Space News Update- July 13, 2012 -

In the News

Story 1: New ISS Crew Members Set For Launch Saturday

Story 2: Solar System Ice - Source of Earth's Water

Story 3: Dark Galaxies of Early Universe Spotted for The First Time

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

New ISS Crew Members Set For Launch Saturday

Solar System Ice - Source of Earth's Water

Dark Galaxies of Early Universe Spotted for The First

Time

The Night SkyFriday, July 13 · During dawn on Saturday morning, the waning crescent Moon in the east poses to the upper right of Jupiter and lower right of the Pleiades, as shown at right.

Saturday, July 14 · During dawn Sunday morning, the waning crescent poses dramatically with Jupiter and Venus, as shown here for North America. Think photo opportunity! The Moon actually occults Jupiter for most of Europe and parts of Asia; map and timetable. Jupiter disappears behind the Moon's sunlit limb.

Sunday, July 15 · Stars twinkle and planets (being extended objects) don't, right? That's what everyone is supposed to learn when they take up skywatching. But how true is it really? See for yourself by comparing Spica and Saturn as they sink together in the southwest these evenings. Saturn is the one on top. Sometimes the difference is dramatic, other times not so much, depending on the small heat waves rippling in the lower atmosphere.

Monday, July 16 · July is Scorpius month — at least in the evening hours. Scorpius is highest in the south right at nightfall this week. Its brightest star is orange-red Antares, "Anti-Ares," the "rival of Mars" in Greek. Compare its color with the real Mars moving lower in the west-southwest (to the lower right of the Saturn-and-Spica pair).

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

For Denver:

No sighting opportunities through July 16, 2012

NASA-TV Highlights

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

July 13, Friday3 p.m. - Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan - JSC (All Channels)4 p.m. - Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan - JSC (All Channels)6 p.m. – Replay of Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan – HQ (All Channels)8 p.m. – Replay of Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan – HQ (All Channels)10 p.m. – Replay of Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan – HQ (All Channels) July 14, Saturday8 a.m. - Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan - JSC (All Channels)1 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. – Replay of Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Final Pre-Launch Crew News Conference and Russian State Commission Meeting in Baikonur, Kazakhstan – HQ (All Channels)9:30 p.m. - ISS Expedition 32/33 Soyuz TMA-05M Launch Coverage (Launch scheduled at 10:40 p.m. ET; includes video B-roll of the crew’s pre-launch activities at 9:45 p.m. ET) - JSC via Baikonur, Kazakhstan (All Channels)

NASA-TV Highlights

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

July 15, Sunday12:30 a.m. - Video File of ISS Expedition 32/33 Soyuz TMA-05M Pre-Launch and Launch Video B-Roll and Post-Launch Interviews - JSC (All Channels)3 a.m., 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m. – Replay of Video File of ISS Expedition 32/33 Soyuz TMA-05M Pre-Launch and Launch Video B-Roll and Post-Launch Interviews - HQ (All Channels) July 16, Monday6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. – Replay of Video File of ISS Expedition 32/33 Soyuz TMA-05M Pre-Launch and Launch Video B-Roll and Post-Launch Interviews - HQ (All Channels)1 p.m. – NASA Science News Conference - MSL "Landing-Minus-30" – HQ/JPL (All Channels)5 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. – Replay of NASA Science News Conference - MSL "Landing-Minus-30" – HQ (All Channels)

Space CalendarJul 13 - [Jul 09] Gonets M3 & M4/ Cosmos-Rodnik N4/MiR Rokot KM Launch Jul 13 - Comet C/2012 L3 (LINEAR) Closest Approach To Earth (2.384 AU) Jul 13 - Asteroid 8084 Dallas Closest Approach To Earth (2.534 AU) Jul 13 - Langley Research Center's 95th Birthday (1917) Jul 14 - [Jul 07] Soyuz TMA-05M Soyuz FG Launch (International Space Station 31S) Jul 14 - Comet 96P/Machholz Perihelion (0.124 AU) Jul 14 - Asteroid 3728 IRAS Closest Approach To Earth (2.241 AU) Jul 15 - Moon Occults Jupiter Jul 15 - Moon Occults Asteroid 21 Lutetia Jul 15 - Asteroid 21459 Chrisrussell Closest Approach To Earth (0.961 AU) Jul 15 - Asteroid 4871 Riverside Closest Approach To Earth (1.325 AU) Jul 15 - Asteroid 3263 Bligh Closest Approach To Earth (1.550 AU) Jul 16 - Asteroid 17427 Poe Closest Approach To Earth (2.725 AU)

JPL Space Calendar

Mercury capsule being tested in what is now known as the Langley Full Scale Tunnel.

Food for ThoughtNano-satellite offers best hope for Australia's future in space

Space Image of the Week

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CXC, JPL, Caltech STScI