[Astronews] IAAS Monthly Astronomy Newsletter

[IAAS Monthly Astronomy Newsletter]

IAAS Monthly Astronomy Newsletter
May 2012


The International Association for Astronomical Studies provides this newsletter as a service for interested persons worldwide.



This newsletter is published on the World Wide Web at http://www.ki0ar.com/astro.html - The Home of KI0AR - and is received nationally and internationally. A PDF formatted downloadable version of the newsletter is at http://www.ki0ar.com/current_nl.pdf.

This newsletter is now available as an iTunes podcast. Visit http://www.apple.com, download and install iTunes (for either Mac or Windows). Search for "IAAS" and subscribe to the podcast. You may also go to http://www.ki0ar.com/astro.html and click on the Subscribe/RSS link. Update your smart phone, iPod or mp3 player and listen to the newsletter at your leisure. Comments and constructive criticisms are greatly appreciated.

An Open Invitation - For amateur radio operators and scanner enthusiasts, when in the Denver metro area, please join the Colorado Astronomy Net on the Rocky Mountain Radio League's (http://rmrl.hamradios.com/) 146.94 MHz repeater on Tuesday nights at 7 P.M. local time.

Special Notice to Denver, CO area residents and visitors to the area: The Plains Conservation Center in Aurora hosts Full Moon Walks every month, weather permitting, on or near the night of the full Moon. Visit http://www.plainsconservationcenter.org for more information and directions.

Excerpts from JPL mission updates are provided as a public service as part of the JPL Solar System Ambassador / NASA Outreach program. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/index.html

In This Newsletter...

* The Moon
* The Planets
* Astronomical Events
* Planetary/Lunar Exploration Missions
* Web Sites of Interest
* Acknowledgments and References
* Subscription Information

The Month At-A-Glance at http://www.ki0ar.com/ataglance.html
A calendar displaying the daily astronomical events.

The Moon

Phases:
* Full Moon occurs on the 5th.
* Last Quarter Moon occurs on the 12th.
* New Moon occurs on the 20th.
* First Quarter Moon occurs on the 28th.


* The Moon is at Perigee on the 5th, 221,802 miles from Earth.
* The Moon is at Apogee on the 19th, 252,555 miles from Earth.


Moon/Planet Pairs:
* The Moon passes 8° south of Mars on the 1st.
* The Moon passes 6° south of Saturn on the 4th.
* The Moon passes 0.9° south of Pluto on the 9th.
* The Moon passes 6° north of Neptune on the 13th.
* The Moon passes 0.8° south of asteroid Pallas on the 15th.
* The Moon passes 6° north of Uranus on the 16th.
* The Moon passes 5° south of Venus on the 22nd.
* The Moon passes 7° south of Mars on the 29th.

For reference: The Full Moon subtends an angle of 0.5°.

The Planets & Dwarf Planets
Planetary Reports are generated by "TheSky" software. (http://www.ki0ar.com/planrpts.html) These reports provide predicted data for the planets on the first of each month for the current year. The rise and set times for the Sun and the Moon for each day of the month are also included in the reports. These reports have been optimized for the Denver, Colorado location, however, the times will be approximate for other locations on Earth.

(All times are local unless otherwise noted.)

* Planetary Highlights for May - Three of the four bright planets are visible in the evening sky this month, Venus, Mars and Saturn. You can't miss Venus as it now begins its descent towards the western horizon. Neptune and Uranus are visible in the early morning sky before sunrise. The Eta Aquarids meteor show peaks early in the month. And as a special treat for observers in southeast Asia and the southwest US, an annular solar eclipse occurs on the 20th. 

* Mercury - Is in superior conjunction on the 27th. Look for Mercury during the first two weeks of May with a good pair of binoculars very low on the eastern horizon about 30 minutes before sunrise. Mercury rises at 5:13 a.m. on the 1st and sets about 8:59 p.m. by month's end. Mercury moves from the constellation of Pisces into Taurus shining at magnitude -0.1.

* Venus - Is stationary on the 15th. Venus sets at 11:24 p.m. on the 1st and about 8:54 p.m. by month's end. Venus is easy to spot in the early evening sky in the west all month. Venus is in the constellation of Taurus shining at magnitude -4.6.

* Earth - N/A.

* Mars - Sets at 3:35 a.m. on the 1st and about 1:51 a.m. by month's end. Look towards the east to spot the Red Planet soon after sunset. Mars is in the constellation of Leo shining at magnitude 0.2.

