Like Painting with Light | Gemini Observatory

Like Painting with Light | Gemini Observatory

Gemini North, one half of the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab, uses a laser beam traveling through Earth’s atmosphere to adjust its adaptive optics. Like many large research telescopes today, Gemini North uses adaptive optics—bending its mirrors to compensate for atmospheric turbulence or “seeing”, which can blur the images of distant objects like stars and galaxies.

The laser beam, seen here as a pink-orange stripe on the sky, travels into the upper atmosphere where it creates a bright spot of light that provides a reference point for the telescope to follow, and correct for, the atmospheric turbulence. This long-exposure photograph shows the laser tracking its target near the zenith, appearing to paint the sky with light. The stars appear as trails as they revolve around the north celestial pole during the long exposure.

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)/National Science Foundation (NSF)/Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)/J. Chu

Release Date: May 2, 2022

#NASA #Gemini #GeminiNorth #Astronomy #Space #Earth #Planet #Atmosphere #Science #Laser #AdaptiveOptics #Stars #Cosmos #Universe #Telescopes #Optical #Observatory #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #Maunakea #Hawaii #UnitedStates #Astrophotography #Timelapse #STEM #Education

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun | NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun | NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on April 30, 2022, peaking at 9:47 a.m. EDT. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which watches the Sun constantly, captured an image of the event. This image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red.

A red Sun, with a golden flare bursting from the top right.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.    

This flare is classified as an X-class flare. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength. More info on how flares are classified can be found here.

To see how such space weather may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center https://spaceweather.gov, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts. 

NASA works as a research arm of the nation’s space weather effort. NASA observes the Sun and our space environment constantly with a fleet of spacecraft that study everything from the Sun’s activity to the solar atmosphere, and to the particles and magnetic fields in the space surrounding Earth.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Image/Video Capture Date: April 30, 2022

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #SpaceWeather #Sun #Star #Solar #SolarFlare #X1Flare #Ultraviolet #Science #Plasma #MagneticField #Astrophysics #Physics #Spacecraft #Satellite #SDO #Goddard #GSFC #Greenbelt #Maryland #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Partial Solar Eclipse over Argentina

Partial Solar Eclipse over Argentina

Two days ago, parts of South America were treated to a partial solar eclipse—where the Moon blocked out part of the Sun. This is an image of the partially eclipsed Sun through clouds as it was setting over Patagonia, Argentina. In this tilted view, Earth is toward the right. During the eclipse, the Moon moved partly between Earth and the Sun. Although a visually impressive sight, the slight dimming of surroundings during this partial eclipse was less noticeable than dimming created by a thick cloud. In about two weeks, all of South America and part of North America will experience a total lunar eclipse—where the Earth moves completely between the Moon and the Sun. In about two years, a total solar eclipse will cross North America.

Learn more about the total solar eclipse in 2024:

https://eclipse.aas.org/eclipse-america-2024

Image Credit & Copyright: Aixa Andrada

Follow Aixa on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/aixandrada

Image Date: April 30, 2022

Release Date: May 2, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Sun #Moon #Earth #Eclipse #PartialEclipse #SolarEclipse #Science #Physics #Astrophotography #Patagonia #Argentina #SouthAmerica #STEM #Education #APoD

Hubble Sees Double in Spiral Galaxy M99

Hubble Sees Double in Spiral Galaxy M99

The magnificent spiral galaxy M99 fills the frame in this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. M99—which lies roughly 42 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices—is a “grand design” spiral galaxy, so-called because of the well-defined, prominent spiral arms visible in this image. M99 was captured by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 on two separate occasions, helping astronomers study two entirely different astronomical phenomena. 

The first set of observations aimed to explore a gap between two different varieties of cosmic explosions; novae and supernovae. Novae, which are caused by the interactions between white dwarfs and larger stars in binary systems, are far less bright than the supernovae which mark the catastrophically violent deaths of massive stars. However, current astronomical theories predict that sudden, fleeting events could occur that shine with brightnesses between those of novae and supernovae. Despite being described by astronomers as being shrouded in mystery and controversy, just such an event was observed in M99. Astronomers turned to Hubble’s keen vision to take a closer look and precisely locate the fading source.

