Space News Update- July 2, 2012 -

In the News

Story 1: Researchers to announce evidence of ‘God’ particle that explains universe

Story 2: NASA Explains Why Clocks Get an Extra Second on June 30

Story 3: NASA Unveils Orion During Ceremony

 Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Researchers to announce evidence of ‘God’ particle that

explains universe

NASA Explains Why Clocks Get an Extra Second on June 30

Kokee Park on the Hawaiian island of Kauai

NASA Unveils Orion During Ceremony

The Night SkyFriday, June 29 Now that June is about to turn into July, the Teapot of Sagittarius is up and sitting level low in the southeast after nightfall.

Saturday, June 30 The Moon shines in the head stars of Scorpius this evening, with Antares to its lower left. Remember when Venus and Jupiter paired up spectacularly in the evening last March? Now they're at it again, but this time low in the dawn, as shown at right. Best time: about an hour or so before your local sunrise (make sure the Daylight Saving Time box is checked if needed.) A leap second will be inserted into the world's civil time systems at the end of June 30th Coordinated Universal Time (the second before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). The minute 23:59 UTC will have 61 seconds, not 60, to adjust for a slight accumulated slowdown in Earth's spin. The last leap second was added to the world's clocks at the end of 2008. As the moment arrives, watch your favorite online time service and see if they get it right.

Sunday, July 1 As soon as the stars come out, look high in the northwest for the Big Dipper hanging straight down by its handle. As night advances, the Dipper dips lower and to the right as if to scoop up water.

Monday, July 2 Vega is the brightest star very high in the east after dark. Deneb is the brightest to its lower left. Altair is farther to Vega's lower right. These three form the big Summer Triangle.

Venus and Jupiter in the Morning Sky

ISS Sighting Opportunities

Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting Information

For Denver:

No Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV Highlights

July 3, Tuesday6 a.m. - Replay of Video File of the ISS Expedition 32/33 Crew Departure for Baikonur Activities from Star City, Russia - HQ (All Channels)7 a.m. - Replay of ISS Mission Update (7/2) - HQ (All Channels)8 a.m. - Replay of Orion Arrival Event Interactive Social Session at KSC - HQ (All Channels)

July 5, Thursday8:55 a.m. – ISS Expedition 32 Educational In-Flight Event with the Langley Research Center at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, VA – JSC (All Channels)12:05 p.m. - ISS Mission Control Console Interview with the Digital Learning Network - JSC (All Channels)

Watch NASA TV on the Net by going to NASA website.

Space Calendar

· Jul 02 - Asteroid 9618 Johncleese Closest Approach To Earth (1.226 AU) · Jul 02 - Asteroid 115561 Frankherbert Closest Approach To Earth (2.214 AU) · Jul 03 - Moon Occults Pluto · Jul 03 - Comet P/2011 JB15 (Spacewatch-Boattini) Closest Approach To Earth (4.098 AU) · Jul 03 - Asteroid 3367 Alex Occults HIP 91527 (6.7 Magnitude Star) · Jul 03 - Asteroid 1855 Korolev Closest Approach To Earth (1.264 AU) · Jul 03 - Asteroid 7000 Curie Closest Approach To Earth (1.328 AU) · Jul 03 - Asteroid 2843 Yeti Closest Approach To Earth (1.465 AU) · Jul 03 - Asteroid 1381 Danubia Closest Approach To Earth (1.524 AU) · Jul 03 - 20th Anniversary (1992), SAMPEX Launch · Jul 04 - Asteroid 1 Ceres Occults TYC 1251-00358-1 (9.1 Magnitude Star) · Jul 04 - Asteroid 32497 (2000 XF18) Occults HIP 83014 (6.6 Magnitude Star) · Jul 04 - Asteroid 1740 Paavo Nurmi Closest Approach To Earth (1.439 AU) · Jul 04 - 15th Anniversary (1997), Mars Pathfinder, Mars Landing · Jul 05 - Echostar 17 (Jupiter 1)/ MSG-3 Ariane 5 Launch · Jul 05 - Earth At Aphelion (1.017 AU From Sun) · Jul 05 - Asteroid 26858 Misterrogers Closest Approach To Earth (2.202 AU) · Jul 05 - Andrew Douglass' 145th Birthday (1867) · Jul 06 - TedxISU Event, Melbourne, Florida · Jul 06 - 325th Anniversary (1687), Isaac Newton's Principia Published

JPL Sky Calendar

Food for ThoughtFormer astronaut Alan Poindexter dies in accident

Space Image of the Week

Credita Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (U. of Ariz./Inst. of Astr., U. of Cambridge) and the SINGS Team