* Jupiter - Is in conjunction with the Sun on the 13th. Jupiter is not visible this month. Jupiter will return to the morning sky in June. Jupiter moves from the constellation of Aries into Taurus this month.

* Saturn - Rises at 6:16 p.m. on the 1st and about 4:06 p.m. by month's end. Look for Saturn in the east soon after sunset. Saturn is in the constellation of Virgo shining at magnitude 0.4.

* Uranus - Rises at 4:37 a.m. on the 1st and about 2:38 a.m. by month's end. Uranus should be easier to spot now that it rises well before the Sun. Uranus moves from the constellation of Pisces into Cetus shining at magnitude 5.9.

* Neptune - Rises at 3:15 a.m. on the 1st and about 1:14 a.m. by month's end. Neptune can be spotted in the early morning hours before sunrise. Neptune is in the constellation of Aquarius shining at magnitude 7.9. 

Dwarf Planets
* Ceres - Is lost in the morning twilight glow and is not visible this month. Ceres moves from the constellation of Cetus into Aries.

* Pluto - Rises at 12:01 a.m. on the 1st and about 9:57 p.m. by month's end. Pluto is in the constellation of Sagittarius shining at magnitude 14.0.

As always, good luck at spotting these two, a large telescope and dark skies will be needed.

Astronomical Events

Meteor Showers
* The Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower - This shower is visible during the period of April 21 to May 12. It reaches maximum on May 5. During the period of greatest activity hourly rates usually reach 20 for observers in the northern hemisphere and 50 for observers in the southern hemisphere.

* For more information about Meteor Showers, visit Gary Kronk's Meteor Showers Online web page at http://meteorshowersonline.com/.

Comets
* Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd dims from 9th to 10th magnitude. Comet Garradd passes from the constellation of Lynx into Cancer this month. This is a sparsely populated region of stars, so spotting Comet Garradd should be relatively easy under dark sky conditions even with a 4-inch telescope.

* For information, orbital elements and ephemerides on observable comets visit the Observable Comets page from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/index.html).

* For more information about Comets, visit Gary Kronk's Cometography.com web page at http://cometography.com/.

Eclipses
* An annular solar eclipse occurs over areas of China, Japan and the southwestern United States on May 20th. For more information on the path of the eclipse and times, visit http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2012May20Agoogle.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_20,_2012.


Stage
Times (UTC)
Date
Times (MDT)
Date
(P1) Partial begin
20:56:07
05/20
14:56:07
05/20
(U1) Total begin
22:06:17
05/20
16:06:17
05/20
Greatest eclipse
23:53:54
05/20
17:53:54
05/20
(U4) Total end
01:39:11
05/21
19:39:11
05/20
(P4) Partial end
02:49:21
05/21
20:49:21
05/20








Observational Opportunities
* Catch Venus as it begins its descent towards the western horizon as the month progresses.
* Watch Mars and Saturn as they continue their climb into the early evening skies.
* The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on the morning of the 5th.
* An Annular solar eclipse occurs on the 20th.

Asteroids (From west to east)
* Astraea is in the constellation of Leo.
* Iris is at opposition on the 4th in the constellation of Libra.
* Juno is at opposition on the 19th in the constellation of Serpens Cauda.

* Information about the Minor Planets can be found at http://www.minorplanetobserver.com the Minor Planet Observer web site.

Occultations
* Information on various occultations can be found at http://lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm , the International Occultation Timing Association's (IOTA) web site.
Planetary/Lunar Exploration Missions
(Excerpts from recent mission updates)

* Cassini - April 26, 2012
Cassini Finds Saturn Moon Has Planet-Like Qualities

"PASADENA, Calif. -- Data from NASA's Cassini mission reveal Saturn's moon Phoebe has more planet-like qualities than previously thought.

Scientists had their first close-up look at Phoebe when Cassini began exploring the Saturn system in 2004. Using data from multiple spacecraft instruments and a computer model of the moon's chemistry, geophysics and geology, scientists found Phoebe was a so-called planetesimal, or remnant planetary building block. The findings appear in the April issue of the Journal Icarus.

"Unlike primitive bodies such as comets, Phoebe appears to have actively evolved for a time before it stalled out," said Julie Castillo-Rogez, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Objects like Phoebe are thought to have condensed very quickly. Hence, they represent building blocks of planets. They give scientists clues about what conditions were like around the time of the birth of planets and their moons."

