Earth Weather / Space Weather

Posted by: Susie77, 7:14 PM GMT on May 24, 2012

From Spaceweather

DRAGON RENDEZVOUS: SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, May 25th, making it the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS. Last night, Dave Blanchard photographed the Dragon chasing the space station across the night sky over Flagstaff, Arizona:

"While the ISS was very bright and clearly visible in this image, the Dragon was very dim," says Blanchard. "It can be seen as a faint streak just below the ISS."

The two streaks will soon be joined. During the early hours of May 25th, the Dragon will approach the docking port on the station's Harmony module. Because this is the Dragon's first visit to the ISS, mission controllers will proceed with caution. A detailed series of navigation and communication tests will be performed before the capsule is allowed to move close enough for astronauts to grab it with the robot arm and connect it to the station.

After docking, the Dragon will remain connected for about three weeks, giving astronauts plenty of time to unload its 1200 lb of supplies and re-load it with used scientific equipment for return to Earth. Reversing the process of connecting the spacecraft to the station, astronauts will use the robotic arm to remove the capsule. The Dragon will then de-orbit and return to Earth under parachutes, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.

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World's Largest Solar Eclipse Party

Posted by: Susie77, 10:52 PM GMT on May 21, 2012

Hope you got to see it!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~World's Largest Solar Eclipse Party Draws Thousands to Stadiumby Stephanie Pappas, Senior WriterDate: 21 May 2012 Time: 12:34 AM ETFrom: Space dot comBOULDER, Colo. - Thousands of people turned their eyes to the sky at the University of Colorado's Folsom Field football stadium here Sunday (May 20) to watch the moon slip in front of the sun to create a spectacular "crescent sun."The partial e...

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"Ring of Fire" Solar Eclipse

Posted by: Susie77, 12:44 PM GMT on May 15, 2012

From Space (dot) comSkywatchers in East Asia and the western United States should circle Sunday (May 20) on their calendars. That's when a solar eclipse will block out most of the sun, leaving a spectacular "ring of fire" shining in the sky for observers located along the eclipse's path.The event is what's known as an annular solar eclipse — from the Latin "annulus," meaning "little ring" — and its full glory should be visible from much of Asia, the Pacific regi...

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The eta Aquarid Meteor Shower -- This weekend

Posted by: Susie77, 4:40 PM GMT on May 03, 2012

The eta AquaridMeteor ShowerSpaceWeather.com Global Notes: This shower can be seen from both hemispheres, but south is favored with twice as many meteors.The 2010 eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on May 6, 2012. The shower can be seen from both hemispheres, but the southern hemisphere is favored, receiving twice as many meteors as the north. Taking moonlight into account, forecasters estimate a maximum of 30+ visible meteors per hour. The best time to look, no matter...

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Biggest Full Moon of 2012!

Posted by: Susie77, 12:31 AM GMT on May 01, 2012

From Space dot com'Supermoon' Alert: Biggest Full Moon of 2012 Occurs This Weekby SPACE.com StaffDate: 30 April 2012 Time: 01:54 PM ETSkywatchers take note: The biggest full moon of the year is due to arrive this weekend.The moon will officially become full Saturday (May 5) at 11:35 p.m. EDT. And because this month's full moon coincides with the moon's perigee — its closest approach to Earth — it will also be the year's biggest.The moon will swing in 221,802 mil...

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