Space News Update- May 25, 2012 -

In the News

Story 1: Dragon Grappled and Berthed for History Making Docking at Station Today – May 25

Story 2:A New Look at Apollo Samples Supports Ancient Impact Theory

Story 3: NASA Scientist Figures Way to Weigh Space Rock

Departments

The Night SkyISS Sighting Opportunities

NASA-TV HighlightsSpace CalendarFood for Thought

Space Image of the Week

Dragon Grappled and Berthed for History

Making Docking at Station Today – May 25

A New Look at Apollo Samples Supports Ancient Impact

Theory

NASA Scientist Figures Way to Weigh Space Rock

This computer generated image of asteroid 1999 RQ36 was derived from data acquired by the NASA-supported Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Image credit: NASA/NSF/Cornell/Nolan.

The Night Sky

Friday, May 25· Well to the right of the Moon this evening shine Pollux and Castor, the heads of the Gemini twins. They're lined up almost horizontally. Look well below the Moon for Procyon. Saturday, May 26· By late evening the summer constellation Scorpius is well up in the south-southeast, as shown at right. Look for its brightest star, fire-colored Antares, the Scorpion's heart. Antares' "outrigger" stars are just below it and to its upper right. Farther upper right is the diagonal three-star row of Scorpius's head, topped by Beta Scorpii.

Sunday, May 27· Look above the Moon this evening for Regulus and, higher and fainter, Gamma Leonis. To the left of these three is Mars.Monday, May 28· Mars shines above the first-quarter Moon this evening

ISS Sighting Opportunities

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

For Denver:

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATIONMAX ELEV

APPROACH DEPARTURE

DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)

ISS Fri May 25/03:40 AM 2 50 46 above WNW 29 above NNE

ISS Sat May 26/02:47 AM 1 27 27 above ENE 14 above NEISS Sat May 26/04:20 AM 4 18 10 above WNW 14 above NISS Sun May 27/03:28 AM 2 26 23 above NW 21 above NISS Sun May 27/05:05 AM 2 11 10 above NNW 10 above NISS Mon May 28/02:36 AM < 1 28 28 above NNE 23 above NNEISS Mon May 28/04:10 AM 3 13 10 above NW 11 above N

NASA-TV Highlights

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

 May 25, Friday2 a.m. - SpaceX/Dragon ISS Grapple and Berthing Coverage - JSC (All Channels)1 p.m. - SpaceX/Dragon Mission Status Briefing (Time subject to change) - JSC (All Channels)

May 26, Saturday5:30 a.m. - SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Coverage - JSC (All Channels)11:25 a.m. - ISS Expedition 31 Post-SpaceX/Dragon Hatch Opening Crew News Conference - JSC (All Channels)

Space Calendar

May 25 - [May 22] ChinaSat 1B (Zhong Xing 1B) CZ-3B/E LaunchMay 25 - [May 21] Asteroid 2012 KD6 Near-Earth Flyby (0.065 AU)May 25 - [May 23] Asteroid 2012 KO11 Near-Earth Flyby (0.073 AU)May 25 - Asteroid 7392 Kowalski Closest Approach To Earth (1.520 AU)May 25 - Asteroid 6318 Cronkite Closest Approach To Earth (2.553 AU)May 25 - Asteroid 39382 Opportunity Closest Approach To Earth (3.756 AU)May 26 - [May 19] Asteroid 2012 KX Near-Earth Flyby (0.057 AU)May 26 - Asteroid 7986 Romania Closest Approach To Earth (0.862 AU)May 26 - Asteroid 7328 Casanova Closest Approach To Earth (1.604 AU)May 26 - Asteriod 2875 Lagerkvist Closest Approach To Earth (1.808 AU)May 26 - Asteroid 1815 Beethoven Closest Approach To Earth (2.530 AU)May 27 - [May 21] Asteroid 2012 KB4 Near-Earth Flyby (0.091 AU)May 27 - Asteroid 8553 Bradsmith Closest Approach To Earth (1.021 AU)May 27 - Asteroid 9949 Excalibur Closest Approach To Earth (1.931 AU)May 27 - Asteroid 11739 Baton Rouge Closest Approach To Earth (3.633 AU)May 28 - Comet P/2004 H3 (Larsen) Closest Approach To Earth (1.802 AU)

JPL Space Calendar

Food for Thought

Africa's first dark-sky park is pure heaven for stargazers

Space Image of the Week

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/Arizona State Univ.