NEW AND IMPROVED: Turn your iPhone or iPod into a field-tested global satellite tracker. The Satellite Flybys app now works in all countries. | | | KILLER SUNDOG: In case you missed it last week, here it is again. On Feb. 11th, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory flew through a sundog and destroyed it. Hundreds of onlookers at the Kennedy Space Center witnessed the event and a few of them made video recordings. Watch the movies in today's story from Science@NASA. DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: Space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station last night, setting the stage for a weekend of bright double flybys. This morning, John C McConnell caught the pair streaking over his roof in Maghaberry Northern Ireland: "I woke up early to catch the ISS/Endeavour pass at 0547UT," says McConnell. "I was just focusing the lens (with very cold fingers) when the two popped out of Earth's shadow just east of Spica. Endeavour was about half a degree in front of the ISS and glowed with a strange orange colour. Because they were in almost the same orbit, their streaks in the photo overlap." Double flybys will continue through Sunday night, Feb. 21st when Endeavour returns to Earth in a rare after-dark landing at Kennedy Space Center (10:16 p.m. EST). Not everyone will see a flyby--the two spaceships can't be everywhere--but many sky watchers are in for a good show. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker to see if you are favored with an apparition. more images: from Marco Langbroek of Leiden, the Netherlands; from George Anderson of Wokingham, Berkshire, England; from Richard P. Nugent of Framingham, Mass.; PLASMA PLUMES: On Feb. 15th and 16th, NASA's STEREO Ahead spacecraft observed a remarkable series of eruptions from decaying sunspot 1045. Click on the image to set the scene in motion. The active region's unstable magnetic field spat more than a dozen plasma plumes into space over a two day period. The temperature of the gas in these plumes was at least 60,000 C. None of the plumes will impact Earth because the sunspot was facing away from us at the time of the eruptions. Nevertheless, it is a compelling reminder that solar activity is on the rise. Stay tuned for more plasma! February Northern Lights Gallery [previous Februarys: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002] |