Space News

NASA science grips two brothers

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:11:57 +0000

(Phys.org) — NASA’s Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) 2010 hurricane study was a multi-aircraft mission with a large cadre of researchers. Two who were principal researchers on several airborne sensors had more in common than conducting atmospheric research. Gerry and Andy Heymsfield are brothers.

Algae, lichens, and mosses take up huge amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen from atmosphere

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:59:21 +0000

(Phys.org) — In cities, the presence of algae, lichens, and mosses is not considered desirable and they are often removed from roofs and walls. It is, however, totally unfair to consider these cryptogamic covers, as the flat growths are referred to in scientific terms, just a nuisance.

Warming turns tundra to forest

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:57:50 +0000

(Phys.org) — In just a few decades shrubs in the Arctic tundra have turned into trees as a result of the warming Arctic climate, creating patches of forest which, if replicated across the tundra, would significantly accelerate global warming.

Unmanned NASA Storm sentinels set for hurricane study

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:56:12 +0000

(Phys.org) — Ah, June. It marks the end of school, the start of summer…and the official start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, which got off to an early start in May with the formation of Tropical Storms Alberto and Beryl. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters are calling for a near-normal hurricane season this year. But whether the season turns out to be wild or wimpy, understanding what makes these ferocious storms form and rapidly intensify is a continuing area of scientific research, and is the focus of the NASA-led Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) airborne mission that kicks off this summer.

Carl Sagan: Cosmos, Pale Blue Dot & Famous Quotes

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:54:44 +0000

Carl Sagan was a scientist and educator best known for his TV series Cosmos, the Pale Blue Dot image of Earth and quotes about life and Earth.

The 5 Weirdest Facts About Venus

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:12:23 +0000

Venus is an oddity in many ways, including its super-fast winds, scorching temperatures and extreme pressure.

Hubble Telescope May See Rare Transit of Earth in 2014

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:49:11 +0000

The space telescope would observe the event in sunlight bouncing off Jupiter.

Transit of Venus: What Earth Looks Like From Venus During Rare Sky Show

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:47:10 +0000

An interesting view of Earth would be visible from Venus during the transit.

The 10 Weirdest Facts About Venus

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:44:20 +0000

From having a day longer than its year to its wind speeds faster than tornadoes, Venus is odd.

How to Safely Watch the Transit of Venus on Tuesday

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:37:08 +0000

Tips on how to safely view the historic event.

Hobby-Eberly Telescope measures two stars with one orbiting planet

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:47:18 +0000

(Phys.org) — A team of Penn State University astronomers has obtained very precise measurements of a pair of stars that are orbited by a planet — like the stellar system of the fictional planet Tatooine in the movie Star Wars. The orbits of the stars and planet in the system, named Kepler-16, are aligned so that they eclipse or transit each other when observed from Earth. These new measurements will aid astronomers in understanding how stars and planetary systems form.

Stockholm braves coldest June weather in 84 years: experts

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:40:02 +0000

Stockholm registered its coldest June weekend in 84 years, with temperatures hitting a maximum of just six degrees Celsius (43 Fahrenheit), meteorologists said Sunday.

Rio closes Latin America’s biggest landfill

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:31:32 +0000

Latin America’s largest landfill was closed Sunday after 34 years, just days before Rio de Janeiro hosts a major UN conference on sustainable development.

In tree rings, Japanese scientists find 8th-century mystery

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:25:27 +0000

In the late eighth century, Earth was hit by a mystery blast of cosmic rays, according to a Japanese study that found a relic of the powerful event in cedar trees.

Peru needs glacier loss monitoring: dire UN warning

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:24:35 +0000

Peru needs a permanent monitoring system to gauge Andean mountain glacier shrinkage caused by global warming and its effect on people who depend on the ice for water, UN experts warned.

Space Shuttle at Sea: Enterprise Sails for NYC’s Intrepid

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 06:16:07 +0000

The space shuttle Enterprise sailed where no shuttle has gone before: New Jersey.

Shuttle Replica Takes Sunday Drive to Space Center Houston

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:51:27 +0000

Houston, we have a space shuttle. The best replica shuttle ever is at its new home.

US, European nuclear and coal-fired electrical plants vulnerable to climate change: study

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 18:00:01 +0000

Warmer water and reduced river flows in the United States and Europe in recent years have led to reduced production, or temporary shutdown, of several thermoelectric power plants. For instance, the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama had to shut down more than once last summer because the Tennessee River’s water was too warm to use it for cooling.

How to Photograph the Rare Transit of Venus Safely

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:40:25 +0000

SPACE.com offers tips on how to photograph the June 5 transit of Venus and June 4 partial lunar eclipse.

Vote Now! Best Space Stories of the Week – June 2, 2012

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:37:43 +0000

From complete coverage of SpaceX splashing down in the Pacific to John Glenn awarded the Medal of Freedom, it’s been a thrilling week in space.