STRANGE ANTARCTIC WEATHER EXTENDS TO THE EDGE OF SPACE: What's happening above Antarctica? That's what researchers would like to know as a number of meteorological indices go haywire. New data from NASA's AIM spacecraft add to the mystery: Noctilucent clouds normally present at this time of year are missing. The strange weather now extends to the edge of space. FULL STORY.
RADIO SIGNALS FROM THE MOON: Yesterday, amateur radio operator Scott Tilley picked up a signal coming from the Moon. "It was China's Chang'e 5 probe lifting off from Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms)," says Tilley. "This video samples some of the audio and shows a dynamic spectrum of the 8.4 GHz X-band signal."
That's right, lifting off. China landed on the Moon Tuesday, Dec. 1st. The robotic lander immediately began digging around in surrounding soil, gathering samples for return to Earth. By Thursday, Dec. 3rd, it was ready to leave. A small probe on top of the lander blasted off, carrying with it the first fresh lunar samples since 1976.
Tilley listened to the departure 240,000 miles away on a beach in Roberts Creek, British Columbia. "I carried all my equipment (antenna, receiver, computer) to a beach near my home so I could get a clear view of the low-hanging Moon," he explains. "The carrier signal from the Chang'e 5 ascent module was loud and clear."
Above: Moonset and sunrise on the beach where Tilley recorded Chang'e 5's liftoff
The Chinese mission has targeted a volcanic region called "Mons Rümker" in the Ocean of Storms. The soil there is relatively young (~1 billion years old) compared to older samples returned by Apollo astronauts (~3 billion years old). Researchers are eager to see what these samples can tell us about the geologically recent history of the Moon.
Next up for Chang'e 5: On Saturday, Dec. 5th, the ascent module will dock with the mission's orbiter--a tricky maneuver that the Chinese have never done before. Tilley will be listening, so stay tuned.
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