Wednesday, August 06, 2014
Latest Images of Comet 67P from the arrival of Rosetta
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| Arrival image (screen capture) click to embiggen | close up of end of comet |
UPDATE: The high resolution images are at http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Highlights/Postcards_from_Rosetta
and more here http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Highlights/Closer_and_closer
Image of the neck jet here https://twitter.com/AwesomeAstroPod/status/496994108435877888/photo/1
Labels: 67P, comet, public outreach, space probe, spacecraft
Rosetta Arriving at comet 67P NOW!
The Livestream for the Rosetta comet orbiter and lander arriving at comet 67P is on mow, Australians may find the livefeed dropping out and in though.
Livefeed at http://rosetta.esa.int/
Also https://twitter.com/hashtag/RosettaAreWeThereYet?src=hash
Final correction burn under way, but no pictures yet.
Rosetta has arrived! https://twitter.com/nickthompson/status/496957205300928512/photo/1
Planetary society blog on the arrival http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/08060249-were-at-the-comet-rosetta.html
And now the ESA story, with more pictures and animation http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_arrives_at_comet_destination
Labels: comet, public outreach, space probe, spacecraft
Sunday, January 19, 2014
WAKE UP ROSETTA! The Rosetta Spacecraft Wakes up on Monday
Some spacecraft perform there missions flawlessly, some get to within a whisker of the mission and fail, every comet fan is crossing their fingers (or cultural equivalent), that Rosetta safely wakes up and completes the final leg of its 10 year flight to comet Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
A good article about the mission is here. Another at the Waiting for ISON blog. Source of the above image.
FOr Australians, "Wake Up Rosetta" echoes the Wiggles "WAKE UP JEFF".
Labels: space probe, spacecraft
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Chang'E Images Toutatis
Goldstone Radar also picked up some detailed images of the asteroid, have a look at the animation belwo for some awesomeness.
More information and links can be found at Emily Lakdawallah's Planetary Society blog.
My previous images and animation taken with iTelescope T5 are here.
Labels: asteroids, NEO, space probe
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Curiosity Parachutes to Mars, snapped by the MRO
Labels: Mars, space probe, spacecraft
Monday, August 06, 2012
There are Three Mars Rovers Hidden in this Picture; Can You Find Them?
The difference between this picture and the ones here and here, is that Curiosity is resting safely on the surface in Gale Crater.
Now Opportunity has another companion, which will trundle around for at least two years if all goes well (My title is wrong by the way, I forgot Sojourner, that makes 4. See this picture for all three generations. Hat tip to Stuart)
Watching the landing was an immense buzz, XKCD sums up today perfectly. (Yes, we landed a rover the size of a car on Mars using a SkyCrane! How cool is that! Antidote here)
Now we wait for the images and science results, the first images from the touchdown are here. I've put two of the best up below. More images coming at 18:00 UTC (that's 4 am AEST)
UPDATE: HiRISE has confirmed that they imaged Curiosity on its way down, pictures not released yet, they will be released at the 16:00 UTC press briefing.
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| Front right wheel via Hazcam showing Curiosity's shadow. Image credit JPL/NASA | Rear right wheel via Hazcam, everything is dusty from the landing kicking up dust. Image credit JPL/NASA |
Labels: Mars, space probe, spacecraft
Sunday, August 05, 2012
What will Earth Look Like from Curiosity's Landing Spot on Mars?
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| The morning sky on Mars from Curiosity's landing site at 3:30 UT, 2 hours before Curiosity lands (simulated in Stellarium; click to embiggen) | Location of Curiosity on Mars, courtesy of Mars24 (click to embiggen) |
In the morning sky, as seen from Curiosity's landing site, Earth, Venus and Mercury will form a straight line. On the day of landing Phobos will zip past the trio as dawn approaches.