Cassini images suggest Phoebe originated in the far-off Kuiper Belt, the region of ancient, icy, rocky bodies beyond Neptune's orbit. Data show Phoebe was spherical and hot early in its history, and has denser rock-rich material concentrated near its center. Its average density is about the same as Pluto, another object in the Kuiper Belt. Phoebe likely was captured by Saturn's gravity when it somehow got close to the giant planet."

Cassini Imaging Team's website - http://ciclops.org.

For the latest mission status reports, visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm. The speed and location of the spacecraft can be viewed on the "Present Position" web page.
(http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/present-position.cfm)

* New Horizons - March 07, 2012
New Horizons Stamp Drive Completes a 10K - and Keeps Going!

"As fast as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is heading toward Pluto, the drive to honor this historic exploration of the ninth planet is speeding toward its finish. Less than a week remains to put your name on the petition supporting an effort for the U.S. Postal Service to commemorate Pluto and New Horizons on a postage stamp.

In just over a month since the drive was announced, more than 10,000 people have signed the online petition. But mission leads would like to have many more signatures before they close out the list on March 13 - the 82nd anniversary of the announcement of Pluto's discovery by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh."

Find New Horizons in the iTunes App Store here. (http://itunes.com/apps/newhorizonsanasavoyagetopluto)

New Horizons gallery http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/.

For more information on the New Horizons mission - the first mission to the ninth planet - visit the New Horizons home page: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/.

* Dawn - April 25, 2012
Dawn Reveals Secrets of Giant Asteroid Vesta

"PASADENA, Calif. – Findings from NASA's Dawn spacecraft reveal new details about the giant asteroid Vesta, including its varied surface composition, sharp temperature changes and clues to its internal structure. The findings were presented today at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna, Austria, and will help scientists better understand the early solar system and processes that dominated its formation.

Images from Dawn's framing camera and visible and infrared mapping spectrometer, taken 420 miles (680 kilometers) and 130 miles (210 kilometers) above the surface of the asteroid, show a variety of surface mineral and rock patterns. Coded false-color images help scientists better understand Vesta's composition and enable them to identify material that was once molten below the asteroid's surface.

Researchers also see breccias, which are rocks fused during impacts from space debris. Many of the materials seen by Dawn are composed of iron- and magnesium-rich minerals, which often are found in Earth's volcanic rocks. Images also reveal smooth pond-like deposits, which might have formed as fine dust created during impacts settled into low regions."

A gallery of images can be found online at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/multimedia/gallery-index.html.

For more information on the Dawn mission, visit the Dawn home page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/main/index.html.

* MESSENGER - April 26, 2012
Dr. Seuss, Alvin Ailey among the Names Selected for 23 Mercury Craters

"The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recently approved a proposal from the MESSENGER Science Team to assign 23 new names to impact craters on Mercury. The IAU has been the arbiter of planetary and satellite nomenclature since its inception in 1919. In keeping with the established naming theme for craters on Mercury, all of the newly designated features are named after famous deceased artists, musicians, or authors."

The new app is available for download at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/messenger-nasas-mission-to/id510144229?ls=1&mt=8.

For more information on the MESSENGER mission, visit the MESSENGER home page: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/.


* Pack Your Backpack
Calling all explorers! Tour JPL with our new Virtual Field Trip site. Stops include Mission Control and the Rover Lab. Your guided tour starts when you select a "face" that will be yours throughout the visit. Cool space images and souvenirs are all included in your visit.
+ http://virtualfieldtrip.jpl.nasa.gov/ 
* Past, Present, Future and Proposed JPL Missions - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions.

* For special JPL programs and presentations in your area visit the JPL Solar System Ambassador web site at http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/index.html.

Mars Missions

* JMARS - https://jmars.mars.asu.edu/
JMARS is an acronym that stands for Java Mission-planning and Analysis for Remote Sensing. It is a geospatial information system (GIS) developed by ASU's Mars Space Flight Facility to provide mission planning and data-analysis tools to NASA's orbiters, instrument team members, students of all ages, and the general public.

* Mars Science Laboratory - April 27, 2012
100 Days and Counting to NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Landing

"At 10:31 p.m. PDT today, April 27, (1:31 p.m. EDT), NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, carrying the one-ton Curiosity rover, will be within 100 days from its appointment with the Martian surface. At that moment, the mission has about 119 million miles (191 million kilometers) to go and is closing at a speed of 13,000 mph (21,000 kilometers per hour).

