Science
See the Perseid Meteor Shower at Wildwood State Park
- August 11, 2019
The best viewing will be overnight Sunday into Monday and then again Monday into Tuesday, the space agency says. Under flawless conditions, the Perseids can produce up to 80 or 100 bright meteor streaks an hour. Comet Swift-Tuttle has left a cloud of debris that follows it around the sun. Well, it's not impossible to see them if you're in Detroit , but your best chance is to head out to the suburbs. (more...)
- August 11, 2019
The best viewing will be overnight Sunday into Monday and then again Monday into Tuesday, the space agency says. Under flawless conditions, the Perseids can produce up to 80 or 100 bright meteor streaks an hour. Comet Swift-Tuttle has left a cloud of debris that follows it around the sun. Well, it's not impossible to see them if you're in Detroit , but your best chance is to head out to the suburbs. (more...)
Hubble Space Telescope Takes Detailed Portrait of Jupiter
- August 10, 2019
The image seen here was snapped on June 27, 2019. "The bands are created by differences in the thickness and height of the ammonia ice clouds", STScI officials said in a statement . Much smaller storms appear on Jupiter as white or brown ovals that can last as little as a few hours or stretch on for centuries. This initiative allows Hubble to dedicate time each year to observing the outer planets and provides scientists with access to a collection of maps, which helps them to understand not ... (more...)
- August 10, 2019
The image seen here was snapped on June 27, 2019. "The bands are created by differences in the thickness and height of the ammonia ice clouds", STScI officials said in a statement . Much smaller storms appear on Jupiter as white or brown ovals that can last as little as a few hours or stretch on for centuries. This initiative allows Hubble to dedicate time each year to observing the outer planets and provides scientists with access to a collection of maps, which helps them to understand not ... (more...)
Ancient giant parrot discovered in New Zealand
- August 10, 2019
At an estimated 15 pounds, the extinct was almost double the weight of the endangered Kakapo , the largest living parrot. To find out what kind it was, the two bones - from the so-called "drumsticks" of the bird - were compared with dozens of other bones. (more...)
- August 10, 2019
At an estimated 15 pounds, the extinct was almost double the weight of the endangered Kakapo , the largest living parrot. To find out what kind it was, the two bones - from the so-called "drumsticks" of the bird - were compared with dozens of other bones. (more...)
Odds are increasing for an above-normal hurricane season
- August 09, 2019
Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at Noaas Climate Prediction Centre, said: El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity, but now that its gone, we could see a busier season ahead. This would represent a greater-than-normal level of activity, with six hurricanes being typical of an average six-month hurricane season. The conditions causing this longer period of heightened activity include the stronger West African monsoon, weaker wind shear across the ... (more...)
- August 09, 2019
Gerry Bell, the lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at Noaas Climate Prediction Centre, said: El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity, but now that its gone, we could see a busier season ahead. This would represent a greater-than-normal level of activity, with six hurricanes being typical of an average six-month hurricane season. The conditions causing this longer period of heightened activity include the stronger West African monsoon, weaker wind shear across the ... (more...)
Perseid meteor shower to light up sky in outback WA
- August 09, 2019
The peak of the meteor shower is coinciding with the nearly full moon. Count for yourself at the main parking lot at Wildwood State Park . The best time to see a meteor shower is generally between midnight and sunrise, as the radiant is higher in the sky then. (more...)
- August 09, 2019
The peak of the meteor shower is coinciding with the nearly full moon. Count for yourself at the main parking lot at Wildwood State Park . The best time to see a meteor shower is generally between midnight and sunrise, as the radiant is higher in the sky then. (more...)
Israel launches satellite to provide internet to Middle East, Africa
- August 09, 2019
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted the satellite into space overnight from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida . This first stage has previously flown twice, for the Telstar-19 VANTAGE mission in July, 2018 and the Es'hail-2 mission in November, 2018. (more...)
- August 09, 2019
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted the satellite into space overnight from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida . This first stage has previously flown twice, for the Telstar-19 VANTAGE mission in July, 2018 and the Es'hail-2 mission in November, 2018. (more...)
US rocket launches military communication satellite
- August 09, 2019
Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider. In addition to the five AJ-60A solid rocket motors that helped lift the Atlas V off the launch pad, Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the RL10C-1 rocket engine that provided 22,900 lbs. (more...)
- August 09, 2019
Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider. In addition to the five AJ-60A solid rocket motors that helped lift the Atlas V off the launch pad, Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the RL10C-1 rocket engine that provided 22,900 lbs. (more...)