Earth will be 3/4 gibbous a s seen from Mars, with Australia facing the Red Planet. Australia's Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex will play a vital role n communicating with the rover when it lands. Sometime after the landing Curiosity will start sending back images, the raw images can be seen here as they are uploaded.
For information on where you can watch the coverage of Curiosity's landing live (or as live as you get with an 8 minute light speed lag) see my previous post.
The map of the Curiosity landing site was from the Mars24 Mars clock application (hat tip to Emily Lakdawallah).
Labels: Mars, space probe, spacecraft
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Is this a Meteor in Titan's atmosphere
Image credit NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe bright steak on this image was originally thought to be a cosmic ray artefact, but is now being considered as a possible meteor in Titan's upper atmosphere (still trying to find confirmation of this, found via twitter).
Labels: Meteors, space probe
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The ESA Establishes Contact with Phobos Grunt (? 2011 WQ4)
The ESA reports that it has made contact with the errant Mars probe Phobos Grunt, (which failed to leave its parking orbit) this is also confirmed by the Russian Space Research Institute (see also here). Telemetry has been limited, but the transmitter was switched on and communication established. Apparently there is a normal power supply and communications are functioning properly.
It is too late to send Phobos Grunt to Mars, that launch window has closed, but it may be possible to send it to a nearby Phobos sized asteroid.
Still, to be confirmed, Peter Lake passes on the news that Near Earth Object 2011 WQ4 may be Phobos Grunt. Nah, false alarm.
It is too late to send Phobos Grunt to Mars, that launch window has closed, but it may be possible to send it to a nearby Phobos sized asteroid.
Labels: asteroids, Satellite, space probe, spacecraft
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hayabusa Falls to Earth
Hayabusa falls to Earth, panels from probably the most poignant cartoon about a space-probe since XKCD's spirit cartoon.Hayabusa, the little spacecraft that could, returned to earth on Sunday June 13. I've been following Hayabusa for some time, so it was a bit disappointing I forgot about its re-entry, but we were off bushwalking so I was distracted. The spacecraft itself was destroyed in the re-entry (and captured in the spectacular video below), but the asteroid sample return capsule was successfully retrieved and appears to be intact.
Whether there is any asteroidal material in the sampler is unknown, the projectile that was supposed to kick up material to be sampled didn't work, but asteroids are fairly dusty things, and the simple impact of the sampler tube make have captured some material. It will be a while before we know.
Emily Lakdawalla has a good rundown of the return (with fantastic images) and further updates. Hat tip to the Bad Astronomer.
Labels: asteroids, space probe, spacecraft
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
High School Students Photograph the Edge of Space
A group of Spanish highschool students used an ordinary weather balloon and a camera they made themselves for around $60 US to photograph the edge of space. Neuron culture comments on the story here and here, and the students site, with stunning photos, is here. This is amazing, go visit now.
Labels: miscelaneous, space probe
Friday, April 11, 2008
Phobos in 3D
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona .Quick, grab some red/blue 3D glasses and lok at this image of the Martian moon Phobos. Then go "Wow" like I did. The image really pops out at you.
For more info, a bigger and even more stunning 3D image and some more detailed images, pop over to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter site, and have a look at their stories on Phobos and Phobos in stereo.
Also have a look at Tom's take on the story.
Labels: Mars, space probe
Friday, May 18, 2007
Things You Must See
Comet Al has a brilliant animation of the tail of comet 2P Encke doing some dramatic movements. Over at the Plaentary Society Blog there is a brilliant animation of Tvashtar erupting as taken by the New Horizons probe.
Labels: Astronomy, comets, space probe
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Venus Express videos of the Polar Vortex
The European Space Agency has just put up some videos of the Venusian Polar Vortex taken with Venus Express's infrared camrea. The images show the huge, double eyed swirling vortex on both the day and night side of the planet. While the videos are pretty in themsleves, they are the first step to understanding the dynamics of the Venusian atmosphere.
Labels: Astronomy, space probe, Venus, Venus Express
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