Space News Update- January 4, 2013 -

In the News

Story 1: Planets abound

Story 2:New Study Shows Cosmic Rays Could Cause Alzheimer’s

Story 3: A Chunk of Martian Crust — on Earth!

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Planets abound

New Study Shows Cosmic Rays Could Cause Alzheimer’s

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A Chunk of Martian Crust — on Earth!

The Night Sky

Friday, January 4· This morning we had the latest sunrise of the year (near 40° north latitude).· Last-quarter Moon tonight (exact at 10:58 p.m. EST). The Moon, between Corvus and the head of Virgo, rises around 11 or midnight. By dawn Saturday morning, the Moon is high in the south with Spica and Saturn widely to its left, as shown here.

Saturday, January 5· Before dawn Sunday morning, Spica shines to the upper right of the waning Moon, and Saturn shines to the Moon's upper left, as shown here.

Sunday, January 6· At this coldest time of the year, Sirius rises around 7 p.m. (depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone). Orion's three-star Belt points down almost to Sirius's rising place; watch for it there. Once Sirius is up, it twinkles slowly and deeply through the thick layers of low atmosphere, then faster and more shallowly as it gains altitude. Its flashes of color also speed up and blend into shimmering white as the star climbs to shine through thinner air. Monday, January 7· As dawn begins to brighten on Tuesday morning, spot the waning crescent Moon in the southeast. Below it is Antares, a summer-evening star just beginning its months-long trek backward through the night. Much farther lower left of the Moon, Venus rises. Higher in the south are Saturn and, two fists to Saturn's right, Spica.

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 Jan 07/06:54 AM 1 17 10 above S 17 above SSE

NASA-TV Highlights

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

January 5, Saturday10:30 a.m. - FIRST Kick-Off Event - HQ (Public and Education Channels)1-2 p.m. - Replay of FIRST Kick-Off Event - HQ (Public and Education Channels)4-5 p.m. - Replay of FIRST Kick-Off Event - HQ (Public and Education Channels)8-9 p.m. - Replay of FIRST Kick-Off Event - HQ (Public and Education Channels)

Space Calendar

Jan 04 - Asteroid 3846 Hazel Occults HIP 60595 (5.9 Magnitude Star)Jan 04 - Asteroid 2012 TJ146 Near-Earth Flyby (0.082 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 3267 Glo Closest Approach To Earth (0.835 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 128523 Johnmuir Closest Approach To Earth (1.384 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 6701 Warhol Closest Approach To Earth (1.748 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 1430 Somalia Closest Approach To Earth (1.972 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 1941 Wild Closest Approach To Earth (3.014 AU)Jan 04 - Asteroid 132904 Notkin Closest Approach To Earth (3.355 AU)Jan 04 - Isaac Newton's 370th Birthday (1643)Jan 05 - Comet C/2012 L1 (LINEAR) Closest Approach To Earth (1.608 AU)Jan 05 - Comet 242P/Spahr Closest Approach To Earth (3.368 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 2012 XD112 Near-Earth Flyby (0.073 AU)Jan 05 - [Jan 03] Asteroid 2012 YD7 Near-Earth Flyby (0.090 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin Closest Approach To Earth (0.917 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 9880 Stegosaurus Closest Approach To Earth (1.086 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 25399 Vonnegut Closest Approach To Earth (1.610 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 1991 Darwin Closest Approach To Earth (1.661 AU)Jan 05 - Asteroid 1495 Helsinki Closest Approach To Earth (2.095 AU)Jan 06 - Asteroid 3229 Solnhofen Closest Approach To Earth (1.590 AU)Jan 06 - Asteroid 61342 Lovejoy Closest Approach To Earth (1.795 AU)Jan 06 - Asteroid 132524 APL Closest Approach To Earth (2.223 AU)Jan 06 - 15th Anniversary (1998), Lunar Prospector Launch (Moon Orbiter)Jan 06 - 45th Anniversary (1968), Surveyor 7 Launch (Moon Lander)Jan 07 - [Jan 01] Comet 274P/Tombaugh-Tenagra Closest Approach To Earth (1.494 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 2002 AY1 Near-Earth Flyby (0.038 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 2012 XZ132 Near-Earth Flyby (0.052 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 2005 DD Near-Earth Flyby (0.100 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 6471 Collins Closest Approach To Earth (1.179 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 3498 Belton Closest Approach To Earth (1.228 AU)Jan 07 - Asteroid 4122 Ferrari Closest Approach To Earth (1.614 AU) JPL Space Calendar

Lunar Prospector Orbiter (NASA)

Food for Thought

Private moon travel startup hires designer for lunar lander

Space Image of the Week

Image Credit: Kevin Gill