SpaceX Successfully Launches AMOS-17 Mission
- August 07, 2019
But Mother Nature eventually cooperated, and the liftoff occurred without a hitch. If everything goes as planned, the satellite will provide communication services to parts of Africa, the Middle East, as well as Europe. Usually, the standard prelaunch test for SpaceX missions is a static fire. Spacecom tasked Boeing with building Amos-17 in December 2016 under a $ 161 million contract. (more...)
- August 07, 2019
But Mother Nature eventually cooperated, and the liftoff occurred without a hitch. If everything goes as planned, the satellite will provide communication services to parts of Africa, the Middle East, as well as Europe. Usually, the standard prelaunch test for SpaceX missions is a static fire. Spacecom tasked Boeing with building Amos-17 in December 2016 under a $ 161 million contract. (more...)
Perseid meteor shower will compete with light of full moon
- August 06, 2019
The southern Delta Aquariids are active from July 12 until August 23. But today, the sky will light up with the two meteor showers and not just ones. This meteor shower can produce up to 25 meteors per hour on the peak nights of August 4, 5, and 6. (more...)
- August 06, 2019
The southern Delta Aquariids are active from July 12 until August 23. But today, the sky will light up with the two meteor showers and not just ones. This meteor shower can produce up to 25 meteors per hour on the peak nights of August 4, 5, and 6. (more...)
Astronomers Discover A Potentially Habitable Exoplanet 30 Light Years Away
- August 04, 2019
This awesome discovery was made possible by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS for short, but that spacecraft just pointed the way. Given its orbit around its star only takes 55.7 Earth days, life on the planet would be quite different from our 365 days long years. "We describe GJ 357 b as a 'hot Earth , '" said Enric Pallé, study co-author and astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. (more...)
- August 04, 2019
This awesome discovery was made possible by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS for short, but that spacecraft just pointed the way. Given its orbit around its star only takes 55.7 Earth days, life on the planet would be quite different from our 365 days long years. "We describe GJ 357 b as a 'hot Earth , '" said Enric Pallé, study co-author and astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. (more...)
Astronomers have discovered a planet, which evaporates iron
- August 02, 2019
The planet is so dangerously close to its star that its upper atmosphere reaches a blazing 4,600 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 times greater than any known planetary atmosphere. "This is a planet being actively stripped of its atmosphere", Sing added. According to the researchers, WASP-121b will be a ideal target for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope , scheduled for launch in 2021. (more...)
- August 02, 2019
The planet is so dangerously close to its star that its upper atmosphere reaches a blazing 4,600 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 times greater than any known planetary atmosphere. "This is a planet being actively stripped of its atmosphere", Sing added. According to the researchers, WASP-121b will be a ideal target for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope , scheduled for launch in 2021. (more...)
TESS satellite uncovers 'first nearby super-Earth'
- August 02, 2019
Right now, it's called GJ 357 d and is also being referred to as a super Earth . GJ 357 sits around 31 light-years from Earth , which is closer than numerous stars known to host exoplanets . The study was published on 31 July in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics . "We describe GJ 357b as a 'hot Earth .' Although it can not host life, it is noteworthy as the third-nearest transiting exoplanet known to date and one of the best rocky planets we have for measuring the composition ... (more...)
- August 02, 2019
Right now, it's called GJ 357 d and is also being referred to as a super Earth . GJ 357 sits around 31 light-years from Earth , which is closer than numerous stars known to host exoplanets . The study was published on 31 July in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics . "We describe GJ 357b as a 'hot Earth .' Although it can not host life, it is noteworthy as the third-nearest transiting exoplanet known to date and one of the best rocky planets we have for measuring the composition ... (more...)
'Universal's Epic Universe': Universal Orlando announces new theme park
- August 01, 2019
Universal did release a logo and concept art for the new park, even as no actual attractions were specified. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the ultimate destination. (more...)
- August 01, 2019
Universal did release a logo and concept art for the new park, even as no actual attractions were specified. Guests will venture beyond their wildest imagination, traveling into beloved stories and through vibrant lands on adventures where the journey is as astounding as the ultimate destination. (more...)
TESS Discovers Habitable Zone Planet in GJ 357 System
- August 01, 2019
The potentially habitable planet due to loads of water assumed to be stored in its depths, and two neighbouring worlds were discovered making the rounds around a dwarf star, which is around a third the size and mass of our own Sun and 40% cooler. (more...)
