Space News Update- February 7, 2014 -

In the News

Story 1: Orion Stage Adapter Aces Structural Loads Testing

Story 2: A New Look at Centaurus A

Story 3: Fresh Crater Caught on Camera Aboard Mars Orbiter

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

Space CalendarNASA-TV Highlights

Food for ThoughtSpace Image of the Week

Orion Stage Adapter Aces Structural Loads Testing

A New Look at Centaurus A

Fresh Crater Caught on Camera Aboard Mars Orbiter

The Night Sky

Friday, February 7 This season, Jupiter turns the Winter Triangle into a bigger, brighter Winter Diamond! The Diamond's bottom is Sirius, its two side corners are Betelgeuse and Procyon, and Jupiter forms its top. It tilts leftward in early evening, then stands vertically in the south around 9 p.m. (depending on your location east or west in your time zone).

Saturday, February 8 Look to the right of the Moon after dinnertime for Aldebaran, as shown here. Below the Moon stands Orion.

Sunday, February 9 As the stars come out, look to the waxing gibbous Moon high in the east. It's inside a big quadrilateral: of Jupiter to its lower left, Betelgeuse to its lower right, Aldebaran to its upper right, and Capella farther to its upper left.

Sky & Telescope

Monday, February 10 The Moon and Jupiter shine about 5° apart this evening (for North America). They're in the feet of Gemini. Although they look close together, Jupiter is 1,630 times farther away — and 40 times larger in diameter.

Tuesday, February 11 Jupiter shines above the Moon in early evening. Lower right of the Moon is Procyon, as shown here. Upper left of the Moon are Pollux and, farther on, Castor.

ISS Sighting Opportunities

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

ISS For Denver:

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears

Fri Feb 7, 6:30 PM 5 min 61° 10 above SW 28 above ENE

Sat Feb 8, 7:20 PM 1 min 29° 21 above WNW 29 above NNW

Sun Feb 9, 6:32 PM 3 min 46° 35 above WNW 15 above NE

Mon Feb 10, 7:19 PM

2 min 16° 11 above WNW 16 above N

Tue Feb 11, 6:31 PM

4 min 22° 16 above WNW 11 above NNE

NASA-TV Highlights

(all times Eastern Daylight Time)

No special event programming. Check NASA-TV’s daily schedule here. 

Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA website

Space Calendar

JPL Space Calendar

Feb 07 - Comet 277P/LINEAR Closest Approach To Earth (1.878 AU)Feb 07 - Comet P/2013 TW5 (Spacewatch) Closest Approach To Earth (5.008 AU)Feb 07 - Asteroid 348306 (2005 AY28) Near-Earth Flyby (0.039 AU)Feb 07 - Asteroid 1655 Comas Sola Closest Approach To Earth (1.456 AU)Feb 07 - [Feb 07] Asteroid 3530 Hammel Closest Approach To Earth (1.910 AU)Feb 07 - [Feb 07] 15th Anniversary (1999), Stardust LaunchFeb 07 - Astronomical Society of the Pacific's 125th Birthday (1889)Feb 07 - William Huggins' 190th Birthday (1824)Feb 08 - Comet P/2014 A2 (Hill) At Opposition (1.360 AU)Feb 08 - Asteroid 3308 Ferreri Occults HIP 41961 (6.8 Magnitude Star)Feb 08 - Asteroid 2014 BP43 Near-Earth Flyby (0.014 AU)Feb 08 - Asteroid 10221 Kubrick Closest Approach To Earth (1.365 AU)Feb 08 - Asteroid 10093 Diesel Closest Approach To Earth (1.612 AU)Feb 08 - Asteroid 9349 Lucas Closest Approach To Earth (1.737 AU)Feb 08 - Asteroid 8423 Macao Closest Approach To Earth (2.340 AU)Feb 08 - 45th Anniversary (1969), Allende Meteorite Shower (Hit Houses)Feb 09 - Comet 112P/Urata-Niijima Closest Approach To Earth (1.812 AU)Feb 09 - Asteroid 327 Columbia Occults HIP 107556 (2.9 Magnitude Star)Feb 09 - Asteroid 15092 Beegees Closest Approach To Earth (1.939 AU)Feb 10 - Cassini, Distant Flyby of TitanFeb 10 - Asteroid 2006 DP14 Near-Earth Flyby (0.016 AU)Feb 10 - Asteroid 6758 Jesseowens Closest Approach To Earth (1.696 AU)Feb 10 - Asteroid 129564 Christy Closest Approach To Earth (1.813 AU)Feb 10 - 40th Anniversary (1974), Mars 4, Mars FlybyFeb 11 - Comet P/2013 N3 (PANSTARRS) Perihelion (3.029 AU)Feb 11 - Comet 36P/Whipple At Opposition (3.466 AU)Feb 11 - Comet 129P/Shoemaker-Levy Perihelion (3.914 AU)Feb 11 - Asteroid 2014 BT43 Near-Earth Flyby (0.025 AU)Feb 11 - Asteroid 2013 BS45 Near-Earth Flyby (0.032 AU)Feb 11 - Asteroid 9995 Alouette Closest Approach To Earth (1.297 AU)Feb 11 - Asteroid 9341 Gracekelly Closest Approach To Earth (1.788 AU)

Food for ThoughtOlympic Torch Completes Longest Relay in History

Space Image of the Week

The Terraced Night Image Credit & Copyright: Cui Yongjiang