The second set of observations were part of a large Hubble project which aims to chart the connections between young stars and the clouds of cold gas from which they form. Hubble inspected 38 nearby galaxies, identifying clusters of hot, young stars. These galaxies were also observed by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a colossal radio telescope consisting of 66 individual dishes perched high in the Chilean Andes. The combination of Hubble’s observations of young stars and ALMA’s insight into clouds of cold gas will allow astronomers to delve into the details of star formation, and paves the way for future science with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope. 

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Kasliwal, J. Lee and the PHANGS-HST Team

Release Date: May 2, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Hubble #Galaxy #M99 #Spiral #ComaBerenices #Constellation #Science #Cosmos #Universe #Telescope #ESA #Goddard #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Purple Haze in the NGC 3627 Galaxy | European Southern Observatory

Purple Haze in the NGC 3627 Galaxy | European Southern Observatory

This Picture of the Week showcases the impressive NGC 3627 galaxy, also known as Messier 66, located approximately 31 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. The image was taken with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. But why does it have these unusual colors?

This image is a combination of observations conducted in different wavelengths of light. However, rather than seeing the stars in this galaxy, as in more classical images, what this image displays is gas ionized by newly-born stars, with hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur shown in red, blue and orange respectively. 

The image was taken as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, which is using telescopes operating across all wavelengths to make high-resolution observations of nearby galaxies. The goal of the project is to better understand what triggers, boosts or holds back the formation of new stars in different environments.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/PHANGS

Release Date: May 2, 2022

#ESO #Astronomy #Space #NGC3627 #Messier66 #Galaxy #Leo #Stars #MUSE #VLT #Telescope #PHANGS #Cosmos #Universe #Atacama #Desert #Chile #Europe #Astrophotography #STEM #Education

What's on the Menu? Food and Culture on the International Space Station | NASA

What's on the Menu? Food and Culture on the International Space Station | NASA

In honor of Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month, learn about the intersection of food and culture in space from NASA astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams, whose father immigrated to the U.S. from India, and International Space Station (ISS) food scientist/system manager Xulei Wu, a first-generation Asian American born in China.

Hear their stories about cultural representation in space, the importance of food in Indian and Chinese cultures, and the inclusive standard menu aboard the ISS. What's one dish you would like to see aboard? 

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Producer/Editor: Lacey Young

Art Director: Mark Hailey

Music: Universal Production Music

Duration: 2 minutes, 33 seconds

Release Date: May 1, 2022

#NASA #ISS #Earth #Science #Astronauts #Astronaut #SunitaWilliams #XuleiWu #Food #Menu #Culture #AANHPI  #AANHPIM #Indian #India #Bhārat #Gaṇarājya #AsianAmerican #Chinese #China #中国 #Asia #Pacific #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Inspires Washington, DC Area Students

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Inspires Washington, DC Area Students

NASA astronaut Victor Glover talks with young students at an educational event, Thursday, April 28, 2022, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Glover discussed his career as an astronaut, his 2021 mission to the International Space Station, and future NASA Artemis Missions to the Moon. Glover most recently served as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience, which landed after a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station, May 2, 2021. Glover served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64. He contributed to many things while aboard the station including scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, growing crops, and taking hundreds of pictures of Earth. He completed 168 days in orbit and participated in four spacewalks.

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Official Biography

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/victor-j-glover

https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/victor-j-glover/biography

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/glover-vj.pdf

Through Artemis, NASA aims to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, heralding a new era for space exploration and utilization. The NASA-led Artemis program is a new generation of lunar exploration missions designed to send humans farther into space than ever before. The Artemis missions are increasingly complex endeavours that will lay the foundation for sustainable human and robotic exploration of Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon.

NASA's Artemis Program:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis

National Museum of African American History and Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu

Image Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Capture Date: April 28, 2022

#NASA #Space #Artemis #Moon #ISS #SpaceX #Crew1 #Astronaut #VictorGlover #Pilot #Aviator #Engineer #Leader #USNavy #HumanSpaceflight #Expedition64 #AfricanAmerican #Washington #UnitedStates #JSC #Houston #Texas #STEM #Education

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover: New April 30, 2022 Images | JPL

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover: New April 30, 2022 Images | JPL

This week, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has been using its Mastcam to image “Blackcraig”, “Maringma” and “Deepdale” buttes as it continues its ascent up Mount Sharp in Gale Crater. Buttes can be described as isolated hills with steep sides and flat tops. Mount Sharp, officially Aeolis Mons, is a mountain on Mars. It forms the central peak within Gale Crater. 