- August 01, 2019
The potentially habitable planet due to loads of water assumed to be stored in its depths, and two neighbouring worlds were discovered making the rounds around a dwarf star, which is around a third the size and mass of our own Sun and 40% cooler. (more...)
Flossie becomes a hurricane as it churns west, nearing Hawaii
- August 01, 2019
Flash flood watches have also been issued for the Big Island as the storm passes to the south - with the biggest threat of flash flooding along the eastern southward facing slopes of the Big Island. Hurricane Erick exploded into the Pacific Ocean earlier this week as a tropical storm and has quickly developed hurricane-level strength. Hawaii island may see some effects toward the latter part of the week, depending on the storm track, he said. (more...)
- August 01, 2019
Flash flood watches have also been issued for the Big Island as the storm passes to the south - with the biggest threat of flash flooding along the eastern southward facing slopes of the Big Island. Hurricane Erick exploded into the Pacific Ocean earlier this week as a tropical storm and has quickly developed hurricane-level strength. Hawaii island may see some effects toward the latter part of the week, depending on the storm track, he said. (more...)
NASA celebrates 'hat trick' discovery of new planets orbiting nearby star
- August 01, 2019
Finding such planets is one thing; studying their chemistry from a distance of 73 light years is something else entirely. An global group of astronomers discovered the planet using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) earlier this year in the constellation Hydra, about 31 light-years from Earth , according to a statement by NASA . (more...)
- August 01, 2019
Finding such planets is one thing; studying their chemistry from a distance of 73 light years is something else entirely. An global group of astronomers discovered the planet using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) earlier this year in the constellation Hydra, about 31 light-years from Earth , according to a statement by NASA . (more...)
InterContinental Hotel Group is cancelling miniature shampoo bottles
- August 01, 2019
InterContinental Hotels has become the first global hotel company to join the war on plastic. IHG CEO Keith Barr told the Financial Times that the move is partially in reaction to government inaction. IHG is removing plastic straws by the end of the year and is using duvet and pillow covers made with 100% recycled materials in some of its rooms. How exactly IHG intends to switch from mini to bulk toiletries is unclear. (more...)
- August 01, 2019
InterContinental Hotels has become the first global hotel company to join the war on plastic. IHG CEO Keith Barr told the Financial Times that the move is partially in reaction to government inaction. IHG is removing plastic straws by the end of the year and is using duvet and pillow covers made with 100% recycled materials in some of its rooms. How exactly IHG intends to switch from mini to bulk toiletries is unclear. (more...)
Earth Overshoot Day: Planet's annual resources quota exceeded earlier than ever before
- August 01, 2019
The NGO added that this over consumption of natural resources will lead to climate change which could cause extreme weather events such as the heatwave Europe is now experiencing. Conservation advocates say city dwellers will need to be less reliant on cars in the future in order to pull the planet out of ecological deficit. "So the way we structure it is going to be extremely important". (more...)
- August 01, 2019
The NGO added that this over consumption of natural resources will lead to climate change which could cause extreme weather events such as the heatwave Europe is now experiencing. Conservation advocates say city dwellers will need to be less reliant on cars in the future in order to pull the planet out of ecological deficit. "So the way we structure it is going to be extremely important". (more...)
Distant tropical wave may become season's next storm
- August 01, 2019
There is a low chance for development for both waves with the second one off the coast of Africa having the best chance for development due to it being over the Atlantic and having plenty of time to develop. Conditions could become marginally conducive for development over the weekend while the system turns northeastward off the southeast USA coast. It was trapped in an area of Saharan dust and wasn't expected to develop for the next few days. (more...)
- August 01, 2019
There is a low chance for development for both waves with the second one off the coast of Africa having the best chance for development due to it being over the Atlantic and having plenty of time to develop. Conditions could become marginally conducive for development over the weekend while the system turns northeastward off the southeast USA coast. It was trapped in an area of Saharan dust and wasn't expected to develop for the next few days. (more...)
The TESS telescope has discovered three new exoplanets close to Earth
- August 01, 2019
While the orbit of TOI-270's outer sub-Neptune just barely grazes the edge of the system's habitable zone, where it's theoretically possible for life to exist, new data on the planet's atmosphere suggest it isn't hospitable , reports Dennis Overbye at The New York Times . (more...)
- August 01, 2019
While the orbit of TOI-270's outer sub-Neptune just barely grazes the edge of the system's habitable zone, where it's theoretically possible for life to exist, new data on the planet's atmosphere suggest it isn't hospitable , reports Dennis Overbye at The New York Times . (more...)
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