"Every day is one day closer to the most challenging part of this mission," said Pete Theisinger, Mars Science Laboratory project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Landing an SUV-sized vehicle next to the side of a mountain 85 million miles from home is always stimulating. Our engineering and science teams continue their preparations for that big day and the surface operations to follow."

On Sunday, April 22, a week-long operational readiness test concluded at JPL. The test simulated aspects of the mission's early surface operations. Mission planners and engineers sent some of the same commands they will send to the real Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars to a test rover used at JPL."

Visit the Mars Science Laboratory page at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl.

* Mars Exploration Rover Mission (Spirit and Opportunity) - April 25, 2012

SPIRIT UPDATE: Spirit Remains Silent at Troy - sols 2621-2627, May 18-24, 2011:

"No communication has been received from Spirit since Sol 2210 (March 22, 2010).

More than 1,300 commands were radiated to Spirit as part of the recovery effort in an attempt to elicit a response from the rover. No communication has been received from Spirit since Sol 2210 (March 22, 2010). The project concluded the Spirit recovery efforts on May 25, 2011. The remaining, pre-sequenced ultra-high frequency (UHF) relay passes scheduled for Spirit on board the Odyssey orbiter will complete on June 8, 2011.

Total odometry is unchanged at 7,730.50 meters (4.80 miles)."

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Studies of 'Amboy' Rock Continue as Solar Energy Improves - sols 2927-2934, April 18-25, 2012:

"Opportunity is positioned on the north end of Cape York on the rim of Endeavour Crater with an approximate 15-degree northerly tilt for favorable solar energy production.

The solar insolation is improving and the rover has benefitted from some small, dust cleaning events. Radio Doppler tracking passes for the geo-dynamic investigation were performed on Sols 2927, 2931 and 2933 (April 18, 22 and 24, 2012).

The project is also continuing the regular campaign of Microscopic Imager mosaics of the extended region of the rock target "Amboy," followed by Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer measurements of the imaged area. These measurements were performed on Sols 2929, 2931 and 2933 (April 20, 22 and 24, 2012). More dust cleaning events have occurred, improving the solar array dust factor by small amounts.

As of Sol 2934 (April 25, 2012), solar array energy production was 366 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (Tau) of 0.521 and an improved solar array dust factor of 0.546.

Total odometry is unchanged at 21.35 miles (34,361.37 meters)."

Landing sites link - http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/ 

Visit the Mars Exploration Rover page at
 http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html.

* Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission - April 04, 2012
12-Mile-High Martian Dust Devil Caught in Act

"A Martian dust devil roughly 12 miles high (20 kilometers) was captured whirling its way along the Amazonis Planitia region of Northern Mars on March 14. It was imaged by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Despite its height, the plume is little more than three-quarters of a football field wide (70 yards, or 70 meters).

Mars' Whirling Dust Devil Video:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=139018061http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=139018061 

Dust devils occur on Earth as well as on Mars. They are spinning columns of air, made visible by the dust they pull off the ground. Unlike a tornado, a dust devil typically forms on a clear day when the ground is heated by the sun, warming the air just above the ground. As heated air near the surface rises quickly through a small pocket of cooler air above it, the air may begin to rotate, if conditions are just right.

The image was taken during late northern spring, two weeks short of the northern summer solstice, a time when the ground in the northern mid-latitudes is being heated most strongly by the sun."

MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER HIRISE IMAGES

All of the HiRISE images are archived here:
http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/.

More information about the MRO mission is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/mro.

* Mars Odyssey Orbiter - February 29, 2012
Camera On NASA Mars Odyssey Tops Decade Of Discovery

"Ten years ago, on Feb. 19, 2002, the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), a multi-band camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, began scientific operations at the Red Planet. Since then the camera has circled Mars nearly 45,000 times and taken more than half a million images at infrared and visible wavelengths.
"THEMIS has proven itself a workhorse," said Philip Christensen of Arizona State University, Tempe, the camera's principal investigator and designer. "It's especially gratifying to me to see the range of discoveries that have been made using this instrument."

