• Phobos-Grunt reentry – A quick guide for skywatchers

    Before you start to use any of satellite tracking applications make sure that the computer clock is correct and the time zone is compatible with your Region. The latest Phobos-Grunt orbit data is here. Below are some important data.USSPACECOM Catalog

  • Phobos-Grunt probe begins entering the Earth’s atmosfere

    Stranded Phobos-Grunt probe, one of the largest objects to re-enter the atmosphere in decade, begins entering the Earth’s atmosphere. It will probably begin its descent on Sunday evening. By the latest estimate Phobos-Grunt could enter the atmosphere over Argentina

  • Note for Solarwatchers: SOHO EIT is in “the keyhole”

    We recieve lots of questions from our readers considering SOHO EIT data. SOHO’s near-real time images from EIT instruments stop uploading in January 6, however there is nothing wrong with SOHO instruments  because EIT is in a telemetry keyhole. The lack of fresh

  • Moon mineral Tranquillityite found in western Australia

    Scientists have identified what appear to be terrestrial versions of tranquillityite in billion-year-old rocksin Western Australia. Tranquillityite is a mineral consisting of iron, zirconium, yttrium, titanium, silicon and oxygen. It is named after the moon’s Sea of

  • Phobos-Grunt probe reentry scheduled for January 15

    The spokesman of Russia’s military space forces told Russian news agencies today that stranded Phobos-Grunt could fall to Earth on Jan. 15. About 30 fragments weighing up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds) are expected to fall to Earth. The $165-million Phobos-Grunt

  • 2012 Quadrantids guide for skywatchers

    Earth is about to pass through a stream of debris from 2003 EH1, a comet fragment that produces the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak around 07:20 UT (02:20 am EST) on Wednesday morning, January 4th. At maximum, as many as 100

  • The 2012 Quadrantid meteor shower

    The first meteor shower this year —  Quadrantid meteor shower —  will occur at around 2 a.m. EST (0700 GMT) on Jan. 4. While many meteor displays in 2011 were washed out by a bright moon, the Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to put on a spectacular light

  • Phobos-Grunt re-entry animation

    Phobos-Grunt re-entry is projected to enters Earth atmosphere in early January 2012. Most of the spacecraft and leftover onboard fuel will burn up in the atmosphere, although some pieces may survive reentry, including the Planetary Society’s LIFE experiment. The

  • NASA’s twin GRAIL spacecraft successfully entered lunar orbit

    NASA’s twin spacecraft GRAIL successfully completed its entry to lunar orbit and is preparing to study the moon in unprecedented detail. It will allow scientists to understand what goes on below the lunar surface. In this particular case the name GRAIL stands