Born-again nebula

Born-again nebula

RON GARAN TWEETED IMAGE OF A SHOOTING STAR?

FROM:  NASA

 Astronaut Ron Garan, Expedition 28 flight engineer, tweeted this image from the International Space Station in August, 2011 with the following caption: “What a `Shooting Star’ looks like from space, taken yesterday during Perseid Meteor Shower.”  A special camera to record meteor showers will launch to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon cargo craft, currently scheduled to launch on June 28, 2015, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The Meteor investigation should be installed in the station’s Window Observational Research Facility by the end of July, enabling scientists to learn more about the composition and behavior of asteroids and comets that cross paths with Earth. The investigation's camera is programmed to record known major meteor showers during its two-year orbit and could spot unpredicted showers as well.  Image Credit: NASA.

Dark science

Dark science

Pedal to the Metal – RS-25 Engine Revs Up Again

Cool summer boosts Arctic ice

Cool summer boosts Arctic ice

Cool summer boosts Arctic ice

Cool summer boosts Arctic ice

A VIEW OF EARTH'S AURORAS FROM ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY

FROM:  NASA

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly captured photographs and video of auroras from the International Space Station on June 22, 2015. Kelly wrote, "Yesterday's aurora was an impressive show from 250 miles up. Good morning from the International Space Station! ‪#‎YearInSpace‬"  Image Credit: NASA.

Frozen Carbon Monoxide in Pluto’s 'Heart'

Frozen Carbon Monoxide in Pluto’s 'Heart'

Week In Images

Week In Images

MSG-4 lifts off

MSG-4 lifts off

Boundary conditions

Boundary conditions

Pluto’s North Pole, Equator, and Central Meridian

Pluto’s North Pole, Equator, and Central Meridian

Rosetta: preparing for perihelion

Rosetta: preparing for perihelion

LOOKING AT AUSTRALIA FROM THE ISS

FROM:  NASA

From the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (stationcdrkelly on Instagram) took this photograph and posted it to social media on April 6, 2015. Kelly wrote, "Australia. You are very beautiful. Thank you for being there to brighten our day. #YearInSpace" Kelly and Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko began their one-year mission aboard the space station on March 27. Most expeditions to the space station last four to six months. By doubling the length of this mission, researchers hope to better understand how the human body reacts and adapts to long-duration spaceflight. Image Credit: NASA.

Ghostly galaxy

Ghostly galaxy

Video: NASA, SpaceX, FAA Discuss Launch Failure

Video: NASA, SpaceX, FAA Discuss Launch Failure

NASA Book Shows How Space Station Research Offers 'Benefits for Humanity'

NASA Book Shows How Space Station Research Offers 'Benefits for Humanity'

Station Moon transit

Station Moon transit

Europa’s blood-red scars

Europa’s blood-red scars

NASA DEPICTS PLUTO'S OCCULTATION

FROM:  NASA 

The Stratosphere Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a modified Boeing 747SP aircraft that makes celestial observations with its German-built 100-inch telescope. The telescope is enhanced to collect infrared radiation, and is able to detect energy at a wider range of wavelengths than any other ground-based or space telescope.

SOFIA can fly anywhere in the world, and operates at altitudes up to 45,000 feet, putting the observatory above more than 99 percent of Earth's atmospheric water vapor that blocks infrared radiation from celestial objects.

SOFIA is flying out of Christchurch, New Zealand, where its telescope can study celestial objects more easily observed from the Southern Hemisphere. Starting June 28 through the 29th, instruments on the plane will observe Pluto as it passes in front of a background star.

Data returned from the observations will be provided to the New Horizon team who is preparing for Pluto's occultation, July 13 through the 15th.

Northwest Sardinia

Northwest Sardinia

NASA Astronaut Preps for First Space Station Mission, Available for Media Interviews

NASA Astronaut Preps for First Space Station Mission, Available for Media Interviews