Space News Update- March 8, 2013 -

In the News

Story 1: A Window into Europa's Ocean Right at the Surface

Story 2: Comet PANSTARRS Rises to the Occasion Mid-March

Story 3: Soyuz Crew Approved for Fast Approach to Space Station

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

A Window into Europa's Ocean Right at the Surface

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Comet PANSTARRS Rises to the Occasion Mid-March

Soyuz Crew Approved for Fast Approach to Space Station

The Night SkyFriday, March 8 · Jupiter is 5° from Aldebaran high in the west after dark. But it's now passing only 2° from fainter (3.5-magnitude) Epsilon Tauri, the other tip of the Hyades V pattern, located almost between them. Saturday, March 9 · The Big Dipper glitters high in the northeast these evenings, standing on its handle. You probably know that the two stars forming the front of the Dipper's bowl (currently on top) are the Pointers; they point to Polaris, currently to their left. And, you may know that if you follow the curve of the Dipper's handle out and around by a little more than a Dipper length, you'll arc to Arcturus, now rising in the east. But did you know that if you follow the Pointers backward the opposite way, you'll land in Leo? Draw a line diagonally across the Dipper's bowl from where the handle is attached, continue far on, and you'll go to Gemini. And look at the two stars forming the open top of the Dipper's bowl. Follow this line past the bowl's lip far across the sky, and you crash into Capella. · Daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday morning in most of North America. Clocks spring ahead an hour.

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)

No sightings until March 12.

NASA-TV Highlights

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

March 11, Monday11:30 a.m. - NASA Exploration Design Challenge Kickoff Event - JSC (All Channels)1:25 p.m. - ISS Expedition 34 “Let’s Talk Science” In-Flight Educational Event for the Canadian Space Agency with Airdie, Alberta - JSC (All Channels)

Space CalendarMar 08 - Asteroid 4319 Jackierobinson Closest Approach To Earth (1.713 AU) Mar 09 - [Mar 07] Cassini, Rhea Flyby Mar 09 - Comet 280P/Larsen At Opposition (2.217 AU) Mar 09 - [Mar 06] Asteroid 2013 ET Near-Earth Flyby (0.006 AU) Mar 09 - Asteroid 4125 Lew Allen Closest Approach To Earth (1.200 AU) Mar 09 - Asteroid 15907 Robot Closest Approach To Earth (1.490 AU) Mar 09 - Asteroid 4342 Freud Closest Approach To Earth (1.988 AU) Mar 09 - Asteroid 11998 Fermilab Closest Approach To Earth (2.829 AU) Mar 10 - Daylight Saving - Set Clock Ahead 1 Hour (United States) Mar 10 - [Mar 08] Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) Perihelion (0.302 AU) Mar 10 - Comet P/2007 T2 (Kowalski) Closest Approach To Earth (1.621 AU) Mar 10 - [Mar 03] Comet 223P/Skiff At Opposition (4.224 AU) Mar 10 - Asteroid 7359 Messier Closest Approach To Earth (2.440 AU) Mar 11 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #344 (OTM-344) Mar 11 - Asteroid 4690 Strasbourg Closest Approach To Earth (1.137 AU) Mar 11 - Asteroid 426 Hippo Closest Approach To Earth (1.639 AU)

JPL Space Calendar

Close-up of comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS as seen from Mount Dale, Western Australia. Image credit: Astronomy Education Services/Gingin Observatory

Food for ThoughtCuriousMars: Rover's SAM organic and CheMin Labs

Outrun Computer Snafu For Extra Rock Analysis

Space Image of the Week

Image Credit: NASA Langley/Sean Smith