Highlights of science results by THEMIS over the past 10 years include:

Confirming a mineral exposure selected as the landing site for NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity
Discovering carbon-dioxide gas jets at the south polar ice cap in spring
Discovering chloride salt deposits across the planet
Making the best global image map of Mars ever done
Identifying safe landing sites landing sites for NASA's Mars Phoenix lander by finding the locations with the fewest hazardous boulders
Monitoring dust activity in the Martian atmosphere
Discovering that a large crater, Aram Chaos, once contained a lake
Discovering that Mars has more water-carved channels than previously thought
Discovering dacite on Mars, a more evolved form of volcanic lava not previously known on the Red Planet

THEMIS combines a five-wavelength visual imaging system with a nine-wavelength infrared imaging system. By comparing daytime and nighttime infrared images of an area, scientists can determine many of the physical properties of the rocks and soils on the ground.

Mars Odyssey has a two-hour orbit that is nearly "sun-synchronous," meaning that Odyssey passes over the same part of Mars at roughly the same local time each day. In September 2008 its orbit was shifted toward an earlier time of day, which enhanced THEMIS' mineralogical detection capability.

Says Christensen, "Both Odyssey and THEMIS are in excellent health and we look forward to years more science with them."

NASA launched the Mars Odyssey spacecraft April 7, 2001. Odyssey arrived at Mars Oct. 24, 2001. After arrival the spacecraft spent several months in a technique called aerobraking, which involved dipping into the Martian atmosphere to adjust its orbit. In February 2002, science operations began."

Global Martian Map: http://www.mars.asu.edu/maps/?layer=thm_dayir_100m_v11.

"A simulated fly-through using the newly assembled imagery is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/missions/odyssey/20060313.html.

The fly-through plus tools for wandering across and zooming into the large image are at http://themis.asu.edu/."

DAILY MARS ODYSSEY THEMIS IMAGES
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) web site: (http://themis.asu.edu/gallery)

The Odyssey data are available through a new online access system established by the Planetary Data System at: http://starbrite.jpl.nasa.gov/pds/ 

Visit the Mars Odyssey Mission page at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/odyssey/index.html.

* Mars Missions Status - New Mars missions are being planned to include several new rover and sample collection missions. Check out the Mars Missions web page: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ and the Mars Exploration page: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Links and Other Space News
(If you have a link you would like to recommend to our readers, please feel free to submit it.)

* "TheSky" Software - http://www.bisque.com - Astronomy software by Software Bisque.

* A Short Guide to Celestial Navigation - http://www.celnav.de/ - Celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects − sun, moon, planets, or stars.

* Astrogirl Homepage - http://www.astrogirl.org - Family-friendly educational astronomy website.

* Astronomical Lexicon - http://www.ki0ar.com/astrolex.html - Many of the astronomical terms used in this newsletter are defined here.

* Astronomy Picture of the Day - http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html - A different picture of the cosmos every day.

* Black Hole Encyclopedia - http://blackholes.stardate.org/ - Excellent site from StarDate - University of Texas McDonald Observatory (http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/)

* Celestron Telescopes - http://www.celestron.com/ - Celestron telescopes.

* Cloudbait Observatory, Guffey Colorado - http://www.cloudbait.com - Submit your fireball reports here. Interesting, knowledgeable site.

* The Constellations and Their Stars - http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations.html - Good site for finding out more about the 88 constellations and their associated stars.

* Denver Astronomical Society - http://www.denverastrosociety.org - Promotes the enjoyment and understanding of astronomical phenomena, history and lore by providing educational and observing opportunities for our members, general public, and outreach activities at the University of Denver's historic Chamberlin Observatory, schools, and nature centers.

* Distant Suns - http://www.distantsuns.com/ - Desktop Astronomy package for PCs.

* Green Laser - http://www.greenlaser.com - If you're looking for a reasonably priced laser pointer that is great for astronomy work, visit this site.

* Groovy Adventures - http://www.groovyadventures.com - Unique adventures and vacations including astronomy related vacations.

* Heavens Above - http://www.heavens-above.com - As the name implies - What's up in the heavens, particularly satellite passes.

* The International Dark-Sky Association - http://www.darksky.org - To preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies.

* JPL Solar System Ambassador Program - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/front.html - "Volunteers Bringing the Solar System to the Public"

* JPL Solar System - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/ - Jet Propulsion Laboratory information on our solar system.

* Meade Advanced Products Users Group - http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/ - Mapug-Astronomy Topical Archive & information resource, containing a massive 335 page archive of discussions about Meade equipment, and much more: observatories, observing lists, permanent piers, equatorial wedges, remote operations, software, eyepieces, etc.

