• NASA to launch weather-climate satellite Oct 27

    A satellite that aims to help weather forecasters predict extreme storms and offer scientists a better view of climate change is being readied for launch this month.  The 1.5 billion dollar National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory

  • Magnificient outburst of Draconid meteor shower

    According to worldwide observers reporting to the International Meteor Organization, there was indeed an outburst of Draconid meteors on October 8th. Preliminary counts suggest a peak rate of 660 meteors per hour at 2010 UT (4:10 pm EDT).Most Draconids in the

  • Comet Elenin disintegrated?

    Comet Elenin, the supposed “doomsday comet” that has inspired so much confusion and controversy since its discovery in December 2010,  may have broken apart completely during its recent pass around the Sun.Discoverer Leonid Elenin posted the image

  • International Observe the Moon Night (October 8, 2011)

    Most of us space-minded folks don’t need an excuse to gaze upon the brightest object in the night sky – our own Moon. But just in case you need a reason or are hoping to convince some friends or family to take a look with you, there’s a special event coming up

  • Minor geomagnetic storming underway

    Minor geomagnetic storming (G1 on the Geomagnetic Storm Scale) is underway following the arrival at Earth of 1 or more Coronal Mass Ejections that erupted from the Sun late last week and into the weekend.  Activity is not expected to strengthen much beyond current

  • Farside CME heading for Mercury

    Yesterday, October 4th, something exploded on the far side of the sun and propelled a spectacular CME into space. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the cloud as it emerged from behind the sun’s limb:Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab have

  • Comet and Coronal mass ejection

    A comet discovered by amateur astronomers on Friday, Sept. 30th, disintegrated in spectacular fashion the very next day when it plunged into the sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the comet’s last hours. The end was punctuated by an unexpected