints at Recent Activity, Scientists Say

NASA Map Sees Earth's Trees in a New Light

NASA's Hubble Spots a Relic from a Shredded Galaxy

The Night SkyMonday, February 20  · Brilliant Sirius shines highest due south around roughly 8:30 or 9 p.m., depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone.  Tuesday, February 21  · Zenith star: Bright Capella crosses closest to straight overhead around 7 p.m., depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone. Capella goes exactly through your zenith if you live at latitude 46° north (the Oregon-Washington border, Montreal, central France). In you're south of there, Capella passes north of your zenith.  · New Moon (exact at 5:35 p.m. EST)  Wednesday, February 22  · An ultra-thin, one-day-old crescent Moon floats to the right of Mercury very low in the west a half hour after sunset, as shown above. Bring binoculars.  Thursday, February 23  · The thickening crescent Moon hangs far lower right of Venus and over Mercury in bright twilight, as shown above.  Friday, February 24  · Jupiter and Venus form a line pointing down to the crescent Moon during and after twilight.

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 20/06:34 PM 1 10 10 above NNW 10 above N

ISS Thu Feb 23/06:56 PM 1 11 10 above N 11 above NNE

ISS Fri Feb 24/07:35 PM < 1 15 11 above NNW15 above NNW

NASA-TV Highlights

February 20, Monday1:20 p.m. - NASA Future Forum at The Ohio State University Opening 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - NASA Future Forum -- Learning from the Past to Innovate for the Future 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. - NASA Future Forum -- Inspiration and Education Panel - Building the Innovators for Tomorrow 6 p.m. - Replay of NASA Future Forum at The Ohio State University Opening 6:30 p.m. – Replay of NASA Future Forum -- Learning from the Past to Innovate for the Future

February 21, Tuesday9 a.m. - NASA Future Forum 9:45 - 11 a.m. - NASA Future Forum -- Importance of Technology, Science and Innovation for our Economic Future 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - NASA Future Forum --Transferring and Commercializing Technology to Benefit our Lives and our Economy 1:45 - 3 p.m. NASA Future Forum -- Shifting Roles for Public, Private and International Players in Space 3 p.m. - NASA Future Forum - Wrap Up

February 22, Wednesday10 a.m. - ISS Expedition 30 Educational In-Flight Event with the Tri-District Curriculum consortium in Newton, N.J. - JSC (All Channels)

February 23, Thursday12:05 p.m. - Digital Learning Network ISS Mission Control Event

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

Space Calendar

· Feb 20 - 50th Anniversary (1962), Friendship 7 Launch (John Glenn) · Feb 20 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of Polydeuces · Feb 20 - Asteroid 3131 Mason-Dixon Closest Approach To Earth (1.847 AU) · Feb 20 - Asteroid 5471 Tunguska Closest Approach To Earth (2.168 AU) · Feb 20 - 15th Anniverary (1997), Galileo, Europa 6 Flyby · Feb 21 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of Telesto, Enceladus, Pallene, Dione & Rhea · Feb 21 - Asteroid 189202 Calar Alto Closest Approach To Earth (2.411 AU) · Feb 21 - Kuiper Belt Object 90482 Orcus At Opposition (47.023 AU) · Feb 22 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #311 (OTM-311) · Feb 22 - Asteroid 5458 Hamatonbetsu Occults HIP 22957 (4.1 Magnitude Star) · Feb 22 - [ Asteroid 2012 CR45 Near-Earth Flyby (0.040 AU) · Feb 22 - Asteroid 1159 Granada Closest Approach To Earth (1.516 AU) · Feb 22 - Asteroid 82332 Las Vegas Closest Approach To Earth (1.620 AU) · Feb 22 - Asteroid 2157 Ashbook Closest Approach To Earth (1.853 AU) · Feb 22 - Asteroid 39566 Carllewis Closest Approach To Earth (1.870 AU) · Feb 23 - Asteroid 2011 CP4 Near-Earth Flyby (0.023 AU) · Feb 23 - Asteroid 719 Albert Closest Approach To Earth (3.075 AU) · Feb 23 - 25th Anniverary (1987), Supernova 1987A Explosion

JPL Space Calendar

Food for Thought

John Glenn's Historic Spaceflight Was No Sure Thing

Space Image of the Week