* My Stars Live - http://www.mystarslive.com/ - Interactive Star Chart

* NASA Science News - http://science.nasa.gov/ - NASA missions, updates, astronomy news, excellent resource.

* Northern Colorado Astronomical Society - http://ncastro.org/ - The purpose of our organization is to encourage the understanding & interest in the science & hobby of astronomy.

* Sangre Stargazers - http://sangrestargazers.skymtn.com/ - New astronomy club in the Wet Mountain Valley of Custer County (about 45 miles due west of Pueblo, CO).

* Sky and Space - http://www.skyandspace.com.au/public/home.ehtml 
Astronomy from Down Under - The Southern Hemisphere's first astronomy and space magazine.
 
* Skymaps.com - http://www.skymaps.com - Free sky maps each month.

* Skywatch Sightings from NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ - This site gives you the best times to watch the ISS pass over or near your location.

* Southern Colorado Astronomical Society - http://www.scasastronomy.info/ - Site under construction.

* Space.com - http://space.com - Interesting space and astronomy articles.

* SpaceLinks/Space Careers - http://www.spacelinks.com/SpaceCareers/ - SPACELINKS is a specialist staffing consultancy sourcing and supplying high caliber professionals for a wide range of world class organizations in the Space and Defense industry.

* Spaceflight Now - http://spaceflightnow.com/ - Launches and satellite news.

* "SpaceRef.com" - http://www.spaceref.com/ - SpaceRef's 21 news and reference web sites are designed to allow both the novice and specialist alike to explore outer space and Earth observation.

* Space Weather - http://www.spaceweather.com - Check out what the Sun is doing as seen from space.

* Stellarium - http://www.stellarium.org - Free, downloadable planetarium/astronomy software.

* Universe Today - http://www.universetoday.com - Short, interesting articles about space and related topics.

* Wikisky - http://www.wikisky.org - WIKISKY is a non-commercial project. The main purpose of WIKISKY is to consolidate astronomical, astrophysical and other information about different space objects and astrophysical facts.

Acknowledgments and References

Much of the information in this newsletter is from "Astronomy Magazine" (Kalmbach Publishing), JPL mission status reports, "Meteor Showers - A Descriptive Catalog" by Gary W. Kronk and other astronomical sources that I have stashed on my book shelves.

The author will accept any suggestions, constructive criticisms, and corrections. Please feel free to send me any new links or articles to share as well. I will try to accommodate any reasonable requests. Please feel free to send questions, comments, criticisms, or donations to the email address listed below. Enjoy!

Subscription Information

- Email Newsletter archives -
 http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/ 

- Full documentation of the online administration system is available at http://ki0ar.com/mailman/listinfo/astronews_ki0ar.com.

- The latest version of the newsletter is accessible from http://www.ki0ar.com/astro.html.

Keep looking UP!
73 from KI0AR

Created by Burness F. Ansell, III
ki0ar at yahoo.com

COO, Director of Aerospace Technologies, IAAS
JPL Solar System Ambassador, Colorado
Last modified: April 30, 2012

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 33848 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_1.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 83268 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0001.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0002.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_2.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 23584 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0002.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0003.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_3.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 17985 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0003.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0004.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_4.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 38738 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0004.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0005.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_5.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 47188 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0005.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0006.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_6.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 38474 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0006.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0007.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_7.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 79979 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0007.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0008.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_8.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 63326 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0008.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0009.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_9.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 69993 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0009.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0010.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_10.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 54544 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0010.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0011.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_11.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 27658 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0011.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0012.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_12.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 51505 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0012.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0013.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_13.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 19597 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0013.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0014.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_14.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 35662 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0014.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0015.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_15.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 37000 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0015.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0016.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_16.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 46383 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0016.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0017.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_17.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 33803 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0017.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0018.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_18.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 20008 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0018.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0019.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_19.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 48796 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0019.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0020.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_20.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 79613 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0020.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0021.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_21.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 21430 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0021.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0022.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_22.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 13512 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0022.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0023.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_23.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 86036 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0023.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0024.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_24.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 20036 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0024.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0025.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_25.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 82166 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0025.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0026.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: pastedGraphic_26.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 25821 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0026.pdf>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ki0ar.com/pipermail/astronews_ki0ar.com/attachments/20120429/5a392466/attachment-0027.htm>