MSL - Sol 3456 - Mastcam

MSL - Sol 3456 - Mastcam

MSL - Sol 3459 - MAHLI

MSL - Sol 3458 - Mastcam

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers.

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life. 

Launch: November 6, 2011

Landing: August 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

For more about Curiosity: 

https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/home/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-science-laboratory-curiosity-rover-msl

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech / MSSS / Kevin M. Gill

Release Date: April 30, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #MountSharp #GaleCrater #Curiosity #Rover #Robotics #Technology #JPL #Pasadena #California #UnitedStates #JourneyToMars #STEM #Education

Orbital Sunset & Northrop Grumman Cygnus | International Space Station

Orbital Sunset & Northrop Grumman Cygnus | International Space Station

The Cygnus space freighter (left) from Northrop Grumman, with its prominent cymbal-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays, is pictured as the International Space Station flies into an orbital sunset 261 miles above the Pacific Ocean. At upper right, is a portion of the Rassvet mini-research module's docking port.

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Learn more about the important research being operated on the station: 

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. 

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Centre (JSC)

Image Date: April 8, 2022

#NASA #ISS #Sun #Star #Earth #Planet #Atmosphere #Science #Sunset #PacificOcean #Pacific #Ocean #EarthObservation #Astronaut #Expedition67 #Technology #NorthropGrumman #Cygnus #Spacecraft #Cargo #Commercial #Photography #JSC #OverviewEffect #OrbitalPerspective #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis Space Exploration Suppliers | Northrop Grumman

NASA Artemis Space Exploration Suppliers | Northrop Grumman

"America’s return to the Moon and venture into deep space begins on factory floors across the nation. American supplier companies are working diligently to support NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, Exploration Ground Systems, and Gateway as the Artemis program prepares to send the first woman and person of color to the lunar surface."

Credit: Northrop Grumman

Duration: 2 minutes, 57 seconds

Release Date: April 22, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #NorthropGrumman #Astronauts #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Rocket #Orion #Spacecraft #SLS #DeepSpace #Astronauts #Mars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #SolarSystem #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Tonight's Sky: May 2022

Tonight's Sky: May 2022

In May 2022, we are looking away from the crowded, dusty plane of our own galaxy toward a region where the sky is brimming with distant galaxies. Locate Virgo to find a concentration of roughly 2,000 galaxies and search for Coma Berenices to identify many more. Keep watching for space-based views of galaxies like the Sombrero Galaxy, M87, and M64.

About this Series

“Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning.

Credit: Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)

Duration: 5 minute, 26 seconds

Release Date: April 29, 2022

#NASA #Astronomy #Hubble #Space #Science #Earth #Stars #UrsaMajor #BigDipper #Arcturus #Spica #Virgo #Sombrero #Cluster #M87 #ComaBernices #CanesVenatici #M64 #M51 #Whirlpool #Spiral #Galaxy #MilkyWay #Planets #SolarSystem #Skywatching #STEM #Education #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #HD #Video

What's Up for May 2022? | Skywatching Tips from NASA/JPL

What's Up for May 2022? | Skywatching Tips from NASA/JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in May 2022?

May provides some great planet spotting, including a close conjunction of Jupiter and Mars. At mid-month, a total eclipse of the Moon should delight skywatchers across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. And all month long, the Coma star cluster (aka, the Coma Berenices star cluster, or Melotte 111) is a great target for binoculars in the evening.

0:00 Intro

0:11 Planet-spotting opportunities

1:02 Lunar eclipse

2:27 The Coma star cluster

3:33 May Moon phases

Credit: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

Duration: 3 minutes, 54 seconds

Release Date: April 29, 2022

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Skywatching #Earth #Moon #LunarEclipse #Planets #Jupiter #Mars #ComaBerenices #StarCluster #Stars #Constellations #MilkyWay #Galaxy #JPL #Pasadena #California #UnitedStates #Canada #Mexico #NorthernHemisphere #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Sunrise Above Pacific Ocean | International Space Station

Sunrise Above Pacific Ocean | International Space Station

The International Space Station orbits into a sunrise above the Pacific Ocean. The International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm (at left) and one of its main solar arrays (at right) are pictured while the spacecraft orbited into a sunrise 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the  International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.

