Jupiter has too many moons and there's a bear on Mars: This Week in Outer Space
Here’s what you may have missed this week in outer space. Early in the week, the internet was ablaze over an image captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that bears a striking resemblance to a bear. Jupiter now officially holds the title for most moons in our solar system, beating out Saturn's previous record of 83. The "Dragon Endeavour" launch also marked the first U.S.-led manned spaceflight since NASA's space shuttle program was retired in 2011. In addition to the tragic loss of the crew, the investigation that followed exposed a major flaw in the shuttle's heat shielding, marking the beginning of the end for the space shuttle program eight years later.
wftv.comChinese spy balloon over the US: An aerospace expert explains how the balloons work and what they can see
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder briefed the media about the Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. AP Photo/Alex BrandonOfficials of the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed on Feb. 2, 2023, that the military was tracking what it called a “spy balloon” that was drifting over the continental United States at an altitude of about 60,000 feet. The following day, Chinese officials acknowledged that the balloon was theirs but denied it was intended for spying or meant to enter U.S. airspace. U.S.
news.yahoo.comGreen comet zooming our way, last visited 50,000 years ago
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — A comet is streaking back our way after 50,000 years. Scientists are confident in their orbital calculations putting the comet's last swing through the solar system's planetary neighborhood at 50,000 years ago. The comet — a time capsule from the emerging solar system 4.5 billion years ago — came from what’s known as the Oort Cloud well beyond Pluto. While comet ZTF originated in our solar system, we can't be sure it will stay there, Chodas said. If it gets booted out of the solar system, it will never return, he added.
wftv.comNewly-discovered asteroid to pass closer to Earth than some satellites
An asteroid about the size of a minivan will whip past Earth early Friday, closer than many satellites that are orbiting the planet. >> Read more trending newsThe asteroid, known as 2023 BU, will fly about 2,200 miles above the earth in an orbit that mirrors the Earth’s path around the sun. “It’s going to zoom past Earth, say hello and move on.”Scientists at NASA say they are confident 2023 BU will miss the planet, but its near pass will alter the asteroid’s path going forward. According to NASA, the gravitational pull of the earth will elongate the asteroid’s orbit as it moves through the solar system. “Before encountering Earth, the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun was roughly circular, approximating Earth’s orbit, taking 359 days to complete its orbit about the Sun,” the agency said in a statement.
wftv.comUkraine war moves ‘Doomsday Clock’ to 90 seconds to midnight
WASHINGTON — (AP) — With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the specter of nuclear weapon use, Earth crept its closest to Armageddon, a science-oriented advocacy group said, moving its famous “Doomsday Clock” up to just 90 seconds before midnight. The advocacy group started in 1947 to use a clock to symbolize the potential and likelihood of people doing something to end humanity. It moved the clock 10 seconds closer than last year, making it the closest it has ever been to striking 12. at the Disco to disband; singer Brendon Urie will ‘focus on family’“We are sending a message that the situation is becoming more urgent,” Bulletin President Rachel Bronson said at the online announcement. Russia attacks Ukraine: What you need to know Ukraine urged caution after Russia announced withdrawal from the city of Kherson.
wftv.comAsteroid coming exceedingly close to Earth, but will miss
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — (AP) — An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded. NASA insists it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth. NASA said Wednesday that this newly discovered asteroid will zoom 2,200 miles (3,600 kilometers) above the southern tip of South America. "But despite the very few observations, it was nonetheless able to predict that the asteroid would make an extraordinarily close approach with Earth,” Farnocchia said in a statement. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.
wftv.comAsteroid coming exceedingly close to Earth, but will miss
An asteroid the size of a delivery truck will whip past Earth on Thursday night, one of the closest such encounters ever recorded. NASA insists it will be a near miss with no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth. NASA said Wednesday that this newly discovered asteroid will zoom 2,200 miles (3,600 kilometers) above the southern tip of South America.
news.yahoo.com2022 one of the warmest years on record, NOAA scientists say
READ: Ben Crump files suit against Ron DeSantis for rejecting AP African American studies course(1 of 6) It’s official: Earth had its 6th-warmest year on record in 2022, according to NOAA scientists. The avg global surface #temperature was 1.55°F (0.86 of a degree C) above the 20th-century avg. https://t.co/O79dbB56hl@NOAANCEI #StateOfClimate pic.twitter.com/IxOvj05KTz — NOAA (@NOAA) January 12, 2023In 2022, Floridians saw back-to-back hurricanes with Ian first slamming southeast Florida and flooding many Central Florida neighborhoods. READ: McCarthy blocks Schiff, Swalwell from seats on Intelligence CommitteeExtreme weather events cost the United States more than $165 billion dollars in damages last year. NOAA scientists say they’ll continue to try to understand and predict what types of extremes to expect in an effort to minimize their financial impacts and disruptions in the future.
wftv.comESA chief vows to restore Europe's access to space
In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Josef Aschbacher said his “priority is to reinstall access to space, guaranteed access to space for Europe. Until then, he said, Europe must look at alternative solutions outside the continent — including Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Aschbacher said the ESA is working at identifying the causes of the failure of the Vega-C rocket launch in French Guiana, with the results of the investigation expected in less than a month. The launch of Vega C was meant to take two Earth observation satellites made by Airbus, Pleiades Neo 5 and 6, into orbit. Until proper access to space is regained, Aschbacher said Europe needs to look at alternative solutions outside the continent.
wftv.comNASA’s Artemis 1 moonship reaches record distance from Earth in near-flawless mission
At the halfway point in NASA's Artemis 1 mission, the unpiloted Orion moonship is chalking up a near-flawless flight, mission managers said Monday, beaming back spectacular images of Earth disappearing from view as it was eclipsed by the moon.