We’ve been frantically busy here at Astrochix.com so we’ve made up for the last 3 weeks with a few extra articles!!
Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) to launch!
At the end of this month, NASA will launch IRIS. IRIS will watch the Sun and provide NASA with information on the Sun’s atmosphere and the interface region. This will give scientists a better understanding of how the Sun’s energy powers the solar wind!
NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to explore Mercury
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Enrico Saggese signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the European Space Agency (ESA) led BepiColombo mission to Mercury
Can high energy y-ray astronomy be done from Earth?
Traditionally astronomers have relied on space telescopes to conduct high-energy y ray astronomy because Earth’s atmosphere is a very efficient shield for y rays. However, in early July at the International Cosmic Ray Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, indicate that γ-ray astronomers are betting their future on an ambitious ground-based telescope.
So exactly what is a ‘Super Moon?’
Tonight the moon will be at its closest point to Earth — called perigee. Is this the cause of the ‘Super Moon?’
NASA has selected an impressive group of Americans to join the astronaut corps!
A new book on the lives and loves of astronaut wives from the Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury programs promises to be an interesting read!
On 29 April 2013 Herschel’s helium coolant supply was exhausted, and ended the mission. However, satellite continued providing value to the end, serving as an orbiting testbed for control techniques that can’t normally be tested in flight.
Supanova redefines stellar measurements
A type 1a supernova has given astronomers a rare opportunity to recalibrate cosmic distance scales across the universe. The supernova called SN 2012fr, occurred last October in the galaxy NGC 1365 and sparked tremendous interest, according to the study’s lead author Dr Michael Childress of the Australian National University.