Learn more about the important research being operated on the station: 

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 

For more information about STEM on Station: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. 

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Centre (JSC)

Image Date: April 21, 2022

#NASA #ISS #Earth #Planet #Atmosphere #Science #PacificOcean #Pacific #Ocean #EarthObservation #Astronaut #Expedition67 #Technology #Robotics #Canadarm2 #CSA #MDA #Photography #JSC #OverviewEffect #OrbitalPerspective #STEM #Education

NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover: New April 28-29, 2022 Images | JPL

NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover: New April 28-29, 2022 Images | JPL

Mars20202 - Sol 422 - Mastcam-Z

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Kevin M. Gill

Mars2020 - Sol 422 - Mastcam-Z

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Kevin M. Gill

Mars2020 - Sol 422 - Mastcam-Z

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/Kevin M. Gill

MSL - Sol 3456 - Mastcam 

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

After collecting eight rock-core samples from its first science campaign and completing a record-breaking, 31-Martian-day (or sol) dash across about 3 miles (5 kilometers) of Mars, NASA’s Perseverance rover arrived at the doorstep of Jezero Crater’s ancient river delta April 13. Dubbed “Three Forks” by the Perseverance team (a reference to the spot where three route options to the delta merge), the location serves as the staging area for the rover’s second science expedition, the “Delta Front Campaign.”

“The delta at Jezero Crater promises to be a veritable geologic feast and one of the best locations on Mars to look for signs of past microscopic life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “The answers are out there—and Team Perseverance is ready to find them.”

The delta, a massive fan-shaped collection of rocks and sediment at the western edge of Jezero Crater, formed at the convergence of a Martian river and a crater lake billions of years ago. Its exploration tops the Perseverance science team’s wish list because all the fine-grained sediment deposited at its base long ago is the mission’s best bet for finding the preserved remnants of ancient microbial life.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers.

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020    

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more about Perseverance: nasa.gov/perseverance

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Caption Credit: NASA/JPL

Image Dates: April 28-29, 2022

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #River #Delta #Astrobiology #Geology #Geoscience #Jezero #Crater #Perseverance #Rover #Robotics #Technology #JPL #Pasadena #California #UnitedStates #JourneyToMars #STEM #Education

A New Crew Launches to the International Space Station | This Week @NASA

A New Crew Launches to the International Space Station | This Week @NASA 

Week of April 29, 2022: A new crew launches to the International Space Station, another crew wraps up a historic mission to the station, and more time to explore for some planetary science missions . . . a few of the stories to tell you about—This Week at NASA!

Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: April 29, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #SpaceX #Crew4 #Astronauts #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Rocket #Orion #Spacecraft #SLS #DeepSpace #Astronauts #Mars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #SolarSystem #KSC #Kennedy #Florida #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

NASA Crew-4 Moon Rocket Dreams | Artemis I Launch Pad Tour

NASA Crew-4 Moon Rocket Dreams | Artemis I Launch Pad Tour

Prior to their launch to the International Space Station this week, NASA's Crew-4—NASA astronauts Mission Commander Kjell Lindgren, Pilot Bob Hines, and Mission Specialist Jessica Watkins, and Mission Specialist Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA)—visit the Space Launch System (SLS) with Orion and the European Service Module (ESM) atop it, on the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States.

The first in a series of increasingly complex missions, Artemis I will be an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration, and demonstrate NASA's commitment and capability to extend human existence to the Moon and beyond.  It will travel 280,000 miles from Earth, thousands of miles beyond the Moon over the course of about a three-week mission. Orion will stay in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station and return home faster and hotter than ever before.

Learn more about Artemis I at:

NASA's Artemis Program:

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-1

Image Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

Image Date: April 19, 2022

#NASA #ESA #Space #SpaceX #Crew4 #Astronauts #Moon #Artemis #ArtemisI #Rocket #Orion #Spacecraft #SLS #DeepSpace #Astronauts #Mars #JourneyToMars #Science #Engineering #Technology #Exploration #SolarSystem #KSC #Kennedy #Florida #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education