Space News Update- May 13, 2011 -

In the News

Story 1: Galileo Data Reveal Magma Ocean under Jupiter Moon

Story 2:Countdown to Endeavour's Launch Now Under Way

Story 3: Why Some Planets Orbit the Wrong Way; Extrasolar Insights Into Our Solar System

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

Space CalendarNASA-TV Highlights

Food for ThoughtSpace Image of the Week

Galileo Data Reveal Magma Ocean under Jupiter Moon

Countdown to Endeavour's Launch Now Under Way

Why Some Planets Orbit the Wrong Way; Extrasolar Insights

Into Our Solar System

The Night SkyFriday, May 13 · Look for Saturn glowing with a steady light well to the upper left of the Moon this evening with Porrima next to it, as shown here. · As dawn brightens this week, look very low in the east for Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and faint Mars. Bring binoculars; you'll probably need them for Mercury, and Mars is impossible without them (and sometimes even with them). See the May 15th scene below. For a view of the planets' changing positions every morning this month, see our article and animation. You can pause the animation at any date.

Saturday, May 14 · Now it's Spica's turn to shine upper left of the Moon in the evening.

Sunday, May 15 · As night descends, look west-northwest for Pollux and Castor lined up almost horizontally. They're separated by about three finger-widths at arm's length. Far to their lower left is Procyon. Farther to their lower right is brighter Capella. · The asteroid 10 Hygiea is at opposition this week, at magnitude 9.2 in southern Libra. Hygiea is the fourth-largest asteroid; it appears as dim as it does because its surface is quite black. See the finder chart and article in the May Sky & Telescope, page 56.

Monday, May 16 · Face northwest this evening and look high for the Big Dipper, now hanging down by its handle. Just a few weeks ago it was horizontal! That sort of quick change happens to star patterns passing near the zenith.

ISS Sighting Opportunities

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

For Denver:

No Sightings Opportunities

NASA-TV Highlights

May 13, Friday4 p.m. - Replay of STS-134 Countdown Status Briefing (5/13/11) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)6 p.m. - STS-134 Crew Training (36:13) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)6:37 p.m. - STS-134 Crew Profile (11:35) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)6:48 p.m., 9:38 p.m- STS-134 Mission Overview (11:53) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)7:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. - Interview with ESA Astronaut STS-134 Mission Specialist 2 Roberto Vittori (Colonel, Italian Air Force) (25:41) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)8 p.m. - Interview with STS-134 Mission Specialist 4 Gregory E. Chamitoff, Ph.D. (49:39) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)9 p.m. - Interview with STS-134 Pilot Gregory H. Johnson (37:27) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)10 p.m. - Interview with STS-134 Commander Mark E. Kelly (Captain, United States Navy) (28:01) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)11 p.m. - Interview with STS-134 Mission Specialist 1 Edward M. Fincke (Colonel, United States Air Force) (53:15) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)  Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

NASA-TV HighlightsMay 14, Saturday6 a.m., 1 p.m. - STS-134 Crew Training (36:13) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)6:37 a.m., 1:37 p.m. - STS-134 Crew Profile (11:35) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)6:48 a.m. , 9:38 a.m., 1:48 p.m. - STS-134 Mission Overview (11:53) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. - Interview with ESA Astronaut STS-134 Mission Specialist 2 Roberto Vittori (Colonel, Italian Air Force) (25:41) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)8 a.m. - Interview with STS-134 Mission Specialist 4 Gregory E. Chamitoff, Ph.D. (49:39) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)9 a.m. - Interview with STS-134 Pilot Gregory H. Johnson (37:27) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)10 a.m. - Interview with STS-134 Commander Mark E. Kelly (Captain, United States Navy) (28:01) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)11 a.m. - Interview with STS-134 Mission Specialist 1 Edward M. Fincke (Colonel, United States Air Force) (53:15) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)12 p.m. - NASA TV Video File - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels)4 p.m. - STS-134 Prelaunch News Conference - KSC (Public, HD and Media Channels)6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. - Replay of STS-134 Prelaunch News Conference (5/14/2011) - HQ (Public, HD and Media Channels) Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

NASA-TV Highlights

May 15, Sunday12 p.m. - Rotating Service Structure Retraction at Launch Pad 39-A - KSC (All Channels)11:30 p.m. - STS-134 Fueling Coverage Begins - KSC (All Channels) May 16, Monday3:30 - 7:45 a.m. - STS-134 Launch Coverage and Commentary - KSC/JSC (All Channels)7:45 a.m. - STS-134 Launch Coverage and Commentary - KSC/JSC (Public, HD and Media Channels)7:45 a.m. - NASA Edge Live Coverage of the STS-134 Launch - LaRC/KSC/HQ - (Education Channel)8:56 a.m. - Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 Mission - KSC (Public, HD and Media Channels)10 a.m. - STS-134 Post-Launch News Conference - KSC (All Channels)3 p.m. - Video File of the ISS Expedition 28 Crew News Conference at Star City, Russia and Visit to Red Square in Moscow - JSC (Public, HD and Media Channels) Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

Space Calendar

13 - Asteroid 10 Hygiea At Opposition (9.1 Magnitude) May 13 - Asteroid 2791 Paradise Closest Approach To Earth (1.616 AU) May 13 - Teleconference: Planetary Protection Standards for Icy Bodies in the Outer Solar System May 13 - ASA Women In Astronomy Workshop, Sydney, Australia May 15 - Comet C/2010 L3 (Catalina) Closest Approach To Earth (9.293 AU) May 15 - Asteroid 6000 United Nations Closest Approach To Earth (1.912 AU) May 16 - [May 10] STS-134 Launch, Space Shuttle Endeavour, International Space Station May 16 - Comet C/2010 V1 (Ikeya-Murakami) Closest Approach To Earth (1.494 AU) May 16 - Comet 231P/LINEAR-NEAT Perihelion (3.033 AU)

JPL Space Calendar

Food for ThoughtMississippi Flooding Captured by NASA Satellites

Space Image of the WeekA Beautiful Trifid

Image Credit & Copyright: R Jay Gabany