Space News Update- April 11, 2011 -

In the News

Story 1: The Space Shuttle Era: 1981-2011

Story 2:Tevatron accelerator yields hints of new particle

Story 3: New Theory: Titan Shaped By Weather, Not Ice Volcanoes

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

Space CalendarNASA-TV Highlights

Food for ThoughtSpace Image of the Week

The Space Shuttle Era: 1981-2011

Tevatron accelerator yields hints of new particle

New Theory: Titan Shaped By Weather, Not Ice Volcanoes

The Night SkyMonday, April 11 · First-quarter Moon (exact at 8:05 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time).  Tuesday, April 12 · Early spring is when Orion tilts downward in the southwest after dusk, with his three-star belt turning horizontal as seen from north temperate latitudes. The belt points left toward bright Sirius and to the right more or less toward orange Aldebaran. Right of Aldebaran are the Pleiades.  Wednesday, April 13 · Look for Regulus in Leo about 6° above or upper left of the Moon this evening (for North America). · A small telescope will always show Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Tonight Titan is four ring-lengths to Saturn's east. Saturn's other major satellites are all close to the planet tonight.  Thursday, April 14 · Look very high in the northeast after dark for the Big Dipper standing on its handle and tipping over to the left. The two stars forming the front of its bowl, the Pointers, point lower left to Polaris about three fists at arm's length away. Equally far on the other side of Polaris from the Big Dipper is Cassiopeia, now swinging low and turning into a W rather than an M.  Friday, April 15 · The nearly full Moon is approaching Saturn and company in the southeastern sky, as shown here. · So you know the Big Dipper's Pointer stars point to Polaris. Follow the Pointers backward in the opposite direction (by a greater distance), and you'll land in Leo.

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

For Denver:

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE

DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Mon Apr 11/04:35 AM 2 12 10 above N 12 above NNE

ISS Tue Apr 12/05:00 AM 2 22 11 above NNW 21 above NE

ISS Wed Apr 13/03:53 AM < 1 12 12 above NNE 12 above NNE

ISS Wed Apr 13/05:25 AM 5 60 10 above NW 12 above ESE

ISS Thu Apr 14/04:18 AM 1 23 22 above NNE 22 above NE

ISS Thu Apr 14/05:51 AM 5 33 10 above WNW 12 above SSE

ISS Fri Apr 15/04:43 AM 3 67 54 above NNW 10 above ESE

NASA-TV Highlights

April 11, Monday10:05 a.m. - ISS Expedition 27 In-Flight Interviews with the Associated Press and CBS News

April 12, Tuesday6:35 a.m. - ISS Expedition 27 In-Flight Interviews with the New York Times and CNN “American Morning” 11:45 a.m. - ISS Expedition 27 Crew News Conference

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

Space Calendar

· Apr 11 - Comet 37P/Forbes Closest Approach To Earth (1.756 AU) · Apr 11 - Asteroid 1726 Hoffmeister Occults HIP 65074 (6.7 Magnitude Star) · Apr 11 - Asteroid 12382 Niagara Falls Closest Approach To Earth (1.783 AU) · Apr 11 - Asteroid 804 Hispania Closest Approach To Earth (2.085 AU) · Apr 11 - Asteroid 40227 Tahiti Closest Approach To Earth (3.466 AU) · Apr 12 - 50th Anniversary (1961), Vostok 1 Launch (1st Man in Space - Yuri Gagarin) · Apr 12 - Asteroid 51 Nemausa At Opposition (9.9 Magnitude) · Apr 12 - Asteroid 2011 GA3 Near-Earth Flyby (0.069 AU) · Apr 12 - Asteroid 2305 King Closest Approach To Earth (1.864 AU) · Apr 12 - Yuri's Night: World Space Party · Apr 12 - 30th Anniversary (1981), 1st Space Shuttle Launch (Robert Crippen & John Young) · Apr 13 - Asteroid 2011 GE Near-Earth Flyby (0.012 AU) · Apr 13 - Asteroid 9965 GNU Closest Approach To Earth (1.091 AU) · Apr 14 - NROL-34 Atlas 5 Launch · Apr 14 - Asteroid 14702 Benclark Closest Approach To Earth (2.036 AU) · Apr 15 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #280 (OTM-280) · Apr 15 -Asteroid 2011 FS29 Near-Earth Flyby (0.033 AU) · Apr 15 - Asteroid 2007 WC5 Near-Earth Flyby (0.089 AU) · Apr 15 - Asteroid 64070 NEAT Closest Approach To Earth (1.982 AU)  

Food for ThoughtIs Space Tourism the New Space Race?

Space Image of the Week